* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #793 / Revived #013 on 2023 06 28 *

Welcome to the Wednesday Comments and Critique (No Theme & No Brand) thread!

We are dedicated to continuing the great tradition of this C&C thread because we are convinced that looking at, and talking about images is vital for better photography.

Our tried and tested concept (15 years and running!) is a weekly "peer-to-peer" photo comments & critique encounter, in which you GIVE and RECEIVE.

The idea is simple: you post an image and get critique on it, and in return give other people your opinion of their images, or vice versa.
Any Theme, Any Camera, Any Style, Any Subject.

We are still figuring out how to create the convenience of threaded view on this new forum.
For now, let us agree that you post an image with a title and short explanation, and that all comments include the image as a quote.
Replies to comments may or may not include quotes.
THREAD GUIDELINES – THE SHORT & SWEET VERSION
• This thread does not care about brands. It’s not about the tool, but the image.
• Post one image that you would like to get comments on (exceptions: see below).
• Add a clear title to your post to reflect the image’s title and distinguish your entry.
• Look at the other images and give your comments on at least one of those.
• For comments, try to go beyond a simple pat on the back or a short dismissal.
• Do you like an image (or essay) ? Try to explain WHY it appeals to you.
• Negative feedback is OK (we all want to learn), but be polite and constructive. Try to explain why the image (or essay) does not appeal to you and how it might be improved.

We will start with single images. Re-establishing our C&C for essays will be a next step.
Please limit any individual contribution to a single image. This avoids confusion.

The critique you give is vital.
What was your first impression? What catches your eye about an image? Why?
What do you like, and what distracts you? What would you change?

Fiddle with the image in your head - composition, perspective, color balance, exposure.
It is understood that unless the original poster specifically states that they do not want an altered image posted that you are free to alter the posted image and repost it in a reply for C&C purposes (no use for other purposes!). That reposted image may remain permanently or you may remove it after a short period of time if you prefer. No copyright disputes here!

More general feedback is also welcome.
Do you know something about taking the same sort of image that would make matters easier - share your own as an example in your reply.

Encourage - it is a scary business putting your work up for other people to judge!

And finally, here are some useful hints for navigating and familiarizing yourself with the forum mechanics of DPRevived:
• Unfortunately, there is no threaded view (yet). We can’t simply keep images and their related comments together like we used to. So please make clear about which image you are commenting.
• To do that, you may make good use of the “quote” feature. This allows you to keep the image in your reply. Excess content can be deleted. The “preview” button allows you to look at what you are going to post.
• There is a difference between the “reply” button that sits at the top of the forum, and the reply buttons under every post.
• A few threads in this new forum with useful navigation information:
dprevived.com/t/how-to-use-this-site/387/
and
dprevived.com/t/how-to-embed-photos-into-your-post-directly-from-flickr/456/
(this applies also, with modifications, to other photo hosting websites)
and
dprevived.com/t/how-to-quote/1014/

Have fun and let’s stick together!

ORKNEY RAIDERS

With a new (and probably final) Indiana Jones adventure movie hitting theatres this week, my thoughts wandered off to our own little tomb-raiding adventure on the Orkney Islands, last year.

Our guide took us to a place on a hill where the entrance to an elaborate underground structure was just visible.
He explained that the true nature of this kind of structure was still up for debate: burial place? hidden storage for merchandise or food? place of worship?

In any case: those of us that were not too squeamish or claustrophobic about getting on their knees and working their way on hands and knees through a very low and narrow tunnel (having a backpack would have already been prohibitive...), were rewarded with this interior view of a surprisingly spacious and temperature-controlled chamber.

As a bonus, there were NO snakes. ;-)

OCEAN PLASTIC PROJECT
from PET-BOTTLE to FASHION

The Orange jacket is made of Ocean Plastic
I added the venetian mask because the face looked like model's skirt.

[ enlarge image, click image >click downarrow, Thank you ]

Interesting and effective angle, fitting of a cave shot! I particularly like the light coming from the small tunnel (entrance?) on the left. Very well captured.

Excellent installation - great visualization of the message and wonderful colors - and a wonderful capture as well. I don't think I get what you did in regards to the mask - was it added in post?

Unfortunately we have no metadata available since it would be interesting to know the details as to capture in this difficult environment, given the lack of light.

Nevertheless the image is very intriguing because the viewer is given the opportunity to view this very unusual chamber. I like the presence of 3 participants against variety of walls with their textures. It's a perfect backdrop for archeological discovery. I suspect the Mesolithic tribes were the first inhabitants of this area...
I remember TV program "Digging for Britain" on this subject. Absolutely fascinating!

You still remember the (short lived) era of the minilab? The "one-hour photo machines"? I actually don't myself, as it was already on a downward slope when I was born. 😅 But the lens I shot this with was used in such a device. So after enlarging thousands of photos in some machine, day in and day out, it finally got a (hopefully) more creative purpose here.

Pinch watching by simple.joy, on Flickr

Very good document of a window dressing. I like the layers, the colours. Very rich display demonstrating skill of whoever was responsible for this superb example of fashion piece. Reflections of the surroundings give us a full picture - it's like being there in person. Excellent.

It took me a moment to realize what the object is. It's so simple, but so effective. The background and various colours of condiments add immensely to general impact on the viewer. Brilliant. You take the prize, so far...

WAITING

It is an iphone image.

Thank you.

The three wise men from the east, that's what history tells us. Remarkable that you discovered a fourth :)
Beautiful photo at a time when our world wants to discover the universe, this version is completely appropriate. Wonderful execution and enchanting colours.

Lou

The New Crop of Unicorns.
This is the first of a number I'll be posting on Siena and especially the Palio. If you don't know much about the Palio, here's some background.
www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/guide-to-the-palio-of-siena
The Contrade we saw most of was the Unicorns. Each Contrade has a ceremonial fountain. The first event we saw was an annual baptism of newly born infants into the Contrade. Each was welcomed with a certificate, drum rolls, flag salutes and head sprinkled with water from the mystic fountain.

Robert's Wheelbarrow, early morning in the garden

Love the light, gardener's assistant colour, the gate, the background- it all plays very well. Very soothing and pieceful capture. Well done. Take the rest of the day off.

Great travel document. It makes it very evident that a lot of us are totally unaware that very old historical rituals and customs are still present and are practiced to this day by various cultures in the world.

Love the light, the wonderful warm tones and the mood of this one. I think it's pretty much perfect as it is. One thing that comes to mind (because I shoot 95% of my lenses attached to a tilt/shift bellows) is slightly tilting the image to focus more on the wheelbarrow. I know it's just a small thing and most people don't care for tilting, but I increasingly think photography lost something interesting and worthwhile by dropping the movements earlier cameras inherently provided...

Hasselblad 501c, 150 mm lens, TX,