* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #952 / Revived #172 on 2026 07 15 *

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!

MON (Museu Oscar Niemeyer) in CURITIBA (Brazil)

After more than 24 hours of train and air travel in three legs (Antwerp-Amsterdam-Madrid-SaoPaulo-Curitiba) we were finally in Brazil on Monday.
We were welcomed by our friends and had a relaxing day.

But yesterday we got down to serious sight-seeing business.

We started with a walk through a residential neighbourhood from our studio to their apartment, then visited the Jardim Botanico, then the Museu Oscar Niemeyer, then the Opera de Arame (a giant concert venue in an old quarry), and finally we watched Spain beat France on a giant screen in the Bastards Brewery, while enjoying some craft beer.

This is an image of the MON (Museu Oscar Niemeyer), designed in 1967 by the architect who also created Brasilia (the capital that we will visit in a few weeks).
We were lucky to have the 16th Biennale of International Art running, so the interior was (almost) as interesting as the striking exterior:

In the distance

Hot, hazy and humid weather is enveloping the world and North America is no exception. These shots were taken recently around Lake Simcoe, Ontario. Attraction for me were far away islands on the horizon, barely visible in the distance...

Lots to look at - leading lines, colour, water, architectual shapes and elements, sky reflections in the windows. etc, etc. Absolutely fascinating site. Just magic!

Living and Dying, MidSummer

Found around the farm this week. My pictures are so boring I have to show them in groups.

Grass growing through fungi. Extra attraction, a piece of 100 year old barbed wire.

Jewelweed, new this year, never had it here before.

Squash babies forming after the flower petals have dropped.

Pine tree dying, its bark falling off in rectangular sections.

Hummingbird food (lantana)

An old building nearby

We are given here a great insight into forest flora. Unique series indeed with lots of details and interesting colours.

We are witnessing a considerable number of architecual details and elements which contribute to great appreciation of this particular building. Ornaments and statues adorn this site to a very high degree. Well seen.

Well that should be enough firewood for the winter

Seemed to work in B&W

Abstract with alligator

That looks so scary. A monster lurking in a fantasy abstract world; swimming slowly and waiting patiently for you.

The text on that good looking building is in German and says "Institute for Applied Chemistry" , where is it?
I wonder what they discovered inside here in the past years.

Terrifing vision of approaching danger. One can find different views on this event, but one thing is certain - the outcome will not be good if you come in contact with the beast.

I like the leading lines on the rhs and 2 human figures as a juxtaposition to wood assembly. Very good b&w rendition.

Thanks Chris. It's nice to go for a hike with the family, they can often be "points of interest" when I see some leading lines ;-)

It has definitely has a 60's vibe to it.
It looks like the water could possibly be pumped so that it constantly flows over the edge of that "triangle lake" into the surrounding ditch and then back into the lake. Someone here once posted a picture like that sharp corner with flowing water, I think it was Chris Oly ?

I think I prefer the first light house shot the best of the series.
We have a lot of haze like that in the Alps. I like to use it to show distance in the image as you have done here too :-)
The further away it is the more hazy it gets.

You found some interesting stuff here!
Looking at the grass growing through that mushroom you can appreciate why the blades of grass are so pointy. They want to get out of the ground and will pierce (almost) anything in the way

Goodbye Mumbai

When I left Mumbai on an early morning flight, the city was disappearing into an early morning (sea-)mist.

A photo with a good eye and composition.
However, I have issues with the architecture.
I don't find it beautiful; it lacks internal coherence.
There are curved lines on the building, yet it sits on a razor-sharp triangular pool of water.
It may pass as modern architecture, but to me, it feels like a gimmick with shapes.