* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #882 / Revived #102 on 2025 03 12*

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!

DETTIE IN THORN

Last weekend we spent a gorgeous and sunny short break with four couples in a vacation house near Thorn, a beautiful and picturesque, cosy and nostalgic little city near the banks of the Maas (River Meuse) that is part of the border between Belgium and the Netherlands.

We enjoyed good food and drink and even better company, and for some activity : nice nature walks and bikerides along the banks of the Maas and various ponds and old river meanders, where Konik horses and Galloway cattle roam freely. A great time.

But before we got that kickstarted, some of us rode our trekking bikes from Antwerp to Geel (roughly 45 km) and then further on from Geel to Thorn (roughly 80 km, at least 75% offroad and on heavy terrain through forest and fields.

Dettie and Jan were the ones making the whole trek, in order to prepare for an upcoming bike vacation in Morocco. I joined them in Geel for the final stretch.

Jan was packed heavily to make sure that his bike could still handle well while taking all the weight they need to carry with them in Morocco (tent, sleeping bags, clothes, food and plenty of water + bike repair kit and tools). Dettie had two smaller bags on her new offroad bike.

I was a wimp in comparison, packing only water, some protein snacks and an extra sweater and jacket for just in case.

And obviously no real camera, so the following photo of Dettie upon our arrival on the market square of Thorn is shot with my iphone.

Barcelona. Again.

A Look at the Leica Museum

Yesterday I was near the town of Wetzlar, the home of Leitz and decided to visit their museum, which is celebrating 100 years of Leica cameras by hosting a Street Photography exhibition of photographers using their cameras.

This photo was taken in the museum, and benefits heavily from the magic of Steve McCurry's marvellous "Afghan Girl" portrait hanging in the foyer.

There is an interesting vibe to this photo. It is a beautiful, bright, sunny day and the town square is quite charming, but there is a subtle eerie feel to it. The town is deserted, despite the good weather, and the buildings lean in threateningly towards Dettie, who has only half dismounted her bike and stares back. She is probably enjoying the architecture and glad to have arrived at her destination, but there is something in her posture and body language, which can be interpreted as surprise or wariness. In any case I enjoy the effect and hope I am not being presumptious by saying that Hitchcock would too!

The last sunset of 2019

No photo trips this week for me :-(
So it's good to at least be able to pick something from the archives for C&C.
Now that I've installed a NAS, and have all my photos in one place, it's easy to look through and find things :-)

These 2 were taken on the last day of 2019, during our trip to South Korea.
Managed to get some shots here of the sun setting over Busan, just before driving off for a special New Year's Eve dinner.

The photo shows the use of rounded, flowing lines, avoiding straight lines at all costs, and the use of bright colours. Oh, and then there is the architecture too!
You have caught a lovely moment, where the people admiring the house (presumably Gaudi) are not in the way, but have been used in the composition to complement the themes in the building itself. The three ladies would make a good candid photo on their own or in front of just about any background, but to have this symbiosis between them and the architecture is marvellous.

Wow, the first one is superb. The orange sunset colours reflected in the modern buildings against the darkening purple sky complement each other so well, and the graceful curved lines of the buildings on the left are attractive too. The exposure is good, as you have avoided blown highlights without the whole thing looking flat and artificially manipulated.
The second doesn't really work for me, I'm afraid. I think the horizontal black bands across the frame stop a natural flow through the composition, and in doing so, emphasise the expanse of water in the foreground. However its main problem is being displayed alongside the first, which would make most photos pale in comparison.

Where is my maroon canoe?

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Canoes being stored over the winter at the edge of Toronto Harbour on Lake Ontario.

This photo is all about vibrant colours and hats worn by tourists against the backdrop of a great architectural masterpiece in Spain. They have made their all individual choices in respect to tops and head wear and even purse straps. Interesting study.

You have certainly captured the last rays of sun on the buildings. I like all the different structures and how light and shadows play on their surfaces.

Interesting circle of visitors in the foyer against the backdrop of very iconic image on the wall. The light was on your side.

Position of a rider against the backdrop of this town is ideal. The buildings, church and varied surface of the main square all contribute to a visual treat. Your iPhone serves you well.

aground

Great photo, the dynamics of both parts ( ladies and buildings) are very inviting.
Lou

The lens circle created by the visitors looks like a conversation about the young woman and her origins.
Lou

The Railway Station

From a No people-series of images. Gothenburg, Sweden, 2024-2025.

The town's main station or travel center means something to most people. It's from here we started our journeys getting out of the city, and later out of the country, exploring the world. It's here we have been standing waiting for someone we loved (or thought we loved). It's here somebody left us with a vague promise about "never forget" and "I'll write". It's here we stood waving.

Unfortunately the image has became problematic to me.. I have been thinking of taking it for at least two years. In my mind I imagined it as a special image, showing a building anyone in the city can identify and relate to instantly.

Somehow the image didn't come out that special. Is it good, average or barely tolerably? I can't say for sure any more.It's strange, I usually know what I think about my images. Maybe it's an image locals only can appreciate. You tell me.

Also let me know what I can do, or should have done... Here is an image showing the place in daylight. My position taking the image was at the X.

Any input or opinion is welcome!