* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #926 / Revived #146 on 2026 01 14*

Thanks for the comment. The fungi identifier says its name is Witch's Butter, which is such a cool name. I knew the colors were a little off, with the camera being fooled by the shaded forest and delivering me a slightly bluer version than I saw. I kinda liked what it gave me which was why I didn't mitigate it, but here is a version with some correction, more like it really was.

Yes, it is an interesting conversation to have, whether to correct our camera's misapprehensions or not. In this case, I liked the shift the camera decided to give me so I kept it instead of trying to correct it. In other circumstances I might shift white balance or tint on purpose to see if it might convey a certain mood I preferred. Those things aren't as extreme as other editing that I sometimes do, but they are still edits. I have rather loose standards for my editing and like to play but am always willing to tell anyone what I've done and why, if I even know.

The fungus is known as Witch's Butter. They puff up like they're filled with jelly when it rains, then get dried up and dull colored when they lack moisture.

Thank you for the extensive guided tour and information (although I must say that I cannot see the first image, not in your original post and neither in any of the comments that include your images as quotes).

It's amazing how sometimes quite remote places (like Machu Picchu) can become pilgrimage places for the happy few (as we all are, those of us who have the luxury of time and money to travel).

Having a competent guide who knows the logistics of the place can then make a world of difference between a frustrating "sardines in a can and on a conveyor belt" sensation and a satisfying experience.

Side note. Whenever and wherever we travel, we almost always feel like getting a good (private) guide is an expense that is worth the money. (E.g. recently in Morocco we employed a private official guide in Volubilis, Fez, Meknes and in the Skoura oasis - two actually there, one for the Amridil Kasbah and one for the wider oasis. Not for Marrakech as that city is much more easily navigated than the more labyrinthian medinas. I am blessed with a pretty decent sense of orientation and a good memory for maps.)

Your guide must have been extremely talented, in order to be able to insert you in the waiting queue at the exact good spot in order to have the "Indiana Jones" moment with the sunlight streaming into the chamber.

And then I wonder : does he use TPE or another ephemeris app or software to have the exact moment for every day of the year. (Or is Abu Simbel so close to the equator that differences between seasons are less pronounced than further north or south.)

The logistics of such a time-critical event fascinate me.

A good shot of a fascinating building. Is that Tudor style?

Let me tell you about the odd first impression (and second, and third, and every time I look again) I got from this image.
The straight white flagpole dividing the image in 1/3 vs 2/3 felt (at first, second, ... glance) not like a flagpole and integral part of the image, but came across as a border between two separate images combined into a collage. Did anyone else get that sensation too or is it just me?

Lots of layers and textures here. Much to explore from bottom to top and back again.

I posted my own comment before reading this one. We both have thoughts about the flagpole.
Maybe read mine and see what you think.

Anyway, I don't agree with your view that the flagpole is "in the wrong position).
I prefer that pole (if unavoidable) to be exactly where it is, cutting through the shadow that is cast on the building by a big tree.

Much better IMHO than the flagpole disturbing the patterns of the woodwork.

It is the fact that the pole cuts through the dark area of the image, that created the impression that I got, because the shadow "interrupts" the building anyway. If the flagpole was over the woodwork patterns, with that pattern clearly continuous under the pole, I would not have gotten the "collage" sensation.

I (and I am sure: we) wish you all the best with the medical issues.

About the image: i like it a lot. Sometimes it is a good thing that the camera's white balance is fooled, because the combination of cool blue with almost poisonous yellow fits this image really well. It looks like some organism found on another planet.

I agree with the scene being as it is.
Almost a Mondrian.

Just curious: can you elaborate what makes this image look like a smartphone shot?
I really wonder. (This is NOT a troll question, nor one inspired by indignation or any such emotion.)
It's just that I myself am not confident in identifying with which tool many images are made.

About this approach of mine:
Whenever I am traveling, I often make "iphone previews" (or postviews) of images also done with my normal camera (at least the images that range from very wide angle to mild telephoto : my phone's three lenses can handle that, but not longer telezoom). Unless I use the artificial bokeh, the images are defined by deep focus. The colour range is OK but not as rich as the real camera with bigger sensor (although my sensors are not really "BIG": they are micro four thirds, so roughly 1/4 the area of full frame - that also gives me in general a deeper focus for the same F stop).
Mostly those images are just for immediate use (whatsapp to friends or children, e.g.)
But I am aware of my sloth-like qualities in processing large volumes of real photos, so over the years I have come to use those phone preview images as my first gallery for a trip.

... and you too mention the flagpole.
Interesting discussion we are having here about the effect of that element.
Read also Mike's and my comments.

A message for everyone/anyone. Are you not seeing the first shot in this series, the photo with the mother and girls on their phones while waiting in the queue? If no-one is seing this, it explains why no-one has commented on it. I think it is the best "photo" in the series..
The back wall that shows the pharaoh with the god is only illuminated by the sun on two mornings of the year and we hit one of them. The illuminated back wall didn't stay sunlit for very long. Our fabulous guest house owner had us set our early morning alarm for 4.30 am and also prepared a "take with us" breakfast. He arranged transport that he thought would get us into the queue in approximately the right position. Then he told us to not go in immediately but linger a little once through the entrance until we could see that the sun was shining through. Then go for it. Worked like a charm.
The illumination is talen as confirmation that the sun/god accepts the authority of the pharaoh as ruler and as a god.
An aside. The status of the old religion in Egypt and where it sits in relation to Muslim and Christian religions is an interesting topic that I took up with some Egyptians. It's complex and there is no one answer. Old Egypt is preserved and valued for the tourist $ and the national identity. As a belief system it is still influential.

Extra edit note. I'm sitting in an airport with some time to spare so I'm adding shot 1 here incase it isn't showing on whatever you are seeing.

I'd also want to keep the pole in the shadow. I think it could have been done with only a small movement to the left - just enough to create a small gap of blue sky between the pole and the chimney. I'm not suggesting doing it in PP. It might be possibloe but it would be beyond my skills.

This image did indeed NOT show up previously. It's a Caravaggio.