* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #886 / Revived #106 on 2025 04 09*

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 (almost 17 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!

SCHELDEPRIJS (2021)

Today is racing day in my hometown Schoten (near Antwerp).

Traditionally on the Wednesday between the two monuments "Tour of Flanders" and "Paris-Roubaix", a peloton centered around sprinters, makes Schoten their goal for the annual (and this year 99th edition of) the "Scheldeprijs" (aka "Grand Prix de l'Escaut).

All UCI pro teams (male and since 2021 also female) are well represented.
No Pogacar, Van der Poel or other top tier candidates for victory in Roubaix (they will not risk getting hurt in the hectic and high speed sprint that is most often the finale of our race), but all the big sprinters and their lead out trains are present.

Although it is traditionally a race without much elevation (riding through Zeeland and then the "Kempen", with local rounds as icing on the cake, there are still a few cobblestones to be conquered (compared to the sections in Paris-Roubaix, our sections are very "civilized", hardly more difficult than asphalt).

This sequence is from the 2021 edition:

(I have shown the middle one of this sequence before, in edition 677 of April 14, 2021.
In that edition, it was accompanied by different colorization versions of the identical image
(one natural colour, one desaturated with a greenish cast).
In today's edition, the idea is to explore what a rapid succession of shots can represent.)

Same story as last week, no time for any photo tours again this week :-(
Very busy with some garden renovations and a full time job,...

So one from the archives.
This is a view, with Wakering Church (Essex) in the distance. Taken from a walk along the sea wall in Wakering, looking down and across the marshy estuary water. At the bottom there's just one of the many little tributaries leading into the main channel. It's very muddy here and has that familiar characteristic smell of the estuary marshes with all the local flora and fauna. Quite nostalgic for me :-)

Linkt.

This view is very peculiar.
It makes me feel like I am an ant walking on a railroad and looking up at the world that is visible between rusted rails.

Apart from that odd but pleasant impression, the photo works well also if we leave the ant's perspective and step back into human shoes.
A sweeping vista with great curves, contrasted by blocky buildings and with a good vanishing point. What is not to like here?

Figures

Whitney Block is a Government building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Modern Gothic-Art Deco structure was built in 1926 by architect F. R. Heakes .The facade is ornamented by repeated sequences of quatrefoils, and figures designed by Charles Adamson, which represent abstract ideals like justice, tolerance, wisdom and power, as well as more ordinary pursuits such a mining, forestry, labour, law, education and farming.

Your image starts with natural water element and your eyes wonder through the grasses and fields and end up on church tower in a distance. Great shot.

Great take on downtown through the curves of ramps. What is really eye catching is the colours of them. Intriguing.

An interesting sequence study of the bicycle race team in motion. One can analyze each individual member actions and reactions as they progress. Excellent.

Where I live (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) we are still under -5C temp and with frost on the roofs. So seeing colorful flowers brings me hope that Spring is here and coming soon. Your cheerful flora is a bright sign.

Stop

Rich

[quote="@RoelHendrickx"]

The sequence of three shots doesn't do it for me. Too complicated.

The third shot tells it all!

Pain! Effort! Competition!

That is the shot.

Excellent!

Rich

Now if you want to show a shot demonstrating the concept of leading lines . . . This is the one!

Not only do they lead the eye, but they cradle and frame the central point of interest.

All other leading lines in all other images are jealous of these!

Wow!

Beautiful urban architectural composition.

Rich

Interesting composition with the "Question Mark" pool of water tying in with the clouds, pulling what is an otherwise undistinguished swath of marshy land into something cohesive.

Good eye. I would have seen nothing to record, passing by this scene.

Rich