* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #814 / Revived #034 on 2023 11 22 *

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.

PLEASE NOTE CLEARLY:
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!

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

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

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!

STRUGGLE

In recent years I have taken up cycling as my main sport (apart from hiking).
Even before that, I was interested in the heroics of cycle races, and cyclocross even more than road racing.
Here is a short sequence of three images from a long time ago (2011), when I went to shoot cyclo-cross riders at work, during the professional Azencross race:

It is a coincidence that this sequence concentrates on two riders from the same team (almost making it look like a training).
The front one is former champion Bart Wellens, in his prime.

Very impressive (and immersive) shots! I like the first one for the additional information about the surroundings (showing more of the ground and how challenging it looks) but the second one is just outstanding in terms of composition. Works perfectly in my opinion in the square crop and also with the focal length making everything seem even more packed and intense. It's sligthly brighter than the other two though making the colors look less saturated... I think I would adjust that to match the first shot, where it looks great!

Excellent work!

Water and texture

Monetary growth by simple.joy, on Flickr

On the drink of extinction by simple.joy, on Flickr

I'm not very sharp... but at least somewhat funny! by simple.joy, on Flickr

Looking at Me #6

WhyNot

The ice melting away in our hands!

Just to set the scene, these were taken at this lake

That number 2 is the winner in my eyes! Great shot.
really well done.
You can see in the shot that it's a very muddy sort of sport.
I sometimes get the feeling that bikers are quite proud of the vertical muddy stripe running up their backs.
Seems that not having a mud guard on the wheel, sort of identifies you as a real sportsman ;-)

It's sort of like a look of surprise & distrust, "why is he taking my photo ?"
Did any of the people in your "Looking at me " series react in any other way at being photographed?
I'm often a bit too shy for street photos, sometimes it seems OK for me but sometimes I'm a bit wary

I like this one best, Nice shot!
looks, at first glance, almost as if it is something mechanical

"Feelin The Vibe"

Street photography is much like any other .. but it does distinguish between contemplative and reactive photographers. The contemplative photographer tend to be like Robin Wong usually is – doing street portraits where he interacts with the subject and probably asks permission to take the picture, something many on these web sites believe that ethics requires of us …. I am reactive and do not want my subjects to stop whatever they are doing and notice me – candid photography … But as this series illustrates that often doesn't work. A little like walking into a room and we know immediately who is looking at us .. The eyes looking at us are an incredibly powerful composition element that this series relies upon … As to ethics I am on a public street where there are usually many cameras recording our presence so …..

To get closer to your comment it takes time on the street to become comfortable and also with a smaller town like mine many of those frequently on the street will get use to seeing you there. These days of course my age and the Dorian Grey effect may play some role in my being mostly ignored … For anyone wanting to try this I recommend going where you always go where there are crowds or people out and about. Take pictures of the flowers, buildings, doorways, whatever until you get comfortable with the idea of pointing the camera at a stranger doing something interesting and then respond to whatever happens … usually nothing ….

I've only had two occasions where I've been accosted and had uncomfortable confrontations on the street for carrying a camera and those surprisingly were while I was walking in my own neighborhood and not taking pictures of the ones complaining …. Once I was carrying a long lens from a small park where I had been looking for some hawks that roosted there and the other I was simply walking around taking random shots to break in a new lens … So actually not doing street photography at all. Both were women who ran after me to find out or accuse me of whatever they thought I was up to and both had not been alive when I moved into this neighborhood .. Probably spent too much time reading about dirty old men with cameras!! …. But then ...

WhyNot

Soap bubbles

Roadside View: Blue Ridge Parkway

Pinocchio

Wow - another really spectacular image! The colors in particular are wonderful and while I think the slightly disrupting elements (like the very straight looking branch on the upper right or the inclusion of grass which (contrary to the environment) looks trimmed and thus takes us out a little bit of the 'Nature as the star' theme, I also can't get myself to suggest a different crop, because it all works so well as it is with the marvellous balance of the colors...

Just excellent work!

Marvelous interpretations of the "Water" Theme for the flickr group. I can never guess what you're going to come up with next!

What a unique idea for a series! The lighting works really well. You've brought interest to a common subject, an idea I love and admire.

A magical moment, with the half moon, hint of color on the horizon, and lush foliage surrounding the naked tree. That you captured this from the roadside tells me you need not fall down hills or twist your knee in the future in search of exquisite perfection.