![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Charl, while I agree that having high end pipes available to study (even if it's only in pictures) is absolutely indispensable if that's the type of pipe you'd like to make, I disagree that they need to be posted on this forum. There are many resources through which anyone who is driven can find thousands of images of pipes by the likes of Tom Eltang, Lars & Nanna Ivarsson, Hiroyuki Tokutomi, Kei Gotoh, Brad Pohlman, Jeff Gracik, Paolo Becker, Cornelius Maenz, Rad Davis... I could go on forever here. With a massive resource like the internet, why should we ask professional pipe makers to post their work? It's already been posted on a world-wide stage.
A quick list of websites worth studying:
http://www.smokingpipes.com
http://www.qualitybriar.com
http://www.scandpipes.com
http://www.alpascia.com
http://www.bisgaardpipes.com
http://www.pulverspriorbriar.com
http://www.briarblues.com
You could literally spend years studying the high grades on these websites and you should if that's what you want to make.
Sas, while it's difficult for me to agree that aiming for perfection isn't necessary in a pursuit (I don't know how it's possible not to) I can see that it brings a lot of people joy just to make something and that's great!
My question for you is: if we're not pursuing something, then why are we critiquing anything?
Also, to anyone who's brand new to the site and may have received some critique already: there is no one posting regularly to this site (that I'm aware of) who is interested in being cruel. If you receive a passionate diatribe of critique riddled with curses and occasional bits of inflammatory language, you're likely receiving some excellent advice. Listen and know that everyone here wants everyone else to improve. That's the kind of community PMF is. That's the kind of community you joined. Participate humbly and listen.