* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #867 / Revived #087 on 2024 11 27 *

I don't see it as strange at all.

Like with all images there will be aspects some people like and some aspects some people won't like.

Personally I am not a fan of excessive unrealistic distortions..

Yep. If I had seen it, almost certainly I'd have tried to straighten the edges and I'd have been wrong. Same for the little white tag bottom left and the tiny bent over corner top right. The fabric creases seem ok too along with the benchtop markings. I'd be very hard pressed to explain why however.

Another admiring response from me.
If I was shown this image and told to come up with a word, it's very likely that I would have used the same word as the OP, "serenity." It's an outcome of all the horizontal lines, a perfect reflection that can only happen on a still moment and the subdued colours. The hints of pink and the golden brown centre strip warm the image slightly. It's enough so the photo doesn't suggest cold. Cool, but still comfortable and comfort goes with peace. There's no one element that demands our attention, it's all working together in a relaxed way.

I was puzzled by the bird reference and thought I had missed something. Thanksgiving isn't a big event in Australia. I got there, eventually.

Welcome to our Wednesday fest! A lovely submission for sure. Roel has discussed several attractive alternative crops/compositions so I won't repeat them, but will point out what I like about this one. I like the balance of a centered composition for this one because of the equivalent geometry of the implied "X" shape created by the cloud formations and their reflection with that big mountain at the cross point. The colors are beautiful and kudos for keeping them subtle and not giving in to the temptation to ramp them up too much: the warm shoreline with sharper contrast quickly gives way to the beautifully blended pastels of the sky and water. Really nice, should be printed and displayed.

When I use expressions like "it is strange" etc, there is no need to take that literally.
It's not that I am totally amazed by the fact that images invite different reactions from different people.
I like to use hyperbole.
And it was just funny that the dog was the element that really split the opinions.

The second point I was making is that I had not even noticed the distortion myself (probably because I shoot wide angle (and fisheye) more than the average photographer, and I like the effects wide angle create, INCLUDING distortion (or at least : REGARDLESS of distortion. That is why it is always a revelation and a wake-up call for me when people seem to notice the distortion more than the subject or the overall impression an image makes.

That is one of the things that is so great about this weekly thread : the confrontation between different views and priorities in photography.

These are all really good. My 2 favourites are above
I like the subject, composition and processing you've used here.
I know you like shooting into the sun and it worked again here too with that well placed sunstar.
The first one above has beautiful colours, with a nice combination of light and shadow.

Hello mtgoatee, welcome to the fray!

Wonderful image and wonderful story.

Your opportunity to get this image may have been delayed until now, but the wait appears to have been worth the prize! Of the many moods that this scene probably can display, you've nailed this one.

Nice work.

Rich

Yep.....as I have said several times, people see and interpret images differently and your photo is a great example showing that.

Rich42's photo is another example.

With the back-story attached to the image, the creases and folds in the cloth make sense.

But if it was a standalone image on display without any back-story, I suspect the creases and folds could be seen as being a little "sloppy" during set up by some people, including me.

Personally, I would have flattened and straightened the cloth before taking a photo, even with the back-story.

Each to their own I guess 🙂

St Andrews West Beach, late November.

Very calming and soothing scenes with lovely colours complementing each other.

Hi, Andrew

Beautiful beach scenes.

Where is St. Andrew’s West beach?

Rich

I believe, Scotland ...

First shot is particularly pleasing to the eye. Those waves are just exquisite.

Ah, yes. Should've Googled!

Rich

Long, long ago, I spent a few weeks on detachment with Vulcan bombers to the RAF Station there.

These are beautiful. Scottish beaches are amazing. I have not seen this one but it looks like “Chariots of Fire”. Wonderfully captured, especially the first one. Magical.