* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #900 / Revived #120 on 2025 07 16*

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!

DUNNOTTAR CASTLE

Here is another outtake from the images proposed for the new edition of "Hidden Scotland".

Dunnottar Castle is one of the more impressively situated castle ruins in the country, on the east coast (Aberdeenshire).
It is an image made on the second of our five bi-annual hiking trips to Scotland, in spring 2017.

It‘s a great looking shot and very well done! Impressive looking castle as well. If possible (I think your options were likely limited) I would have tried to take that from a slightly lower POV.

String-ception?

That looks like an impressive castle, or at least the remains of one. A good position to see anything coming in from the sea. And defend against attacks from the land too, but a long siege could be a problem, unless they could re-supply from the sea. I wonder what caused its demise?
The photo is good, pity it didn't make it into the book.

1-2-3

Anyone for early morning training...!?

Intriguing image. Maybe achieved with some sort of mirror and one of your "special bokeh" lenses?
With that out-of-focus blur on the strings, it sort of looks like they have been plucked and are vibrating.

Impressive structure and surrounding buildings. Looks formidable.

Definitely mechanical?!

Some weekend hikes with a new nifty fifty

This weekend, I took the newly released Viltrox AF 50mm F2 Air for Nikon Z out for a spin. True to its name, the "Air" is compact and lightweight—making it a joy to carry on hiking trips. I used only this lens to get familiar with its character and to see what shooting solely at 50mm can offer. Even wide open, it delivers decent sharpness and focuses quickly enough for my usual landscape shots. At around €180, it’s a very budget-friendly option.
The family portraits came out very nice at F2 with a nice separation of the person and the background.
Here's a few of the landscape shots.

Thanks Arvo,
Yes, the vignetting is quite a lot at f2 and disappears as you close it down, but anyway very easily correctable to taste in post.
And since I always use RAW, and always process every image, it's an easy thing to correct.
However, if you were shooting with JPG and using the images SOOC it would be a problem.

Fab shot. You have captured all important ingredients for excellent image. Wonderful.
The lens certainly serves you well.

All great shots, but these two stand out in terms of composition/color. Excellent landscape work.