* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #891 / Revived #111 on 2025 05 14*

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!

BURG MANDERSCHEID - START OF THE HIKE

I've already shared a view of Burg Manderscheid (specifically the Unterburg - the lower castle) in this thread two weeks ago.

That was an image from the last stretch of my hike. While Els was already enjoying drinks and sunshine on a terrace in the small town, I added about 6km and a few stiff climbs in order to get to three different belvedere points over the castles from the hills beside and behind them.

However, we were treated to some pretty good views on the very start of our hike too.

Leaving the town, we took a narrow forest path that clings to the hill above the road leading out of the town. Suddenly, through a natural window between the trees, the Unterburg becomes visible, together with a panorama point along that road, where motorcycle riders can get off their bikes to snap a photo (the whole area with its meandering roads up and down the lush hills, is heaven for motorcycles).

This is the view at that point:

As you hike further away from the village, the perspective changes, resulting in views that included both the Unterburg and Oberburg.

Almost from the same spot (but with a wider focal length - I have changed the chronological order to create a sense of us walking further away):

(I notice that the thumbnails do not seem to enlarge when working with embedded link from Zenfolio like I did above, so here is an upload of those same three images to allow some closer viewing)

Convex glass curtain

Hydro building in Toronto, built in 1976 has a very unusual shape, which attracted my attention when I was passing by.

Highly unusual site, I must admit and I certainly share your fascination with it.
Surrounding area is truly breathtaking to say the least. One can spend hours there I reckon.

Habebamus Papam

The cry of “Habemus Papam” (we have a pope!) is still fresh. In Poland it is very much “Habebamus Papam” (we had a pope!, and no, I don’t know Latin and had to look this up). Pope John-Paul II is ever present, especially in his home city of Krakow. The photo shows a doorway of the church where Karol Wojtyla, as he was then, preached during the very early stages of his church career. There is very little PP in this and the rather appropriate flare was caused by bright sunlight on a dirty lens 😬 (sometimes shoddiness is a blessing). Or were there more powerful reasons?

View in Kiyomizu, Japan

Timber End, San Juan Capistrano, CA

End view of a timber retaining wall, Amtrak station, San Juan Capistrano, CA.

Rich