* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #928 / Revived #148 on 2026 01 28 *

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 or critical 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!

CASABLANCA

One more image from our Morrocan trip.
Not much explanation or context this time.

This was on our almost day-long meandering discovery walk through the port city Casablanca on Dec. 31, 2025.
More specifically : on the way from our apart-hotel in the Maarif quarter towards the massive Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic coast:

Two interesting big murals on the wall here. I'm sure the locals would know who they are and all about the significance of the flowers etc. But in the meantime, looking at the lady and her child, they've been there long enough, and have been seen many times before, so that they now just sort of fade into the background for the locals.

Icy patterns

Haven't been out with the camera this week, but here's a few shots from a local walk with my phone. The ice is slowly melting away here, but it's still quite cold.
The sun was shining on the little stream and making the ice look pretty.

Watersnake. Vietnam.
Two versions of the same photo. I cropped to get a close look at the head and liked the result. I can't decide which I prefer.

Power

St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto, Canada. Opened doors in 1848...
Every time I go there there's overwhelming feeling of greatness, architecturally, spiritually etc.

Just enormous power and beauty of nature.

For me this one. You are treating us to very unique capture. That yellow line on lhs is extremely captivating and the colours...
Great image, almost abstract.

To me it's all about flowers. Both images share them, but the foreground one certainly demonstrates it's beauty and colours. Interestingly each face reflects different mood and i reckon surroundings have some impact on that.

Human figures add tremendous juxtaposition to the capture. Well seen.

Amaryllis. Amazing flowers, require no watering, constantly blooms new flowers.

Great, brite, colorful. Amazing growth.

You could include this photo in a dedicated "Flowers" thread under Showcase...so more people would appreciate it's beauty.

The ferry at the pier

It has this classic, old style look. Maybe b&w pp contributed to it. Well seen.

These are interesting. The first and thrid strongest (rule of thirds?), perhaps being more abstract than the middle photo. The colour and detais are nice in all three.

Nice subject and composition. I like the use of space here. I have too many photos of my own where I've ended up cropping them to 16:9 only to regret it later. Everything is in the right proportion.

Alcudia Part 2: A Portrait Of Alcudia

When the first photo turns into a mini project. Less than twenty minutes walking from the resort of Alcudia is the walled, medieval town of Alcudia. The first photo I took (on the way to a very nice cervecería) was in portrait and at 4.5 zoom. I decided to keep that setting for the remaining photos. Per last week, these were taken with my Google Pixel 9 Pro and, moreso than last week, have that typical HDR look with no deep shadows (I like my shadows BTW).

Leaves

Playing with light and embracing the shadows.

It is nice to walk down a warm sunny street with you in this series, with a cold snowy evening outside my window.
I like the three photos above the best.
The first has added interest with two of the four main male subjects carrying children, and the main subject carrying the child in an amusing way.

The second has the nice winding alley, including a single person to attract attention and add interest, and also a glimpse of the distant hills over the roofs, which adds another sense of place.

The third has a very nice curve in the street and interesting buildings leading through the scene.