* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #783 / Revived #004 on 2023 04 25 *

I agree. The hairs / filaments are so well defined. And the dark background with browns accentuates the yellows and whites

I have a question. If a shot is taken of a reflection in a mirror using AF, the camera adjusts focal length accordingly (2x distance to mirror).
In the following shots of reflections in calm water with minor ripples, the focus / clarity isn't there. I am wondering should one try and manual focus in that situation? I know that could be difficult because it is a liquid (excuse the pun) environment with ripples moving around, and the vf may not have enough to show it.
I played with noise and sharpening a bit, and they are slightly improved.
[edit[ or is possibly bcoz the surface is acting as a curved mirror, convex and concave, definition is lost?

I don't have a definitive answer to your question, but I have recently attempted the same sort of shot with mixed results. I suspect that if the water were quite still it would act the same way a mirror does. Then the camera would focus on the reflected image as you described. But because the ripples are actually moving at a pretty fast rate, they are contrasty enough for your camera to lock onto them. I suspect it takes a pretty fast shutter speed to capture them without blur. Perhaps greater than 1/1000 sec.

I quite like the effect you achieved with your second image. The view here is pretty small, but I bet when viewed large there are a lot of interesting details to explore in the reflections.

Thx Mike,

I suspect what you say about the contrast is true, hence why I mentioned manual focus - if it was at all possible.

If you click on the thumbnail in the original post, it will open in your browser and you should be able to then view 1:1 100%

Maybe I am misunderstanding the purpose of this thread but isn't it effectively replicating the "Photography critiques" forum here on DPRevived?

MIke has summed it up perfectly as per the mood.
I totally like the telephoto compression that brings the mountains so close that it almost feels like that street runs right into it.
It creates a very cinematic feel.
(In fact, I thought that this view was extremely similar to some views in the "Rocky Mountains Freestate" area (it's not actually called that, but close enough) in the dystopian TV series "The Man in the High Castle": a lawless area between the eastern part of the former USA now under nazi rule and the western part where Japan is in charge. Canon City is a city in that area)

the-man-in-the-high-castle.fandom.com/wiki/Canon_City

Image here:

the-man-in-the-high-castle.fandom.com/wiki/Canon_City?file=Canon_City.png

Well, no it isn't.
It's the same, BUT very different....

The Critique forum's purpose in general is for people to post an image and get critique on it.
Or to not post an image, but look at other people's image and post critique on it.
It is fragmented and unilateral.

Our endeavour (new here but with a history of 15 years on DPR) is unique in that it is a reciprocal and weekly, scheduled, peer-to-peer adventure with a sense of community and gathering. From that approach, more than just critique on individual images can follow. Take for instance in this week's thread, the way Mike Fewster drew parallels and identified differences between my image and Linda's, resulting in some quite unique insights that pleased Linda greatly.

It is the reciprocity that is the key element here :
if you participate with an image, you will receive C&C, and you are also expected to give C&C, honestly and constructively.
Not just a pat on the back or a blunt dismissal, but some kind of motivated response to the image.

Or more academically (and a bit pretentious) It is a dialectic and peripatetic approach to C&C.
(Much like the old greek philisophical school of Socrates: enlightenment through exchange of ideas and discussion, and asking questions.)
That makes it sound more high-brow than it actually is.

I've tried to explain this before in an exchange with Camperjim in one of our very first edition here on DPRevived.
Look here :
dprevived.com/t/wednesday-cc-no-theme-thread-781-revived-002-on-2023-04-12/1771/#post-14169

For your convenience, I'll copy/paste a few of the main bits :

It is our personal experience (of over 15 years) that a thread with images from multiple members who each also comment on a few images, is a very useful expericence that can result in great discussions. Working that way, can result in a sense of community that can surpass the individual C&C.

AND

Much light can come from a comparison of images by multiple posters in the same thread. Although the thread was always "non theme", it did happen that (by coincidence or by choice) different members posted images of comparable subjects, or in comparable styles. That allowed for really focused C&C, zooming in on creative choices, differences etc.
Furthermore, the back and forth on specific suggestions for image improvement, were a constant source of inspiration (I was talking about DPR here).

AND
(about the "need" for this weekly C&C when finally there is a dedicated C&C forum - that was lacking on DPR,
and the question whether a weekly thread clouds the issue):

DPR forums did not have a good dedicated forum for C&C.
And I am glad we have got one here.
And by all means : I hope many people use it and will be happy with it.
But that does not form an obstacle to creating, within that space, a weekly gathering with a slightly different purpose.
Please go and check out some of our history on DPR for yourself.
You might walk away amazed at the depth that a community-driven C&C gathering may produce.

I hope that this answer helps.

Yes, it does and I can see the difference more clearly now. Thank you 🙂

Your model for C&C obviously works since it had been running for 15 years on dpreview. To be honest I wasn't aware of its existence over there. I periodically posted images in dpreview's "Samples and Galleries" forum which functioned the same way as "Photography Critiques" works here on dprevived.

I'll definitely have a look in here from time to time and perhaps post some images here instead of "Photography Critiques".

Giant

Visiting North Ontario - came upon Gala orchards.

Great contrast, great lines. These 3 lines really hold the interest for the viewer. Excellent composition.

Superb shot. More you look at it more you see. The mountains in the background create perfect backdrop for this empty avenue. Almost like a painting...

2 One way signs certainly draw attention. I like their positioning on RHS. The star of the show are those trees and their crowns. Excellent angle.

Dream shot. The sky, mountains, the road, vegetation. Excellent.

Like your tree abstracts. Amazing pp!

I also dabble with abstracts sometimes. Here is one I came up with when I first experimented with creating abstracts.

Very appealing and intriguing, I must say.

Brilliant!!!