Wednesday C&C * Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #923 / Revived #143 on 2025 12 24*

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!

FENIX

On this Christmas Eve and close to 2026 (and wishing all of you well, while we are at it), the idea of a Phoenix and its rebirth appeals to me.

But actually the real reason for posting the below two pictures lies in someone else's post of two weeks ago.

In our edition 921, Chrisoly posted images of Frank Gehry's intervention in the Art Gallery of Ontario.

I posted comments, musing on the similarities with the recent renovation of the Fenix Warehouses in Rotterdam, that have been turned into the FENIX Migration Museum (with a wonderful duo of exhibitions):

dprevived.com/t/wednesday-cc-wednesday-cc-no-theme-thread-921-revived-141-on-2025-12-10/7792/2/#post-111369

And I said that I would show some images of the double helix staircase/viewing platform.
So here it is.

Here is a view of the indoor portion of the staircase construction soaring up towards the roof, two spacious levels higher
(well aware that no still image from a normal human angle is capable of conveying the swirling scope and meandering quality of the intertwining double chrome helix):

And here is a view of the upper part of the construction, once it has burst out of the roof and widened to become another two levels of embracing walkways towards a viewing platform over a small part of the historic Rotterdam harbour:

Elusive as a Butterfly

I have never seen so many butterflies, and of such a variety of species, as I saw in Laos. Sometimes it seemed that you could close your eyes and point the camera anywhere, and still manage to get a photo of one. That is until I tried to photograph them ……. They travelled at lightning speed and changed direction continuously, and if they settled they quickly closed their wings. Sometimes I would freeze with them large in the viewfinder, waiting for a display of wing, but inevitably gave up shortly before the moment. After a frustrating half hour or so, I decided to sit down with a drink and then a butterfly decided to do the same in a most provocative way! Luckily I had a second camera. It was not the prettiest butterfly. Oh well.

Happy Christmas.

Taken from the Art Gallery of Ontario, below the protrusion added by Frank Gehry

Well it has been quite a long time since I posted an image here but it is a special time of the year so I decided to add a couple.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season and all the best going forward!

Andrew

The holiday scene is from years back, posted in the original weekly thread on the old site.

[quote="@RoelHendrickx"]
FENIX

In our edition 921, Chrisoly posted images of Frank Gehry's intervention in the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Those are both excellent images and interesting scenes Roel! The selfie is a bonus!

Andrew

Patience is rewarded, sometimes when you least expect it! A fine story to add to your image Pete.

Happy Holidays, and more!

Andrew

Very nice and interesting image! Almost looks surreal with the intense colors. Was the room really lit like that or is a lot of it due to post-processing?

zeroing in by simple.joy, on Flickr

Oh, Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating and Happy Holidays to all!

Happy Holidays by simple.joy, on Flickr

I have always enjoyed your images here and these are no exception. You do what your 'name' here says and make simplified images that are both interesting and most often joyful!
Andrew
as to the holiday card image in my post, below is the image as taken but converted from raw, to tiff, to jpg. No processing done to it other than the conversions.

Lines

Very avant garde approach to architecture.

What a catch.

Welcome Andrew.

Great view of Toronto in #1. Those clouds!!!
And kid and x-mas window- priceless.

Ring and nuts. Interesting.

Your photo (with the butterfly but mostly with bits of camera gear) is very evocative of your narrative and I think we have all been there, done that and got the T-shirt…

Shooting small critters (or trying to) is exceedingly difficult and frustrating. My experience is an endless parade of camera-not-ready-for-greatest-shot-ever; misfocus (nice tack-sharp branch; too bad for the blob with wings in front of it…) etc etc

Have a great next year filled with shots that you nailed through skill, dumb luck or serendipity!!

Not the most obvious background for a duck image, and all the better for it.

The duck must feel like it is on the grid.

This one is very interesting for sure, regardless if it's capable of conveying the real shape or not. Makes me think of alternate timelines/distortion of time through gravity... and thus an interesting match for the Phoenix as a symbol.

Happy New Year