* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #839 / Revived #059 on 2024 05 15 *

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!

PITLOCHRY

For this week another quick iphone image from Scotland.
This is in Pitlochry, on the river (Spey?) where a huge hydropower dam with a fish ladder for migrating salmon is situated. This is just downstream from that dam.
(The image looked fine on my phone, but on a bigger screen, it seems that the slight additional exposure has resulted in a certain flatness, like a haze.)

Urban decay.

Eventhough it's a travel record and yes, does have remnants of haze it does hold the interest for the viewer. I like the transition from water to greenery and to the distant hills. Inclusion of 3 human figures adds to the appeal of the image.

The Agony and the Ecstasy.

Initially I would say "oh no" to #1, and "oh yes" to #2, but then I see soccer match on small screen which mimics reaction in #1. Second image shows a player flipping up with excitement on TV and the person watching the game reflecting the win.
These 2 pics just put smile on my face. Well seen and captured Mike. Two drinks tonight!

Candid shot of grandson Jack balancing my umbrella on his head, between soccer games Saturday. No great story or intent, I just liked it.

Well, there is fun aspect to this photo. I am sure it means more to you than to us, but it's still kind of interesting and intriguing. I like amazing colours which you managed to capture - bright green, red and blue.
Cool shot nevertheless.

Quarters Only

Summer evening on the Oceanside pier.

Rich

I like that optical instrument. It's a nostalgia trip since this particular equipment was widely used anytime there was something of an interest in a distance, being water or mountains or otherwise.
The colours are great, the shape, metal bits and all against far away sky and ocean. So simple and effective. I wish the base was not truncated, but that's a small omission.

Yeah, I should have paid attention to that.

I like your sense of humour.
Rich42 - did you scan the horizon for some flotilla?

Yup.

The coast was clear.

Rich

Both are superb and their combination is even better.

How the soccer fan is subconsciously echoing the gestures of his heroes visible on the TV screen is just beyond magnificent.

I bet you chose B&W to eliminate all distractions and it works just perfectly!

It’s indoor street photography of the highest level. Actually I am just green with jealousy here!

No great story? Are you kidding?!
That’s just about the greatest story ever — right there: an explosion of unlimited take-on-the-world youthfulness and sheer unstoppable no-strings-attached joy, with a grandmom to capture that memory forever.

Your dambirds are more artistic, but this is also universally recognizable.

Compositionwise, you could not have asked for a better placement of that cloud to perfectly frame the umbrella!

The Look

I enjoy photographing at art exhibitions, but rarely of just the exhibits themselves. I enjoy photographing the interaction of viewers and the artwork, and, ideally, an interesting juxtaposition.
In this case I had just photographed the painting with the artist's name, Lotte Laserstein, for reference, and set myself up to capture one or more viewers looking at the painting and the painting looking straight past them. But then serendipity had a much better idea!

Pete

What can I say?
Another big flash of jealousy here.
This is exactly what I would have liked to get there (but actually it is even better!)
Covid era face-masks are rarely a blessing, but most certainly here!