* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #955 / Revived #175 on 2026 08 05 *

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 (18 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!

GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING, RIO!

First shot of my sunrise walk on our first morning in Rio de Janeiro, a few days ago.
(Shot with OM-1, image converted from RAW to JPG in-camera and exported without other processing.)

River boat. Vietnam.

Railway underpass

City scape - Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Recent residential development in the north of the city maximizes the land space to allow more apartments and condos.
I reckon this idea is not unique and it's happening all over the world. The good thing is - there is a huge soccer field and park behind it...

Those illuminated fence posts, particularly in second shot, ideally frame the picture.

Marvel of ingenuity.

Amazing reflections. Great shot.

Flight into the Golden Abyss

An adventurous bee with a curious onlooker.

I already posted this single shot in two other threads, but thought you might like to see it here too, together with the next two shots from the same plant.

Perhaps these next shots are somewhat more "documentary" than the first shot; which is, more, dare I say, an "artistic" image ...

Perfect framing, a cool shot !

I find this one is really good. The lighting is good, I guess it's early evening, just as the lights were switched on?

You've captured several planes, all in one image:
- the stairs going down
- the ramp coming back up,
- the road outside, and
- a tunnel extending into the distance, next to the stairs

Already interesting, but the people make it even more so.

Wow, you've captured some real bright light on all those windows here.
Keeping the rest of the image dark was a good idea.

Greetings from Pinelas Island, Saint Martin.

Wow, he's a handsome Iguana! How big is he (or she) ?
I bet they can handle the heat better than us, but he does sort of look thirsty, although patient.
Well composed shot with sort of a diagonal line made by the body pointing striaght to the left corner. That right red tongue catches the attention :-)

You're in a beautiful place, Minniev.
I hope you have a wonderful vacation.
I like this photo; I can even view it as an HDR image, which looks better.
Next, I'm looking forward to a photo of a red-footed tortoise.

My first thought was that it’s actually a nice photo, but it somehow lacks contrast.
The rock and the boat are almost the same color.
The boat really ought to stand out against the rock.
In a pinch, you could even use the boat as a bathtub.

You nailed the perspective—it’s a good photo.
As for the crowds, that kind of density would make me feel like I was suffocating.

These two full-size photos give me a sense of the scale of the space where the bees move around.
Very good!

Heavenly Sleep

Some well-earned rest after a busy day at the office trying to save the human race.

Wonderful contrasts (gold vs black; polished smooth vs rough) in this image that shows the buddha in an unconventional way. Love it.

Change nothing.
Print large.
Display.
Watch viewers be amazed.
Be very proud.