* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #930 / Revived #150 on 2026 02 11 *

Welcome to the Wednesday Comments and Critique (No Theme & No Brand) thread!

This is EDITION #150 in our new home...!!

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!

LIBERTY

Inspired by something Mike mentioned to me in a private e-mail conversation, here is an old image of mine.
This was shot in July 2008, on the first of our two USA trips with the family.

I tried a rather crude and bold B&W conversion too:

More from Train St. Hanoi. My post from last week was taken along this stretch of track. It's now a major tourist sight, lined with bars and eating places.

A couple of scapes:

Photo page: www.flickr.com/photos/jason_hindle/55059513267/in/dateposted-public/

www.flickr.com/photos/jason_hindle/55060591333/in/dateposted-public/

Acrobats

A sea of fog down below

Congrats on the 150th edition of the Wednesday C&C !
Keep up the good work!

Here's a view from Hochkeil: It was good to be above that sea of fog down below us, in the Hochkönig region of Austria.
Took this picture about one year ago. We were back there yesterday, but it wasn't as sunny as in this shot :-)

It's hard to discuss these when they can only be seen at small size.
The angle has the statue central and towering over the viewer. The clouds radiate out from the statue. Combine the two and this is very much an image making a statement about the significance of the statue. and what it represents. The base plants the figure solidly on the ground (while giving lines up to the statue) and the sky suggests something of vast, universal meaning. A photo that proclaims the importance of the symbolism of the statue.
Colour or B&W? It's a 2008 image and digital colour wasn't as easily managed at that time. It looks oversaturated to me and the resulting colour detracts, to my mind, from appreciation of the superb symbolism.
I therefore prefer the B&W. The ultracontrasty treatment has posterized the photo. In some ways, that's OK for a photo that is absolutely a message statement. Even so, as a photo I'd like a lighter touch.

No contest. The second shot by a mile.
There's nothing of much interest in the grassy foreground. The figures are too small to be examined and much the same for the buildings. I like the cloudscape but it is competing with too many other areas that have considerable space but not much to appeal.
Shot 2. Same place, probably same day and light but a far more exciting photo.
We are still aware of the grassy foreground and now there is so much more. The three bushes frame and give lines directing us to the buildings. The vertical lines of the colonnade, old towers and high rise buildings are working together and we can appreciate the contrast in styles and feel the history of the change. The very nice clouds are still there but in a V frame that augments rather than detracting from the buildings. Now we have enough of the people. They are more than dots. They don't become subjects but we can see they are simply enjoying the location with us.
The large darl triangle, bottom leftis somewhat too dominant. Could some shadow raising be selectively applied to this area? Not a huge amount. I like the diagonal bright area some shadow in the bottom left creates because it gives a visual lead to your wandering, exploring people. I think the shadow just needs to be a little more subtle.

Very impressive. From the exif data, I conclude that she isn't moving, She's balanced and rock steady in that position. Strength, balance, flexibility, youth.
I think she deserves more prominence in your photo and suggest it can be done with a little cropping.
I've added an edited version to try to make clear what I'm suggesting with the crops. Hope this is OK.
What I've tried to do with the attachment. I wanted to emphasize the raised leg and its angle so the right hand crop creates more of a diagonal to the top right corner. I alsp wanted to retainand give more prominence to the sunburst detail in the ironwork, top right. I feel the lines in the ironwork complement her pose. It's a pity that the small dog had to go as a result of the crop but I think it was worth it.
The crop on the left is to strengthen the relationship between the older onlooking couple and the acrobats. I suspect I know how they feel watching this. The crop gives a stronger suggested diagonal line from the top left corner through them and down to a point between the youngies. I took a bit off the bottom to give more weight to the V. More emphasis is also given to the bag with their names and I feel that is appropriate as well.
There are quite a few pale blue areas/objects in the photo and the repetition does a good job in linking everything together.
The photo is a great piece of streetwork. A moment with the capacity to stimulate thoughts beyond the immediate scene.

This looks like the kind of scene that was used when cinemas first went big screen and they wanted to knock us out with massive landscapes where we needed to turn our heads to take them in from our fixed seats. The makers of Cinemascope. Vistavisionj and Todd-AO etc would have loved Fireplace's photo.
It isn't suprising to see it has been stitched. As well as the scale of the view, the detail when shown as large as possible is equally enthralling. A shot that repays close explorationl- there's plenty to find.
The contrast between the hard,sharp peaks emerging from the soft fog gives drama. It's a big sky scene and the sky is big a d wide enough enough to make the point without overdoing it. The proportions between sky, mid ground and foreground areas feel right to me.
The difference in exposure/detail from foreground to background is well handled. It gives depth on a scale to match the width.
Epic.

Searching

a steam bath

On this roof in an Austrian valley town, the alpine coughs (strange name) were taking a steam bath in the spectacularly evaorating ice on this roof. The snow layers truly were no match for the power of the morning sun that day.

My vote is for #1. That green figure is like a beacon against blue sky.

Brilliant capture. Very atmospheric and mysterious.

That scene encapsulates typical moment in a foreign country. Classic.

I like that "V". Wonderful shot with distant mountains.

Impressive show of strength.

Great scene, but i would crop some bottom to accentuate the view...