Never would I shut you down, Pete! However, I have moved your thread into the Image Processing forum because Help and Feedback is site related.
At some point we may add in a software/hardware forum but for now I think Flickr threads fit in well here.
Of course I am already a contact of yours and visa versa.
When I first began using Flickr, I was using it strictly for close friends who we'd vacationed with...next when I became involved with the MINI Cooper cultists, I began posting to Flickr so that we could share our obsession and embed in several MINI discussion forums... Then I got a bit hooked into the world of dogs...and I do have a bunch of dog contacts, quite a few of whom turned out to be very accomplished photographers so we have that connection as well... Sometimes I have "met" these folks due to "pools" on Flickr or someone has seen a tag...and so it goes.. If I am particularly fond of someone's pictures or style or whatever, I will make them a Contact (at whichever level I choose) and then they are sent an alert...and very often reciprocate. Sometimes you have to winnow down contacts because it can be overwhelming, especially if you really do want to keep up with people.
With regard to "pools" on Flickr, one can search and check them out, see where others have added their photos and/or be invited. I happen to have become friends with a photographer named vaquey (who is a member here) and we initially met because we both have Shetland Sheepdogs...then we noticed each other's photos...and so it goes...
I don't know if you didn't know this or wanted to...but I thought it might help to see how it has worked for me.