* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #950 / Revived #170 on 2026 07 01 *

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!

KING

Two weekends ago with stayed with Els' godchild and her older sister and their parents at "Safari Park Beekse Bergen".

This park just north of the border (in Hilvarenbeek, south of Tilburg in the sandy nature of Dutch North-Brabant) specializes in African animals that live in large and mixed groups in very wide open enclosures. For instance: the giraffes are at least two dozen and while we were there, we noticed that there were at least three very young animals frolicking. Ditto for the rhinoceros, zebra, etc.

The park offers a self-drive car safari, a boatride safari, and walking options, that each lead to different groups of animals. We had visited this park numerous times when our own children were still young, but it had been a while. And we had never spent the nights in the adjacent "Safari Hotel & Lodges"..

The actual park is only accessible during day hours (9.00-17.30), and those staying in the hotel and lodges have access during those hours.

But the main attraction of staying at the hotel & lodges is that these are also situated around large enclosures where separate groups of animals roam from dusk till dawn (and even at night, weather permitting). And those are accessible to the guests 24/7.

There is a large "Serengeti" zone and a "Masai Mara" zone where a dozen giraffe are joined by zebras, ostriches, a rhino, camels etc (and by native rabbits).
We enjoyed very early sunrise walks with the children to visit these animals and then go play in the themed playground.

There are also two large islands for lions, surrounded by a moat with invisible security fence and surrounded by lodges.

We had one of those lodges at one of the islands, and this meant that basically, lions were roaming and interacting (and often sleeping) in our back yard, literally only a few dozen meters removed from the terrace where we were having breakfast or dinner. (Proximity of course depending on where on the island the lions choose to be: they have a very large space and have their favourite spots at different hours of the day.)

On the other island, I counted one big, presumably older male and five or six female lions.
On the island where we had our lodge, there were two males (presumably brothers of slightly different age) and four females.

The spectacle, mostly around dusk and dawn (and the roaring at night) was really incredible. A true immersive experience.

I've taken my new OM-1 Mkii on the trip and have gone slightly crazy shooting portraits and a few action sequences of the lions (sometimes separate, sometimes together). Here is one:

Continuing my dive into my photos from1974.
Spain. Peniscola. I may have posted these two a few years ago? If so, these two will be better scans.

Waiting for the Bride

Woman in Doorway

Mystery

I was sitting on the beach of Lake Huron, Ontario recently and noticed a group of young boys frolicking in the water and at some point they decided to reach a pile of wood out in the water. I watched this attempt for a while, but the current was too strong and they abandoned the idea. I wondered what prompted them to embark on this ill advised escapade?!

Movement by the River

Trying to combine movement and Street photography.

Street Dogs of Havana

After several recent postings of street animals in cities, I was inclined to dig up some street dogs I met in Cuba. What made these guys so interesting is that all over the old part of the city, the animals were tagged with sponsor collars like these, identifying who they were "mascots" for, their vaccination status, their names, and an admonition to treat them well. Two of these were adopted by the museum they lay in front of (Museo de la Orfebrería, the yellow block building), and the other two by a bank and a law office. They are free to roam, but come back to their stations for meals and naps.

Planning a trip to Istanbul in September, going through my pictures from 3 years ago

Main Gates to Dalmabahce Palace

Treasury Gates to DalmabahcePalace

A tiny Fiat on the Palace Square