* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #958 / Revived #178 on 2026 08 26 *

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 (18 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 camera brands (or even smart phone 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!

A FISHERMAN & A FISHER OF MEN

A view on Rio de Janeiro, just after dusk, from across the bay, strolling on the boardwalk of Urca, the quarter that sits on the edge of Pao de Azucar.

(Somebody gave me the advice last week that I should tell you to right-click on my images and then open them in another tab to view a bigger version. At least for the images that are embedded from my zenfolio pages. On the ones I upload directly to this site, you can just click to enlarge. Thanks for that pointer.)

The approaching army

I stumbled across this old image taken many years ago on a walk though our little country village.
It somehow made me think, despite the plastic, of an army from the middle ages waiting, just behind the hill ;-)

A clever title ;-)
I think I remember you saying that you like the portrait orientation. I think this one would however benefit from perhaps something approaching a more square format with half of the leaves at the top cropped off

Shapes and Colors

La Belle Creole - a photo story

On the Dutch side of Sint Maarten, there is a fascinating compound being overtaken by the jungle. La Belle Creole was the largest and most lavish resort on the island, opened in the 1980s and destroyed only a few years later in the 95 hurricane. Now there's 30 years of decay, graffiti, and vegetation. But visitors are free to explore at their own risk. I knew nothing about it when we chanced upon it, exploring a terrible and overgrown road beside an intriguing sign. My research afterwards suggests that there was more than the hurricane in play with its failure. Here's a link to someone else's photo essay, and there's lots more a simple search can reveal. www.uncommoncaribbean.com/st-martin-st-maarten/photo-essay-la-belle-creole-post-colonial-ruin-on-st-martin/

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This is a photo of some of the papers strewed in the administrative office. It actually confirms some of the story about the failure of the resort.

Now in iguana's eye

Night Sky Full of Hope

Last week I posted pictures of the new sculpture in Frankfurt, "A Sky Full of Hope" by Janet Echelman, taken in the afternoon. After a few more hours and a spicy South Indian curry later, I went back to photograph it again after the Sun had set. The brightly lit Sky Full of Hope was very impressive, but add a sky full of storm clouds and it became dramatic. As a photographer, the storm was an answer to a prayer, but an hour later I paid for my selfishness, as the storm had brought a tree down across my railway line home. I spent ages taking a massive detour and just caught the last train of the day, arriving home from the opposite direction. I think it was worth it though.

I haven't seen a photo of Rio like that! It appears to be a sleepy little lakeside place and there are no clues about the world famous city lurking in the shadows on the other side of the water.(Apart from the tiny Christ the redeemer, of course.)
That aside it is a lovely peaceful waterside shot, especially due to the little boat. I like transition of the bright yellow sky through the shades of blue to the dark blue-grey at the top, so for this reason I would be reluctant to follow Fireside's advice of a square crop, as all the darker shades would be lost, although I understand his point of view from the composition side.

Yes, I see your point and with that ragged black flag I would expect them to be pretty evil too. Maybe they are Orcs?

This is a striking image and nicely exposed. The background is relatively dark and there are no blown highlights on the pale petals. The wavy shapes of the leaves with the wavy lines of their veins is very effective and the veins are repeated in the petals too. The blooms are bunched tightly together, but still keep their individual shape. The colour combination works well too,

I think my comments from last week could be cut and pasted to this photo. The rough reptile skin replaces the hair of the bull, but is equally interesting.

Wow, what a great place to explore with a camera and I enjoyed your photo essay. The Sherlock Holmes evidence at the end is a fitting finale. The evidence is charred but not destroyed, which is similar to the hotel complex itself. Tumbledown but still standing. Just.

Beautiful capture. I love the composition.

I wanted to write to you as early as last week to say that the night photos could turn out much better.
I thought it was an unsafe area—perhaps he wouldn't dare.
But what you're showing us now are outstanding photos.
The artistry really comes into its own.

Zig zagging our way up the east coast of Australia.
Port Macquarie is one of hundreds of surfing hot spots.
A body boarder and a surfboarder. I like the body board shot large. Taking these left me very impressed with the skills of those who shoot surfers professionally.

Body board surfer.

Board surfer.

Double post removed

These are even better than the ones you posted last week.
All 3 are good, my favourite is the 2nd with the wet street reflecting all the warmer city lights, contrasting very nicely with the big flowing "thing" in the sky.
Nicely composed, especially with the person walking toward the "Sky Full of Hope" and balancing the shot. The street itself is like a leading line to the art work.
Well done !