* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #959 / Revived #179 on 2026 09 02 *

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 (15 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 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!

THE HAZARDS OF SMARTPHONE DISTRACTION

Another image from Brazil, this time in Manaus.

Shot with my OM-1 and Oly 40-150mm lens at full zoom, across a street busy with traffic.

The RAW file converted to JPG in camera and then exported over Wifi. No further processing.
(Given the time and means (both absent while traveling) I would definitely give this a bit more "pop" in contrast, clarity and saturation.
I would probably also straighten the horizontal skewing, maybe also with a crop to square - and a slight crop on the left to eliminate the sleeve of the other person.
But this is the image as-shot.)

Sky high

On my recent visit to Midtown Toronto I encountered a new condo under construction. An interesting and unusual shape soaring up caught my eye. I plan to return to this site next year when it is completed.

Sometimes we have to accept the image as is (sooc).
It is interesting shot since it portrays a typical street scene which introduces a juxtaposition between lost pedestrian and wild animal on a poster behind.
Yes, shot could use some more brightness, but we can all imagine it with more contrast.

A surprise at dinner on Monday evening

Gmundnerberg

A big "G" as a silhouette, with the "G" standing for the town Gmunden, on the the top of Gmundnerberg

Cupecoy Beach, Sinte Maarten - the most picturesque beach we found on the island, very rugged and undeveloped. Some long neglected stone steps lead dizzily down the cliff, and there are some signs of a long ago attempt at some sort of stone platforms, mostly gone. But the caves and cliffs are there, guarded by a man in a folding chair with a cash box for small "parking" fees, and a fellow grilling ribs for consumption on a crooked picnic table.

Human figure on a treadmill (of a "G" letter) all against distant mountains is quite spectacular site. I like the tonality and various colours. Excellent shot.

Very well spotted! The composition is very good, which is the key thing here I'd say.

Another example of great composition. I wouldn't think of capturing a rainbow like that and yet it seems like the best choice here. Well done!

Beautiful play with the silhouette and the fading blue in the background. The walking figure reminds me of "Gehen", a wonderful book by one of most important Austrian writers Thomas Bernhard. This walk won't end well within that G-shape, but for a moment it works fine...

Growth Domestic Product by simple.joy, on Flickr

Aside from the fact that the photo is such an interesting snapshot, the post-processing steps you described are the perfect recipe.
I gave it a try, and the photo turned out significantly better.

The boundary between in-focus and out-of-focus areas in your photos is so incredibly fine that you really have to view them at the highest possible resolution.
Well done—I like it!

This interesting photo got me thinking further—especially in light of Minniev's post from last week.
When nature has had enough, it will reclaim those areas!
I would be fine with that, because we are the worst creatures on earth.
We will never be able to subjugate Planet Earth.

Very good, no question about it.
Well spotted and captured.

You certainly mastered the art of miniature subjects with the background totally blurred. Can you share the method/lens combo you are using, if possible.
Kind of intriguing.

Great results nevertheless.

You have certainly been very fortunate to come across rainbow and selected light combination, as seen here
Talking about being in the right place at the right time
Perfect.

A lovely photo that evokes a holiday feeling.
The composition, colors, and—above all—the clouds are great.
The horizon could just be straightened out a bit better.

What a perfect spot to capture! Now, including people in the shot is rather interesting. Sometimes we make an effort not to show humans, but in this instance it was rather fortunate. It gives more context, particularly with near by water vessel.
Absolutely dream like location. Superb.

simple.joy is a perfectionist.
Following him could be very expensive.

Thanks a lot! This is a panorama shot, consisting of several portrait-oriented captures, which were put together in post via software. Of course it can't match the 'real deal', a large format camera, but it does give a hint at what a really big sensor might do with a scene. The specific lens used here, is an incredibly tiny Agfa prototype lens. It has no inscription of focal length or speed, but I estimate it somewhere around 50 mm and f/2.8. While unremarkable as hell with those specs, this particular lens was likely optimized for very close work and thus shows an enormous amount of field curvature.Depending on the subject and distance, this can create a significantly different look from what you would expect.

Thanks
It helps to understand the effort.