• Members 1465 posts
    June 17, 2026, 5:36 a.m.

    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!

  • Members 1465 posts
    June 17, 2026, 5:40 a.m.

    BLUE MOSQUE

    Inspired by someone's image of the Hagia Sophia a week or two ago, I took a look through my gallery of images from a short visit to Istanbul in 2009.

    Here's one I made back then to try and evoke the intricate and harmonious structure of the Blue Mosque:

    roelh.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-10/p1504400488-6.jpg

  • Members 2565 posts
    June 17, 2026, 8:47 a.m.

    Still 1974 on Samos.
    Tenderizing an octopus.

    Greek Fisherman (1 of 1).jpg

    Greek Fisherman (1 of 1).jpg

    JPG, 921.1 KB, uploaded by MikeFewster on June 17, 2026.

  • Members 2339 posts
    June 17, 2026, 11:52 a.m.

    Lonely bench anyone?!

    R1010022x.jpg

    R1010022x.jpg

    JPG, 4.3 MB, uploaded by ChrisOly on June 17, 2026.

  • Members 2339 posts
    June 17, 2026, 11:59 a.m.

    Intricate brick work, golden finials, minrets, cascading cupolas - this amazing assembly of architecual features really makes huge impression on a viewer. Love that dark blue colour. It's an incredible visual statement and you have certainly captured all in this highly compressed image.

  • Members 2339 posts
    June 17, 2026, 12:01 p.m.

    Great image from the past. B&W makes it.

  • Members 2701 posts
    June 17, 2026, 2:54 p.m.

    Gladioli and a doorknob

    I've had the country house for 10 years, and have made dozens of close up photographs of this glass doorknob on my pantry door, few of which I've kept. When I saw all these interesting shadows and textures - the flowers, the lace edged curtains, the chair, the window screen, the century's worth of paint layers - I backed up and did this. I liked it but I don't know why.

    IMG_6295.jpeg

    IMG_6295.jpeg

    JPG, 16.2 MB, uploaded by minniev on June 17, 2026.

  • Members 2339 posts
    June 17, 2026, 5:04 p.m.

    Love that shot. Mysterious shapes and shadows, door texture, attractive knob etc.

    I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty in playing with 2 variants - I just couldn't resist, since this image lends itself to experiments in interpretation ..

    .img-6295(1).jpg

    IMG_20260617_121114(1)(1).jpg

    IMG_20260617_121114(1)(1).jpg

    JPG, 374.5 KB, uploaded by ChrisOly on June 17, 2026.

    img-6295(1).jpg

    JPG, 325.2 KB, uploaded by ChrisOly on June 17, 2026.

  • Members 2339 posts
    June 17, 2026, 5:14 p.m.

    Interesting shot, since it's like you are shining a light on this example of fauna from amphibians kind.

  • Members 959 posts
    June 17, 2026, 6:42 p.m.

    To supplement Roel's image Blue Mosque inside
    Istanbul 230531 - 94.jpg

    Hagia Sophia inside
    Istanbul 230531 - 97-Edit.jpg

    Istanbul 230531 - 97-Edit.jpg

    JPG, 2.4 MB, uploaded by Sagittarius on June 17, 2026.

    Istanbul 230531 - 94.jpg

    JPG, 2.4 MB, uploaded by Sagittarius on June 17, 2026.