* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #796 / Revived #016 on 2023 07 19 *

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.
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• 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!

STELPLAATS

For the guidebook on Leuven that I have photographed, the author had highlighted in his manuscript the relevant locations and/or specific aspects of them, as a guide for my photography. I had a list of over 250 locations, and the knowledge that only about 100 of my photos would illustrate the book (with additional historic images).
So obviously, some locations were not going to be published.
But I still visited almost all of them, and got shots.

"Stelplaats" was one of the "maybe" locations.
(And in the end, it did indeed NOT get an image in the book.)

Stelplaats is an old bus depot in the area of the train station.
It is now the site of a youth cultural organisation, hosting graffiti artists and with some outdoor activities in the summer.

Not much (actually : nothing) was happening there when I visited in May.
I used my own sturdy trekking bicycle (loyal companion on all my meanderings to tick the boxes on the photo list) to add just a bit of "life" to the location.

I like it! While I appreciate the intense colors of the graffiti and the greens, I think however, that it could be a little bit too much and distract from the main composition. That's why I was thinking of trying a B&W version with a little bit more contrast to give the bike and its shadow more weight and a slightly different crop.

Theia did a lot of damage... by simple.joy, on Flickr

The Unicorns March.
Continuing the pre Palio warm up in Siena. The Unicorn contrade conducted a march of the clan through the streets. Many hundreds of people took part. They sure know their city. They knew every spot where the acoustics would amplify the drums to the max. This post is too long but I wanted to include each of these shots. There are many more of this march by Unicorns (and later, another contrade) that will surface in due course.

Running repairs on a costume
[(/a/eGxEvfeKSVxSkce1TYsdNt4kujMURM57ZWj4pU0nsDk5ssg0Zzdg49gjVwNEpsXb/13749/?shva=1)
Entering friendly territory. Well, I think this is what was happening. As the flag carriers passed a point, each did something odd with their flag. They made a triangle shape. I don't know but I strongly suspect that we were at the border of the territory of an allied contrade and they were either asking permission to enter or giving a salute of acknowledgement.

In each friendly contrade, the Unicorns were briefly welcomed and offered something to eat and drink and then everyone jammed into the church of that contrade. There was some very impassioned singing that would have delighted a British football supporters. I wormed my way into one of the church gatherings for this shot.

Finally, we finished up in front of the Duomo of Siena for a mass display of flag acrobatics. No contrade goes into the Duomo, which is home to the entire city, until it is opened to the team and horse that wins the race.

Calm waters.

Location is Southampton, Ont. Canada on Lake Huron.

Juxtaposition

Storefront window display with reflections from the street.

Oh I like that one! You certainly make us look up and see great architectural wonders, like last week's...Kodos for spotting those interesting sites. Love the colours and that opening in the roof which matches the golden structure. Well seen and captured.

Great scenes from your touring period. They certainly give us insights into this ritual.

Excellent effort!

The placement of The bike and its shadow are key items to counterbalance the colorful art wall in this photo. Well executed.

Enlarge click image > click downarrow

The Snakewall,

The snakewall is part of a reqtangular herb garden next to one of the many country estates just behind the dunes. This line of 18th century estates were for the more affluent and some had foothills down to the sea and therefore their own beach.This country estate later became a restaurant because of the spacious herb garden so that the residents could provide their own herbs.By the way, I have named it "Snake Wall", because of its model.
Lou

18th century country estate

It's quite amazing how much the bike adds to this photo, but for me it's more about the long shadow it creates. Did you know ahead of time you would have that perfectly placed patch of sunlight?

Marvelous! Would you talk a little about what inspired the subject (Theia) at this particular time?

Fascinating structure with the iron fence right against the brick, and the feeling of rippling motion. I very much like the glow; however, for me the grass and bit of sky are overly bright and saturated. They distract from the more subtle reds, grays and yellows and the peacefulness I feel with the rest of the image.

The flat, relatively featureless wharf structure dominates the space but doesn't feel that way at all. Maybe it's because I'm first drawn to the lighter colors of the lanes of water?

The composition seems perfect in that it encourages me to look down the lanes of water to the sea (I know it's a lake from your description). I love the silhouettes of the curved rock barrier on one side and the lighthouse, with fishermen, on the other. Enlarging, I identify the jet ski rider, which is a fun surprise since he does not fit the serene, quiet mood of the rest.

A very engaging photo on many levels.

Portrait of Pearl

Pearl had a hellish life as a feral dog before my son got her. She is one of the most laid-back dogs I've ever known, and has an instinct for herding (other animals, children, anything on foot). Her genetic test shows she has Swiss shepherd in her family tree. When I visit them in Nashville, one of my tasks is take updated photos of the people and animals.

I really like this. The art is pretty impressive and your chosen wide angle not only shows it off maximally, it gives you a stage on which to set your best prop, right between the triangled peaks of the angled buildings. I really do like SimpleJoy's monochrome conversion, perhaps better than the color version (though it wouldn't have worked for the book). The monochrome allows the bike and its intriguing alien-like shadow to become the central character, moving the center of interest frontward.