* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #932 / Revived #152 on 2026 02 25 *

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!

ISTANBUL - BLUE MOSQUE

A very old image for this week.

This one dates from November 2009, shot on a trip to Istanbul.

This was still in the times of Four Thirds cameras, when I carried the ZD8mm fisheye around.
The weight of the combined lenses of that camera kit (ZD12-60, ZD40-150 and some primes like the fisheye and a fast short tele, together with an E-3 and later E-5) constituted a pretty stiff workout on any hike or city walk.

But every time I walked into a place like in this instance the Blue Mosque, I was happy to have all that gear on me.

Cathedral. Orvieto.

Sunrise/ Late Winter in Mississippi

Nothing special, just needed to get out yesterday for a few minutes to see something besides medical facilities!

Rust

A while ago I was wandering around in Port Lands on the edge of Lake Ontario. A cargo vessel brought some raw sugar from Caribbean for unloading. The side of it has seen better days, but certainly created an opportunity for some abstracts...

Street vendor

It's a very beautiful mosque, and your photo confirms that.
Very good!

Excellent lighting effects.

The mood and colors make this photo special.
What more could you want?

Wow!
I don't need to explain why I like this photo.
It immediately catches the eye!

The green paint and orange rust look great together. Great capture. Consider xposting this in the Abstract and Experimental Thread. Might consider cropping the bottom right above the bolts. The half bolts draw my attention and it bothers me a little to see them cut in half. I know, weird.
Thanks,
barondla

The traditional repeating geometric shapes of Moorish patterns are wonders of small detail. Via a fish eye we have stepped back to see a macro view of the sections building on each other. The patterns are dazzling in their complexity. Mathematics as art or art as mathematics?

That's quite a "nothing special" to have when you step outside. It has to be good for the soul when dealing with medical issues.
The shot itself is deceptively "simple." It isn't. Check the way the river gives a broad arrowhead to the trees on the left and the sliver of blue sky provides another to the trees on the right. This isn't a shot that feels peaceful because nothing seems to be happening. It's peaceful because of the finely controlled balance plus the warm and muted colours.

A colour combination with huge impact. The downward rust lines, top left and the vertical lines up from the rust colours at the bottom create plenty of visual movement and interest.
The only thing I don't like here is the half chopped off line of orange/brown rivets across the very bottom. Is it possible to lower the bottom edge a little so the rivets are complete, with a little space beneath them? If not, I still like it and if it was mine it would be a print on my wall.

I agree completely with barondla but read his post after writing mine.

Very nice. Full of interest from the signs to the merchandise to the faces. Your angle lets us see each of the central faces as well as the market stall. You are getting quite beautiful B&W rendition from your camera/processing combination.
Along the bottom edge is a truncated line of bricks that is somewhat distracting. Consider cropping a bit off the bottom of the shot?

Is it coincidence that we both share the interior of an historic religious building this week?

The mosque is spacious and open.

The cathedral is darker and narrower, almost feels a bit more claustrophobic.
But the rays of sunlight streaming in through the rose window in the facade and creating a beam like a spotlight, is an enormous bonus.
The lone figure sitting in one of the pews, head bent downwards as in prayer or contemplation, also creates a strong point of interest and focus, perfectly lit by the lowest part of the heavenly beam of light.

If I want to get technical and nit-picky, I must say that there are some funky perspective distortions at work here, in several directions.
(It's almost like an image of mine: I am also known to tolerate distortions to a much higher degree than most people...)

Should you correct those distortions? I don't feel like you should...
Especially since any attempt at distortion correction would result in loss of margin and will bring the sitting figure closer (too close) to the image's edge.

Another aspect worth noting is the large expanse of ceiling.
That vaulted ceiling has its merits, architecturally, but I don't feel like it is really necessary or contributes to the image (in this case).
A square crop (from the bottom up, eliminating most ceiling above the rose window) might be an option worth exploring.

Sorry to hear that you must spend so much time inside medical facilities.
I can only wish you all the best with that predicament, for yourself and the loved ones you are taking care of.

But... if you get outside and are greeted by a gorgeous sunset like this one on a scene as tranquil and soothing than this one, I do hope you can take that as a positive sign and a reason for hope and optimism.