* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #902 / Revived #122 on 2025 07 30*

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JSPhotoHobby
Members 167 posts

Aug. 1, 2025, 4:10 p.m. Aug. 1, 2025, 4:10 p.m.
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Something a bit different.

20250731_203412.jpg
JPG, 6.5 MB, uploaded by JSPhotoHobby on Aug. 1, 2025.

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JonasB
Members 69 posts

Aug. 1, 2025, 4:51 p.m. Aug. 1, 2025, 4:51 p.m.
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@ChrisOly has written:

@AlanSh has written:

@ChrisOly has written:

All are interesting, but I like this one most.
I just wish we saw more of the surroundings on the top, so lock will have more of the context, but that's just me.

Easily fixed. Here you are:

You are true magician. It certainly improves the image considerably. Tx

Hi Alan,
Like ChrisOly I think the image was improved by undoing the cropping. I like good B&W images - who doesn't like nice shapes?! Here however I'm not sure the conversion improved the image. I have came back to you image twice now and have to ask you: What is your reasoning behind making the image B&W?
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Fireplace33
Members 1540 posts

Aug. 1, 2025, 7:22 p.m. Aug. 1, 2025, 7:22 p.m.
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@AlanSh has written:

@ChrisOly has written:

All are interesting, but I like this one most.
I just wish we saw more of the surroundings on the top, so lock will have more of the context, but that's just me.

Easily fixed. Here you are:

I like it better like that.
Nice shot and B& W seems to fit the mood.
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Fireplace33
Members 1540 posts

Aug. 1, 2025, 7:25 p.m. Aug. 1, 2025, 7:25 p.m.
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@JSPhotoHobby has written:

Something a bit different.

The colours are really good in this. You have the sunset colours and all the bright neon colours of the displays too. And you certainly get the feeling of being up there in the cockpit
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simplejoy
Members 1756 posts

Aug. 1, 2025, 11:51 p.m. Aug. 1, 2025, 11:51 p.m.
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@AlanSh has written:

@ChrisOly has written:

All are interesting, but I like this one most.
I just wish we saw more of the surroundings on the top, so lock will have more of the context, but that's just me.

Easily fixed. Here you are:

Excellent! Looks great in B&W and the composition works in the extended version as well, so I certainly prefer that. Well done.
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simplejoy
Members 1756 posts

Aug. 2, 2025, 12:02 a.m. Aug. 2, 2025, 12:02 a.m.
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@RoelHendrickx has written:

@PeteS has written:

Showing the Unspeakable & Echo image

Whilst in Poland in April we visited Auschwitz. I had seen and read so much about it over the years, that I thought I knew what to expect, but in fact it was more powerful and sinister than I expected. It was difficult to take it all in and there were so many contrasting emotions. It was a warm, sunny Spring day, and the birds singing and the first flowers looking pretty created a cheery atmosphere, but the whole time I was also feeling its dark and evil history. Seeing tourists like me who would be leaving again in a few hours, compared to those 80 years ago who couldn't leave. Wondering whether we were doing the place justice and trying to learn and feel, or were we guilty of adding a tick on a long list of tourist to-dos.

It was difficult to capture all these thoughts photographically. There are so many iconic scenes that I have seen a thousand times and trying to see them in a new way is difficult / impossible. Trying to bring across the sinister nature on a bright sunny day is tricky too. (I went to Buchenwald on an icy, foggy day, so it was easy there.) Avoiding visitors in the frame was not easy, I wanted to show them, without them looking like casual visitors. I wanted the ghosts of Auschwitz to inhabit the place as well as the visitors and tried to do this by including historic photos on the walls, or as in this example, by using reflections to suggest ghosts.

Of all the photos I took, I think this one was the most successful at conveying the feelings I wanted to illustrate, but suggestions are welcome.

On a technical note:
In both this week's and last week's photo, I made use of the new remove reflections feature in Lightroom, which allows the reflection to be removed completely, and then use a slider to bring back the level of reflection as required. Sometimes the removal works like magic, sometimes some or all of the reflection remains untouched, but if you intend to return some of the reflection, it is not so important how successful the removal was.

When we were in Auschwitz-Birkenau many years ago (actually on the very same trip that brought us to the Sächsische Schweiz), the visit also resulted in a deep and lasting impression.

I have made a whole gallery of images while there: roelh.zenfolio.com/p1026987293

Like you, I was fascinated by the possibilities of reflections and see-through glass of the exhibits that enclose earthly remains of the victims: piles of suitcases, glasses, shoes.

I mostly concentrated on getting reflections of the windows (with their strainge purple hue that I also recognize in your image), because my intention was to use those windows as a metaphor for freedom, contrasting sharply with the reality of imprisonment and death. Also, those windows could be seen as a metaphor not for physical actual freedom, but the bitter freedom that is the result of death.

My most succesful image in that respect (IMHO) is this one, it is one with a window reflection in the glass of the exhibit of the ironic, useless suitcases that the deported had packed for their "relocation", and particularly because of the family name of that specific suitcase owner:

Your image is laden with a similar, but different symbolism.

You have chosen an exhibit with the concentration camp uniforms: we can see them through the glass, and the reflections are of people visiting.

The combination tells us that all of us innocent citizens can end up in circumstances such as these, wearing these horrible rough cloth “striped pyjamas” when the wrong people are in power and have enough willing accomplices to do their dirty work.

Both images are great - well done!

Of course both also show remnants of absolutely horrible parts of history and human nature. Even for someone who lives in one of the countries where all of this took place, it took a considerably long time for me to grasp the extent of it all. I still remember when it dawned on me that the horrors didn't just happen in these few places we know by name because we learned them in school... but rather everywhere, perhaps even within the streets and houses I visit everyday. It's so important to remember - particularly now - that this can happen anywhere, anytime again, if we're not cautious unfortunately.
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simplejoy
Members 1756 posts

Aug. 2, 2025, 12:09 a.m. Aug. 2, 2025, 12:09 a.m.
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@MikeFewster has written:

Anyone for Tennis?

Hmm. My sky is a bit oversaturated.

I like the strong colors and it certainly is an image with impact for me.

I've recently learned how much work, money (and water) the maintenance of a tennis court takes, and it's honestly shocking that people are willing to allow that, given how a vast number of necessary projects and investments for our future well-being could desperately need all of that. But that's human nature for you. Our thoughts (myself included).only extend to the next weekend unfortunately...
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simplejoy
Members 1756 posts

Aug. 2, 2025, 12:20 a.m. Aug. 2, 2025, 12:20 a.m.
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I hope I haven't shared this one before...

The weight of light by simple.joy, on Flickr

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