While PhotoMigrations was not a legally registered site in the 1990's, its origination can be traced back that far. Here is the real story behind the development of the site you see today.

In 1995 only a handful of nature photography sites were in existence. The big three were rec. photo newsgroups, CompuServe, and MSN. After spending time on all three forums, I decided to call MSN my home. MSN offered live chats and message boards. It was in this forum that I met a couple of photographers who have had a lasting effect not only my photography, but also on my web presence.

Dave Dornlas was the General Photo manager on MSN. His duties included the oversight of day to day posting, content, and general success of all the photo forums on the MSN boards. Ken Maher specialized in the nature forum. I was just becoming serious about nature photography and hounded Ken constantly with questions which he tirelessly answered. His advice and knowledge helped me grow to a more advanced level of photography much faster than I ever would have on my own.

After participating as a member for about two years Ken and Dave asked me to assist with the nature forums and I enthusiastically agreed. During the time we worked together I learned a great deal. It was a truly a privilege to work with each of these photographers as well as an opportunity that I will never forget. Friendships with other members were formed during this time and remain today. Roger Roberts had been a member on the nature forum for quite sometime. Roger shoots everything from macro to landscapes, but his favorite subject is of course birds. Deb Barker was also an MSN user and we became very close. Deb's underwater photography awed me.

With the net constantly changing it came as no surprise to us to find that MSN was changing their forums in 1999. During this change MSN opted to dissolve the use of photo managers, leaving Dave and I with communities to develop. Dave's new community was a general nature site called the Road Kill Café. I opted for a community with an emphasis on bird photography, called The Birds Nest. Deb Barker agreed to come on as an assistant manager, and Ken decided to pull double duty participating on both the Road Kill Café and the Birds Nest. Many members made the switch to communities, but we also lost many due to the change in format. Dave soon left MSN's communities. Ken, in the meantime, joined with PhotoPoint where he hosted the nature area and wrote articles.

It was when MSN mandated anything posted on their servers became their property that I made the decision to take the community to a private server. There was some press and publicity regarding the MSN copyright issue, but it shortly left the limelight with MSN maintaining their stance. You can read more about the MSN copyright issue in this article in the Silicon Valley News. Since photographers' rights are a major issue for me, I moved the site renaming it PhotoMigrations. My good friend Deb Barker agreed to come along.

Bill Horn, Chris Ober, and Michael Bates joined the staff shortly after the move. Master bird photographer Tom Vezo joined the PhotoMigrations staff in the capacity of Professional Advisor on March 5th, 2003. Since this time the site has grown both in membership and content. We currently are privileged to have Les Voorhis, Warren Williams and Richard Ditch as Contributing Columnists.

Our goals are the same as those I found on that first MSN forum years ago; to provide a place for nature photographers to share their dreams, to build relationships, and improve their photography. Maintaining a united nature photography community is very rewarding, and we value each member that joins. The members' suggestions are always considered and implemented when possible. A community is only as good as the people who participate there.

The internet provides many exciting and wonderful opportunities for nature photographers. We hope you will look around the PhotoMigrations site and decide that this might be the place for you to spend some time and share your thoughts, knowledge and images. We hope that you will decide to stay with us and continue the tradition of making the internet a really cool place to be for nature photographers!

Editor's Comment: Let us know what you think! Please email the Editor to let us know your thoughts.

Debbie Ferrell-Smith's interest in nature began many years ago while living in Missouri. There, where she spent much of her childhood at her grandparents' home, she learned a deep appreciation and respect for nature that has only grown through the years and continues to this day. Texas became her home in 1986. Shortly after moving she realized that this state offers an abundance of wildlife and her yearn to capture nature's beauty on film returned once again.

This past year Debbie had the opportunity to participate as Pre/Post Chair for the NANPA 9th Summit. Naturephotographers.net and Birdzilla.com are two sites where both her images and articles have been published. "I am proud to have been accepted at Profotos.com and to have my gallery displayed on their wonderful site." Her work is represented by one stock agency with images being sold for publication in both Canada and the United States. Photographers who have had the greatest influence on her work are Tom Vezo, Jim Zuckerman, Erwin and Peggy Bauer, Arthur Morris, and John Shaw to name just a few. Each of these pros offers a unique and well-defined style that has inspired and enriched her photographic experiences.

Debbie's charitable contributions include memberships with Audubon, Ducks Unlimited, and the ASPCA. Please take a few minutes and browse her website located at Debbie Ferrell-Smith Nature Photography - I think you will be pleasantly surprised!