* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #867 / Revived #087 on 2024 11 27 *

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 a photo or photo-based image that you have made and get critique on it. And in return you give other people your honest but constructive opinion of their images.

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 or essay 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 or essay that you have made and would like to get comments on.
An entry can either be a single image or a short essay. With an essay we mean not a collection of random images without any connection, seeking C&C on more than one of them. We mean instead a limited number (3 to 10) of connected images that together try to tell a story, create a fuller picture of a situation, event or location, etc.
• Add a clear title to your post to distinguish your entry.
• Look at the other images/essays 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.
• Please stay on topic, i.e. concentrate on the image and the photographic comments, without getting into politics or other distractions. No non-photographic arguments.*

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:
Unless the original poster specifically states (for every individual posting offered for C&C) that they do not want their image(s) to be downloaded, altered or reposted, it is understood that within the context of this thread, other participants are free to download and alter the posted image and repost it in a reply for C&C purposes. That reposted image may remain permanently within the week's thread, or you may remove it after a short period of time if you prefer. The downloaded and altered images are not to be used for any other purposes nor uploaded anywhere else than within the context of the C&C in this thread. 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.

Have fun, be respectful and let’s stick together!

GUARD

In one of the corridors of the Castle/Fortress dominating Gjirokaster in Central Albania.
(Iphone image)

ABANDONED

Some examples of abandoned dwellings I came across while touring Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada this summer. I always wonder - why, what happened?!

Very intriguing capture - it contains guns, bronze statue, arches, cobble stones and a real dog, as a juxtaposition.

Life along part of The Grand Canal, Souzhou, China

Thank you Alan.

No, it's not sooc. I shoot raw because I want total control over the final image.

With this one, apart from my normal white balance and tonal adjustments I bumped up the vibrance a bit to help add a little pop/punch to the scene.

I like the first two very much.

Unfortunately the sky in #3 spoils it for me although I like the low vantage point looking up towards the house.

New location. Different soil - more clay, similar to where I first discovered these critters - which seems to have an effect on their colour and the light (I know it affects the trees somewhat too)

Like this climbing insect with very gold tail.
Amazing when you see such a close-up.

Bright orange rain gear certainly makes you notice the occupants of this boat against beautiful cascade of flowers. What amazes me is the fact that you managed to capture very colorful passage way with all the ordinary life in progress (man watering his plants, fisherman with his catch) etc.

"I made hard boiled eggs for lunch . . . ," my wife called from the kitchen.

She had just placed the pan on the counter under the kitchen window with cold water for them to cool.

"Don't move a thing!," I yelled as I ran back to my office. "I gotta get a camera!"

Thank you Chris.

The men in the boat are not fishermen though. They are cleaners scooping up rubbish floating on the canal.

Hike to Eagle Point - Above Dale Hollow Lake in Kentucky (It once would have been an easy hike, but now has moved into the Moderately Difficult range for me)

It starts in a gorge. There's numerous waterfalls but all are dry except in spring. You have to climb up out of it and find the ridge

Once you make the ridge, things level out, it gets easier and you have a long flat winding path through young hardwoods.

As you near the point it is all a tumble of big rocks with small hardwoods wedged between. The final section takes a while navigating the rocks.

The reward at the end is a great view of the lake and islands. The eagles who live here were not in residence that day but it looks eagle-friendly.

The personable-looking dog, of course, makes the photo. He appears to be about to enter an old fort, with artifacts and statuary commemorating a battle. So, hallowed ground. The dog looks a little apprehensive. His entrance is blocked with paraphernalia, but we can see through the half arch opening a series of arches like nesting dolls, gong on forever. Our star is waiting for someone to arrive who will go with him. Pictures that imply stories are fascinating to me.

I love old houses and especially from the era of these gems. I'd have stopped to photograph all of them too. I live in a house that looked like this when I got it, precisely 8 years ago tomorrow, so there's hope for them yet, if only someone would care. Nice shots, all of them. My favorite is the last, because of the angle, and the mood which seems match the forlorn appearance of the house. If shot in raw I would try to retrieve some of the sky but if it didn't work out I'd just leave it this way.

Quite an interesting shot, a bit busy but I like busy. The colors are bright and they certainly don't adhere to any particular color palette, so at first glance they seem a bit jarring, but their clash is part of what makes the image successful: ordinary people go about their daily routines in places many of us would deem exotic. The most intriguing is the man with the bucket that's spilling water into the canal. He has so much equipment and other odds and ends stored by the canal, he must have an interesting purpose. I do think I might reduce saturation and luminance in the orange suits, to contain the magnetizing effect and let the interesting fellow with the bucket become more noticeable.

Another pretty dragonfly though with less colorful clothing than your usual suspects. On close inspection, however, he seems to be gilded, which is even more interesting that being clad in bright blues or greens or even reds. I do think I'd try to get the distracting light colored background stem loose from there. Lovely critter.