* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #811 / Revived #031 on 2023 11 01 *

This is a rare occasion where one of your images does not really speak to me.
I have been wondering why over the past few days.
Maybe it is the absence of a clear and strong geometry.
Maybe it is the odd open character of the bottom of the frame (with all that water that seems to be flowing out of the image).
Maybe it is the fact that the nearby autumnal tree is not grounded in anything.
All in all, I think that I would have been more enamored with just a telephoto capture of the far shore, shrouded in soft mist and with an even softer reflection.
The foreground does not add anything here for me.

One could almost read this as a modern take on the classical art subject of the "memento mori".
Our well fed spectator is watching the skeleton and considering his ultimate fate.

I wrote my own comment on this image before looking further down the thread (being systematic to make sure I look at everything).
Funny how we both made the same association.

The B&W is quite alright.
I usually process my B&W with more contrast, but that is a matter of taste.
This soft and gentle B&W fits the pianissimo rhythms of the image perfectly.

Compositionwise, you did great.
I have made my fair share of images of beautiful classic (and modernist brutalistic) staircases, both pointing up and pointing down.
So I can really appreciate the effort it takes to get just the right angle and focal length to get the optimal view.
You did here: the curves are beautifully nested and the right angles of the stairs are like outspread wings.
I would probably have focused more on the center and the depth, but that would have been a mistake.
Your wider view is much better.

This needs to be viewed very large in order to appreciate the simplicity of capturing these grasses and their movement in different directions.
This would look great on a really wide wall in a vegetarian restaurant or in a bakery.

I thank you all for your kind comments and sharing your take on what I offer. I always enjoy reading what others see in these photographs as I find more than any other genre that “street” seems to let the viewer bring his history and experience to those interpretations ...

WhyNot

Minnie, Linda and Roel,

Thank you very much for the comments.

As to the size of the images, I have them printed at 24" wide and matted, waiting for framing. Fortunately I have a wall to hold them.

Rich

LindaS, minniev, Rich42, RoelHendrickx

Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions.
I rarely do B&W, I don't know why but there's something in me that pushes me towards color. I shoot in RAW and convert to B&W but I'm almost always dissatisfied and in the end I go for the color version, but the strange thing is that I like seeing B&W photos.

I completely get that and often feel the same way!

Your shot above is excellent though and works really well in B&W. So I would suggest it's worth it ignoring your usual instinct to go for the color version from time to time and just try it like you did here. I'm sure the results will look great given the apparently very good feeling for composition you have. Excellent work!

Sorry - forgot to comment, even though I absolutely wanted to the moment I saw it! I love your captures and the combination of them works really well. I often hesitate to shoot grass 'only' even though I enjoy doing that because some inner voice tells me 'but there must be something else of interest in there!'. Your wonderful shots reminded me, that this is certainly untrue and it's more than worth it to go for the grass, its patterns, movement and light as well. Thanks!

I really enjoy the colors in your shot - it's so exceptionally well balanced and makes me think of the abundance of colors and impressions Nature often provides in spades. Just wonderful!

Yes, for balance reasons as well as giving a little bit of depth perception. I also generally enjoy the shapes and patterns bright light creates on our hands. While I won't claim I like the signs of aging, I find hands of all ages beautiful and interesting. They're such incredible tools...

Thanks to everyone for the interesting comments and interpretations. It may be my least liked image since years on flickr, so I'm glad you thought it's worthwhile... 😅

A moment to be enjoyed by a spectator. Street photography rather than fine art. We can try to think of witty and/or profound thoughts from either of the figures as they contemplate each other. The difference in body mass is full of possibilities. We could do the same with the dog and its interest in the bones. The low angle chosen by the photographer helps us to see things from the dog's point of view.

Once again, minniev has covered all the bases. I don't see it as clumsy either. B&W can usually benefit from a fine frame so the lighter tones don't run off into the surrounds.

A few nights ago I watched an old movie with Tony Curtis as Houdini. Your image is disturbingly like the final scenes with Houdini in the water torture cabinet. It doesn't end well.
Even without the film, I think I'd have similar vibes from your photo. The bubbles and twisted features set the mood. There is a clear surface and the subject is below it. Disturbing but effective.

Quite beautiful. i like the colours, patterns, movement small details in the photos individually and as a triptych. The arrangement of the three is takes us to the more vertical centre group. You might consider another version where the grass (wheat?) heads are all at the same size. ie., enlarge shots 2 and 3 a little and recrop them to equalize the grain head lengths with shot one. You would keep the same colors, lines and tripytch interaction while, I think, harmonizing the three shots together a little more.

Thanks Mike,

Rich

"Dreams of the Dodo"

To be honest this pic didn't grab me at first, but reading some of the comments I saw it in another light. My mind actually imposed a face and life to the stick figure - the value of critique...

One word - surreal

A soft and breezy capture of a very delicate grass. Some fine strands even appear to be diffracting the light

Chris there is quite a movement in my country for people to buy small country churches that have lost their congregation. So mostly they are maintained even if the inside becomes a dwelling. Thanks.

Linda there are plenty of tawny, plain white, or dour looking birds. It's that I am on the lookout for the pretty ones. Sometimes I envy the pics I see of other continent's birds. I am enthralled by the metallic green neck of the mallard duck for example.
I had a look at the church pic with a view to straightening but I feel it's at it's best angle. The floor level is basically horizontal in the pic and it's the ground that slopes away to the left. The leading verandah post is almost vertical and altering that makes the tree on the right lean even more to the left. Perhaps if my viewpoint was higher it would have looked better (I will remember to pack my stepladder next time 😁).

They can be quite raucous, nearly as much as parrots and some of their calls even sound similar.

Thanks Minnie, it was indeed a fortunate capture. I was hoping the blooms would come out well but wasn't sure until I saw them on my computer.

Mike I did find a pic on the website of the overseeing parish. It was painted a darkish cream that wasn't too appealing. The new owners have given it a much better look. I have no idea about other maintenance other than to say I am pretty sure it is above flood level. Looking at the roof pitch suggests it does go back to colonial times but the tiles are definitely 50's or 60's.

SJ, so many times I don't really know how my pics might turn out until I get home. I think the colour of the sky really helped in this case. Which I can admit was more good luck than management. But I am starting to get a feel for how time of day and light impacts shots.

Thanks to all.