* Wed C&C "No Theme" Thread #767 on 2023 01 04 *

Welcome to the Wednesday Comments and Critique (No Theme) thread!

We are 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.

The idea is simple: you post an image and get critique on it, and in return give other people your opinion of their images, or vice versa.

Please post your image (or essay) in a reply to this very first message in the thread, and not in a reply to someone else's message. This keeps the thread tidy, with a sequence of images and then the comments on those images right under them. Threaded view of the thread is recommended to see what we mean.

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 that you would like to get comments on (exceptions: see below).
• Change the title of your post to reflect the image’s title.
• Look at the other images 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.

More detailed POSTING and COMMENTING GUIDELINES are in the FIRST REPLY.

In another of the first replies, the “Archives”, you can find the links (and cumulative links) to ALL our previous editions. Enjoy the time-travel!

Another first reply is “The Related Post”. Below that header is the place to post your general musings about the C&C Thread, or photography in general.

Any style, any camera, any subject.

Feedback is guaranteed (for up to 48 h after the thread has started)! Though keep in mind that the thread tends to be busiest during the first 24 hours or so, and then again during the weekend. Image posts that arrive late may get little feedback.

TWO RULES:

1. If you post an image, you should critique at least one other image. If you post more than one image, please make an effort to post comments on at least a few images of other members.
2. Keep your comments honest but polite. If you don’t care for an image try to explain why. This is neither a “Good shot!” nor an image-bashing thread.

NUMBER OF ENTRIES:

Generally, you should post only ONE SINGLE IMAGE for C&C.

TWO EXCEPTIONS and a VARIATION:

1. You may post two pictures resulting from one shutter release but with different treatment (for example a color and a black & white version, or a different crop) for us to choose from and comment on. You may also post in a single post, two images that are closely related in subject or style.
2. The thread is also open for the contribution of a Photo Essay of three or more images that should be viewed as a whole and that tell a specific story.
3. If you want to submit to C&C more than one image (while they do not form an essay or are not closely related), please submit the different images each in their own separate sub thread. This new rule has been created in order to have a greater variety of images in “slow” weeks with few participants. In a “busy” week, please limit yourself to a single submission (image or essay) in order to give as many participants as possible a change to participate.

HOW TO PLAY:

Single Images

1. Change the title so we can sort different images out easily!
2. Remember to add the EXIF if your image doesn't embed it as this may help
3. Consider telling us what your own opinion on your image is. What prompted you to click that shutter button? What did you see? Why do you like the result? You don't have to explain, but it might be interesting.
4. You are very welcome to post a group reply to the feedback you have received. This could include a new version of your image modified in response to the comments.

Photo Essays

The idea is that the posted images should be related and together try to tell a story about a place, an event, a travel you made, a (group of) person(s), a hobby or whatever is fit for an essay.

1. Suggested number of images : minimum 3 and maximum 12 but numbers may vary.
2. It is allowed (and encouraged) to include some verbal narrative IF you think that helps explain the essay, but text is not required. You can choose to let the images speak for themselves.
3. Individual technical data of the separate photos is not required, but you can of course give information that you deem relevant.
4. If you post a series, you commit yourself to critique at least one other series (if there are any; if not critique at least one image...). To make a distinction with the C&C of single images, we feel that comments should not focus on individual images, but on the series as a series. This can cover multiple angles :

• do you think the series tells the story well?
• how about the sequence and pace : would you sequence the images differently, and if so, why?
• is there enough consistency in cropping, angles, PP treatment : does it really feel like a series or is it just a collection of shots?
• do you think one image is a real highlight, or are there one or more images that would better be removed to prune the essay to a leaner and meaner series?
• do you think a certain angle of the place/event/... is sorely missing from the story?
• et cetera

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME, WELCOME! AND BE SURE TO READ THIS:

• 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?
• Finally what is the verdict? Waste-bin? Snapshot? Could be better? Family Album? Frame on wall? Poster-size frame on wall? Billboard? Reuters? World Press Photo? National Geographic? Museum? (pick your own superlative here)
• Fiddle with the image in your head - composition, perspective, color balance, exposure.
• It is understood that unless the original poster specifically states that they do not want an altered image posted that you are free to alter the posted image and repost it in a reply for C&C purposes (no use for other purposes!). That reposted image may remain permanently or you may remove it after a short period of time if you prefer. No copyright disputes here!
• 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. Encourage - it is a scary business putting your work up for other people to judge!

Here are the links to all our previous editions of the current year, and the summaries of all previous years (14 years already… and counting):

2022 (FULL LIST):

Week 766 on 2022/12/28: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66733044

Week 765 on 2022/12/21: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66716327

Week 764 on 2022/12/14: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66698279

Week 763 on 2022/12/07: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66681128

Week 762 on 2022/11/30: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66664094

Week 761 on 2022/11/23: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66646006

Week 760 on 2022/11/16: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66627520

Week 759 on 2022/11/09: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66609318

Week 758 on 2022/11/02: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66590066

Week 757 on 2022/10/26: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66571152

Week 756 on 2022/10/19: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66554211

Week 755 on 2022/10/12: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66537721

Week 754 on 2022/10/05: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66521072

Week 753 on 2022/09/28: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66505603

Week 752 on 2022/09/21: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66489292

Week 751 on 2022/09/14: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66473619

Week 750 on 2022/09/07: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66457634

Week 749 on 2022/08/31:https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66440571

Week 748 on 2022/08/24: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66422741

Week 747 on 2022/08/17: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66405308

Week 746 on 2022/08/10: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66387158

Week 745 on 2022/08/03: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66369460

Week 744 on 2022/07/27: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66351293

Week 743 on 2022/07/20: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66333599

Week 742 on 2022/07/13: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66316059

Week 741 on 2022/07/06: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66298795

Week 740 on 2022/06/29: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66280795

Week 739 on 2022/06/22: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66262708

Week 738 on 2022/06/15: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66245275

Week 737 on 2022/06/08: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66226622

Week 736 on 2022/06/01: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66206701

Week 735 on 2022/05/25: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66187582

Week 734 on 2022/05/18: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66169942

Week 733 on 2022/05/11: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66152474

Week 732 on 2022/05/04: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66134566

Week 731 on 2022/04/27:https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66117943

Week 730 on 2022/04/20: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66100282

Week 729 on 2022/04/13: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66083332

Week 728 on 2022/04/06: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66065453

Week 727 on 2022/03/30: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66046632

Week 726 on 2022/03/23: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66028569

Week 725 on 2022/03/16: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66010508

Week 724 on 2022/03/09: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65991802

Week 723 on 2022/03/02: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65973176

Week 722 on 2022/02/23: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65953192

Week 721 on 2022/02/16: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65931001

Week 720 on 2022/02/09: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65911376

Week 719 on 2022/02/02: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65891734

Week 718 on 2022/01/26: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65870807

Week 717 on 2022/01/19: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65850062

Week 716 on 2022/01/12: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65828397

Week 715 on 2022/01/05: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65806572

Links to Year Summary of All Previous Editions:

2021: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65806574

2020: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64725942

2019: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63478234

2018: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62119743

2017: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60619049

2016: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/58941978

2015: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57004809

2014: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55055459

2013: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52814278

2012: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50996742

2011: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/40228457

2010: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/37375543

2009: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/34168706

2008: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/30596254

This is a placeholder for conversations on anything related to these C&C threads.

Post your general comments as a reply to THIS post.

Specifically : the place to make arrangements and share ideas for keeping this thread alive and kicking. It is our own PSA system.

But also :

- discussion of our concept of aspects of it broader than a specific image,

- service announcements by the thread starter or anyone else;

- interesting links to other similar initiatives;

- links to something you really want to share with this particular group of people.

- frankly, anything that could be of interest to our group here.

Please post all of that as a reply to this post.

An image from a walk yesterday in Park Den Brandt, one of a string of parks in the southern suburbs of Antwerp:







Whenever I encounter an image of David by Michelangelo, it always inevitably reminds me of one of the very first entries of Mike Fewster to this C&C thread, many years ago.

He posted an original view of the photographed-to-death statue in Uffizi in Firenze that caught my eye and became the start of a wonderful friendship that has extended beyond this forum and the internet.

--
Roel Hendrickx
lots of images: http://www.roelh.zenfolio.com

While walking in the Bluffer's Park on Lake Ontario recently I noticed a tree which became my main point of interest on approach.




1




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RoelHendrickx said:

Click to expand...

Excellent shot of a famous sculpture, however the setting is very unusual, which creates an interest and begs the question about the location - why there?

Well, why not...

I like the sky and natural environment as a background for the statue. The green grass adds a splash of colour and the brick pedestal creates very pleasant and peaceful image.

Phone shot at the recent craft festival of the state guild- my cousin sketching the shoppers below while waiting for portrait customers, as we enjoy an up close encounter with a popular local pianist.

Our gardens are really blah this time of year, we have a few very strong roses still hanging on..

Canon 5Ds/100mm f2.8 Macro.

Frame/Image Tricks.. Apple Photos





--
If you understand everything, you must be misinformed...

Chris Oly said:

While walking in the Bluffer's Park on Lake Ontario recently I noticed a tree which became my main point of interest on approach.


1


2


3

Click to expand...

As you say, very nicely seen & produced.. Regards. L

--
If you understand everything, you must be misinformed...

Amazing how good phone/cameras are, well seen and taken.. Regards. L

Kumsal said:

Click to expand...

It's a kaleidoscope of life in a big city full of various cultures and items of interest for everyone. There is a lot happening in this shot and it's hard to pinpoint a singular point of attention.

--
Well, out of 2 images i prefer #1, the framed colourfull picture holds my interest because of it's structure. The red is absolutely the key to its attraction.

We have here 2 distinct points of interest, the musician doing his craft and very distinguished looking member of the family ( I presume) very preoccupied with what appears to be smartphone intervention...And all against long hall in the background. I like the B&W pp of this image which suits the occasion.

Chris Oly said:

--
Well, out of 2 images i prefer #1, the framed colourfull picture holds my interest because of it's structure. The red is absolutely the key to its attraction.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your kind comments, very much appreciated. I’m honored you enjoyed my work. Regards. L

--
If you understand everything, you must be misinformed...

kurt2012 said:

Click to expand...

Well seen, very interesting ‘street’.. L

--
If you understand everything, you must be misinformed...

I had something else lined up to post, but decided it was too depressing to start the year. So what better way to kick off 2023 than an English pub! This one is in Polperro, Cornwall. Well, it was at least. Covid and changed drinking and eating habits, shortage of staff, especially post-Brexit, energy costs etc. are killing so many pubs at the moment. (I have just checked, according to Google, it is open at the moment! )

Pete

Great shot. Clarity is amazing, i am seeing it on 3 inch screen of a smartphone with no exif...

Typical scene of a pub in a small village. Excellent light and signage leads us to believe it's a great destination for a pint.