* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #892 / Revived #112 on 2025 05 21*

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!

WINDSWEPT WEDDING

I've been going through images from five bi-annual Scotland hike vacations (2015, 017, 2019, 2022 and 2024, with a hiccup of no travel in the COVID-year 2021).

This operation is for an upcoming new edition of the book "Hidden Scotland", so my focus was quite narrow on items included in the book.
Nevertheless, I also returned to images of some favourite spots, and this included our hike around Neist Point Lighthouse (far west on Isle of Skye).

We parked at the car park and hiked up to the cliffs near the lighthouse before starting a pretty stiff hike in the area.
This was on a chilly and windy day in April 2019, when we were all glad to be dressed warmly in merino wool sweaters and windstoppers.

But before starting the actual hike, I spent a few minutes watching the spectacle of an Asian couple doing wedding photos in this inhospitable place.

A team of photographer, dresser, hair & make-up artist and lighting assistant were with the bride and groom to create unforgettable memories.

I cannot help but think that the bride's memories will primarily be of freezing nearly to death when the anorak was removed from around her frail shoulders and only her husband's glowing love remained there to warm her, during endless reshaping of the dress and a series of posing instructions yelled by the photographer.

A VW with attitude.

New season

Thornbury, Georgian Bay, Ontario

Driver's view will definitely be obstructed if he intends to go on the road...

I would say frosty memories would follow.
Good story though and very picturesque locale.

Decisions

So many choices at the Ice Cream Shoppe for a little kid.

Rich

But for the bizarre situation playing out, would you have shot this particular scene?

Brrrrrrrrrr. Between the cost of the dress and the photographer, guess she figured she'd better tolerate the cold. Hope the rest of the marriage isn't given to such capitulation.

Rich

Chris,

I realize it's a bright, sunny, blue-sky day, the water is clear and it's a recreational boat harbor scene.

But nothing about the image really conveys that winter has transitioned to spring and that a new season is starting.

It's a pleasing image.

Rich

Definitely Badass. Definitely in-yer-face. In actuality and in this image.

Somebody used up a lot of energy on this build. But definitely un-useable.

Rich

It was pouring rain on a Saturday afternoon. The sun was nowhere in sight, and the temperatures were just north of the freezing point. Most folks seemed to have decided to stay home glued to the telly, so the busy spots like this fishing hole were devoid of the usual human weekend incursion. This fellow was the sole soul out on the usually busy spot that day, seemingly undeterred by nature's attempts to interfere with his dinner plans.

A man's got to eat.

Was this sole soul fishing for sole? At the fishing hole?

🙄

I like the repetition of the leaning angle of the tree and the angler.

Rich

Spent a couple of days in Zion NP last week. This is, I think, East Temple. It's one of my favorite walks because as crowded as this park is, there is never anyone on this trail, just you, the ants and the lizards. The sky wasn't kind to us this day, no puffy clouds.

Majestic. Serene. And, apparently, by your description - quiet!

Also looks like one must be in pretty good shape to be able to appreciate this kind of natural beauty.

Rich

strolling through Vienna

This weekend I borrowed my dad's Olympus camera to play photographer for an event in Vienna (I usually use my phone). So I took the opportunity to take some pictures throughout Vienna. These are some of my favourites.

Interesting photos in a beautiful landscape.
I can easily imagine it being a Chinese couple.
They spare no effort or expense for good wedding photos.
In a small Chinese town, I observed that the number of wedding photography businesses increased tenfold within just a few years.
Professionally done, with consultation, cost estimates, and everything else that goes with it.
In 1992, I attended a co-worker's wedding in Singapore.
It was a very expensive affair; the bride changed her clothes five times.
He told me he spent a month's salary on the wedding photos.

Time to explain. Silverton is a tiny outback town where many films have been made. This vehicle was made for Mad Max.

I was gonna say exactly that: this vehicle does indeed has Mad Max dripping from all its valves and filters.

I am guessing that you used an extreme close up approach to exclude unwanted distractions from the frame, and it worked well, but that method yields the added benefit of making the car look extra aggressive and (like Rich said) “in your face”.

When we toured through some bits of the S-W USA around 14 years ago, Zion NP was on our checklist of parks to visit and enjoy. I remember that we stayed in a cute bungalow. On the evening of our arrival, Els and I did a nice hike through a Canyon while our children enjoyed some downtime.

On the next day, we did a hike all together to something called Emerald Pools.

When that did not feel like quite enough for me, I followed up with another hike (this time solo) to Angels Landing.
(I say solo, but I mean "without the rest of the family" - the walk was anything but "solo" because all the people doing that same hike (one of the "High Five") were like a trail of ants going up and down again. I just checked online to see whether I did not mix up Parks and Hikes, because we covered a lot of ground on that trip, and I see that nowadays, Angels Landing requires a permit. Not so back then.)

Zion NP definitely was one of the highlights of our trip (for me).
A superb variation of landscapes, vegetation and just beauty.

Your image encapsulates all of that - very beautiful; I don't miss clouds).

It immediately triggers a desire to go back out there, but maybe not in the next few years.
We'll "make do" with similar landscapes in Europe for now.

(A close resemblance to this particular mesa formation is Stac Pollaidh in Scotland near Ullapool.
(affectionately called "Stac Polly")
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stac_Pollaidh)

[quote="@RoelHendrickx"]

It immediately triggers a desire to go back out there, but maybe not in the next few years.
We'll "make do" with similar landscapes in Europe for now.

I understand you, Roel.
As Europeans, we are currently not welcome friends in the USA.

Washington Monument through World War II memorial

Washington Monument from Lincoln Memorial

This is one of the saddest things I have ever read here.

I know we are not supposed to use this site for any political agendas. But this makes me want to cry.

Kumsal, whatever insanity is currently playing out - and God knows, most of us are not of its making - you are welcome in my country.

Rich

Agree with Rich. Most of us are not a part of the nefarious nonsense in the halls of power. A lot of us US citizens don't feel welcome here either. I understand being reluctant to visit. But it is so sad. As an option I'd suggest our neighbor Canada as an option. They have incredible landscapes and sensible tourism policies.