Yep, you spotted it. The familiar photo at the top of each Forum page is different. As of 12/9/99 it was changed to show an image of Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City CA.
You'll also notice a disclaimer "Not Affiliated With Harbour Lights". This has always been the case, but there are still Forum visitors who believe that Harbour Lights runs these forums.
As the disclaimer at the BOTTOM of the page states,
Quote:
The Collector Forums are provided independently by Lighthouse Keepers as a service for the exchange of information among Harbour Lights collectors. Postings here do not reflect the views, opinions, and activities of Lighthouse Keepers, Harbour Lights or B.C. Younger & Associates, Inc.
Thanks for that John. I was reading one forum and it had Pt Arena on top and then opened the next one and there was Battery Point. I knew it was a California light, but could not think of it's name, and it kinda shocked me, I guess I was to used to the Pt Arena.
Derith, I got to visit Battery Point about six weeks ago, but I only live about 90 minutes from there. Unfortunately, the new picture is very fuzzy on my computer, but will have a new computer within a few weeks.
The new Battery Point image is very dark & hard to see on my screen. When I first saw it yesterday it reminded me of one of the large trees found on the African plains. You wouldn't know there is a lighthouse except for the light in (behind) the tree. Maybe it is just my screen?
At the very bottom of Focus-Online's homepage is a "gamma check" image. It's a quick, but crude way to check and see if you have your brightness/ contrast set somewhat correctly: Focus-Online
As a side note. Sometimes the daylight and artificial light in your computer room has a great effect on the monitor. At nightime, go to a nice photo page and view it with your lights on. While you are viewing the monitor, turn off the lights. If the photo "comes to life" with the lights off, that means you are probably getting light polution or glare from your fixtures. Kind of like trying to count the stars in the sky from downtown Manhattan. Try moving the monitor or lights themselves (other than a ceiling fixture, of course) to reduce it. I usually keep the lights down low, with just a task light on the desk turned on when I surf alot. It still gives me plenty of light, but I can locate the fixture in an optimum place for reducing the polution. It can make a huge difference sometimes.
Thanks for the suggestions. Did try the contrast & brightness as suggested at the bottom of your link. Also dimmed the room lights. The natural light in our computer room is dim, two small west windows. Photo is still indigo sky with the black tree & unrecognizeable lighthouse. I'm sure John's photo is great in person, but I wish the version on top of page were brighter. I miss seeing a lighthouse, I guess I got used to Point Arena. Only one I ever saw. All the photos I view thru the HL gallery are fine. I enjoy everyone's great shots.
Today it seems that the words (disclaimer) below the picture is not as clear as it was last night. Also seeing the background patern of lines of dots throughout the text. (No change to the monitor or settings). Interesting picture, but do agree with Donna that it is very dark and I would never have known there was a LH in there if I wasn't told.
OK, I'm still messing around. I found I could put the disclaimer as a 'header' on the main pages and so redid the 'Collector Forums' Graphic. However, if on your screen it appears too big, let me know here and I'll scale it back.
Not much of a photo anymore. I didn't have enough width in the original photo to create an image with the proportion of 6 to 1. So I captured the silhouette from my original photo of Battery Point, duplicated and flopped parts of it to extend the left and right sides, made a new sky and added the light and type.
The light's not quite in the right spot - should be up and left a bit. But I forgot to save an interim image before adding the light and couldn't undo to get rid of it. A novice at Photoshop.
I'll see what I can do when I have some more time.
I do not like the large image, it seems to overwhelm the page. Also the disclaimer is too large and ugly right at the top of the page. I liked it smaller and under the image.
I see the post message box has also changed size to a larger (wider) area. This I do like.
One more dislike - the light grey used for the time and date of the posted messages. Maybe it is my eyes, but the grey on grey is difficult to read. Pink was too bright. Maybe a dark blue, a navy blue might look nice.
I have to agree with Jim on the light gray color needing to go! But I Vote keep the larger photo. It seems to add a bit of "umph" to the page and really sets off the forums.
JOHN So now the debate of LE vs Glow has expanded to the forum layout. Is the image a LE, glow, or mini? When was it released? when will it retire? and I give it a WOW rating. Thanks for all you do.