TIL my over-reliance on layer effects ruined a commission piece

Lots of artists online push for using every layer effect to make digital art stand out, but I think that's wrong. I took on a client job for a character portrait and loaded it with glows, drop shadows, and blending modes. The result was a cluttered mess where the face got lost in all the flashy stuff. The client pointed out it looked overdone and not like the clean style they wanted. I had to redo the whole thing from scratch, wasting hours of work. Now I stick to basic layers and keep effects minimal for a stronger image. It was a hard lesson that more isn't always better in digital art. I'm firm on this: simplicity often beats complexity in showcases.

The new bike trail cut right through a shale outcrop and I'm fuming

They cleared land for the trail last month. Exposed shale layers are now cracking from foot traffic. I studied the rock formations there for school. Now it's ruined for anyone who wants to learn.

Rant: Light pollution ruined my star trail shots last weekend

I drove out to a remote lake for some astrophotography. My star trail pictures came out blurry because of nearby city glow. Does anyone know a dark sky site within a few hours of Seattle that has minimal light pollution?

Ngl, my shortwave listening hobby has me seeing a trend where every weird frequency sparks spy satellite debates.