This is an experimental image as I try out some new software. It's either a "Rubbish Photo" or a "Photo of Rubbish" (or, perhaps, both). Taken in Bristol, 28th June, 2026. Leica Q2, 28mm (cropped), f/8, 1/80sec @ ISO 100. A black & white conversion, which was then pulled back until a bit of colour just began to show.
Antonio M
Amsterdam station Leica M240 BiogonC 35mm 1/125 iso 200
Brian O
Many years ago I used to volunteer as a National Trust Guide guide at Paycockes House in Coggeshall Essex. I make regular returns to photo whatever display is on, and in this case it was a Tudor re-enactment group. I took many photos of demonstrations (even sampling a drink based on liquorish root to settle the gut).This lady is weaving a basket using Tudor methods. Leica DLux 8.
Dave C
“Smoking Strings” SL2-S Leica 24/90 ISO 100, 1/125. F/6.3
David Ro
An RPS group event last year introduced me to a local woodland. A great opportunity to make the most of the rare sunny day.
Dave S
Harry H
Elgol Beach looking out to sea, M11-P Tri-Elmar @16mm.
Julian P
Loch Culbokie, March 2026
Leica M240, Vario-Elmar R 1:3.5-4/21-35 mm, ISO 400, f/8 1/500
Leica M240, Vario-Elmar R 1:3.5-4/21-35 mm, ISO 400, f/8 1/500
Ken G
Genoa, Leica M-EV1 with 50mm Summicron
Ken L
This artwork is a ceramic tile relief comprising 36 separate ceramic tiles with raised and sculptured surfaces measuring approximately 4m x 1m. It is attributed to Yvonne Hudson Rusbridge (b 1924 d 1985) and is thought to have been commissioned in the 1970’s. It adorns the rather uninspiring 1960’s office building on the corner of North St and Crane St in Chichester.
It really stretches the ability of my 43mm lens but I was drawn to it by the attractive shadows produced by the setting June Sun.
Malcolm R
Wilfred is bristle nosed catfish and resides with his lady friends Pip & Squeak in my fish tank, he is the size of my little finger. 28mm Elmarit R on Fuji X E5, 1/250, 800 iso aperture not recorded.
Wilfred is bristle nosed catfish and resides with his lady friends Pip & Squeak in my fish tank, he is the size of my little finger. 28mm Elmarit R on Fuji X E5, 1/250, 800 iso aperture not recorded.
Mark F
Leica SL2, Summilux-M 50mm. View of the fire at Dunwich Heath, taken from the marshes on the edge of Walberswick (where I have a house), less than two miles away as the crow flies from Dunwich, and showing the proximity to the Sizewell B nuclear power plant. By the time this photo was taken, on the morning of Thursday 30 July, the fire was the lead news story on the BBC News app.
Nigel T
Detail, Hauser & Wirth Roth Bar frontage, Bruton. Leica M10, Zeiss 35mm lens.
Peter D
I took this in Marylebone High St a few weeks ago. I was struck by the light and shadow; starting with the shadow cast by the lamp. It's not a typical street shot at all; it's purely about the shadows and the light and the patterns they form.
Leica M3 5cm Summicron, f/16 1/250th, Ilford HP5
Phil C
Herbie at Pistonheads Annual Service at Bicester Heritage, Leica M (240), 35mm Summicron
Richard B
'After the Storm at Maison Carree’ (Nimes, June 2026)
Leica M11M, Voigtlander 21mm
Said to be the most complete Roman temple left standing anywhere in the world.
Leica M11M, Voigtlander 21mm
Said to be the most complete Roman temple left standing anywhere in the world.
Alex B
ReplyDeleteNice experiment and I like the ‘washed out can’ effect. Given that this is already a cropped photo I old have preferred it to square so as to cut out some of the upper background.
Antonio M
Delightful monochrome image capturing the architectural detail, but also the misty exterior. The leading lines pointing to a lone silhouette give additional interest.
Brian O
Strong colours enhance this portrait and you did well not to over expose such a reflective apron.
Dave C
Unusual portrait. Took me several looks to realise the subject is not holding a pistol, but a guitar! Not enough definition on the face for my taste though.
David Ro
Super backlighting of the summer deciduous leaves and ferns. One of my favourite summer shots to take too.I like the lighting on the forest floor.
Dave S
Great portrait with an interesting subject. Capturing history as it is made.
Harry H
Heavyweight landscape photo that is lightened by the stunning detail of the rocks in the foreground. Perfect timing of the crashing wave just adds to the drama.
Julian P
Nicely framed image with the reflections giving an enhanced sense of space and light. After a summer of drought all our grass is that straw colour but I notice this was Scotland in March!
Ken G
Tight framing gives this street photo a lot of energy. So much going on in such a small space. I expected the gentleman to have a Fausto Coppi bike, not a Trek! That narrow seat is a brave choice with the casual shorts he wears. I’m intrigued as to what the statue is, top left. Good to leave your audience wanting more!
Ken L
Mine
Malcolm R
A pleasure to meet Wilfred. I’m amazed at his heart-shaped pupil. Maybe he has been in the tank too long with the girls! Well done for the absence of reflections from the tank.
Mark F
A dramatic story well-told with a scene well-captured. I had to enlarge the photo on my iPhone to see Sizewell B but that explains why you framed it so well with a 50mm lens - you were very far away!
Nigel T
Stunning colours in this abstract image. I visit a village close to Bruton every 6 months so I will have to visit the Roth Bar in order to experience the full context of your photo.
Peter D
A very pleasing monochrome image capturing a fleeting moment in time. I like the timeless sense of the frontage which could be any country at any time in the last 100 years.
Phil C
I love car photos and this particular car is iconic. I would have preferred less shade on the car but I suppose we have to take photos of the scenes we can see and not the scenes we would like to see.
Richard B
Imposing structure, which is given added gravitas with that almost-apocalyptic sky in the background.
1. Alex B. I enjoyed the light-hearted narrative. The hint of colour immersed in grey tones immediately draws the eye, as intended. The texture in the brickwork seems aggressive.
ReplyDelete2. Antonio M. Welcome, Antonio. An attractive, timeless image. The contrasting tones successfully instill mood, the lone figure poignancy. The lightest tones suggest a long gone age of steam at the station shed.
3. Brian O. A beautiful portrait, beautifully lit and carefully processed. At first glance, it could be mistaken for an oil painting.
4. Dave C. I like the enigma in the title as well as the photo. A great interpretation in monochrome. A ‘catchlight’ in the eye would add something more.
5. David Ro. Always challenging, this woodland scene is a treat: light and sharpness precisely where needed. The diagonals add energy.
6. Dave S. Ha ha! The humour and wit - political satire. It surely hits the spot. The layering adds interest causing the eye to search for more.
7. Harry H. Great use of the ‘WATE’ at its widest. The contrasting, crashing wave adds relief to the mid-ground.
8. Julian P. A tranquil rural landscape devoid of human presence, of man-made intrusions; or is this within a managed, evergreen plantation? The foreground detail is nicely rendered, the colours combining to add to the whole.
9. Ken G. A Genoan street scene, symbolic of our universal age; the magnetic attraction between people and mobile phones. Selective focus is effective here.
10. Ken L. A record of an attractive piece of art, beautifully detailed with a sense of perspective in the tiles. I do not see the shadows that caught the photographer’s eye.
11. Malcolm R. Wilfred comes to us with attitude, at least in my view. The colour of his scales is enhanced by clever avoidance of reflections in the glass, complementing the composition.
12. Mark F. The profile of Sizewell B on the horizon is familiar to many. The pall of thick smoke not so here - menacing, without precedent in this part of East Anglia. Will it become commonplace?
A good, though disturbing documentary image.
13. Nigel T. A web woven by light, shape and texture. Abstract in isolation, it could be construed as the stuff of the disco, the night club or of nightmares!
14. Peter D. The shadows are important to the composition, yet it is the diagonals that I see, that ensure harmony.
15. Phil C. A colourful scene, taken in bright sunlight, suggesting a much-loved VW beetle, and a well maintained (former?) fire control building. A very British scene.
16. My photo.
Richard, Thanks for your comment. You said exactly what my wife said, “I can’t see the shadows”….. In normal daylight the artwork looks flat and 2-dimensional. However, when exposed to the setting sun, the intricate 3-dimensional chains held by Minerva’s left hand, and attached to the shoulder of her robe, come to life and produce beautiful shadows that project onto the tiles. I hope you can now see it. Ken.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I do Ken. It really does give it an extra dimension - lovely. Thank you for being in touch. Richard.
DeleteAlex B: Mine (Experimental Rubbish)
ReplyDeleteAntonio M: Welcome to Circle D. An excellent image -the lone figure (a Train Spotter?) and foggy exterior add a mood. A train would have completed the image I feel.
Brain O: I really like the colours - they certainly pop.
Dave C: An unusual portrait, a very good one. I’m not sure about the guitar though - it could have been held differently.
David Ro: I find Woodland Photography difficult - some see order and structure, I just see chaos. So it would be difficult to judge this. Very pleasing: I like the sunlight on the leaves. Nice free greens.
Dave S: An excellent portrait of the artist with his work.
Harry H: A very good landscape - the house on the cliff top gives a sense of scale. Good framing with the foreground which is nice and sharp with some lovely textures.
Julian P: Nice framed wetland, and lovely detail in the sky. Good textures in the foreground.
Ken G: An interesting street shot, although I think the young lady in the foreground obstructs too much.
Ken L: A good record shot. Difficult to get it square on, of course.
Malcolm R: He’s SO cute!! Nice detail.
Mark F: An excellent reportage image. Big news at the time.
Nigel T: An excellent image - very abstract. Very enjoyable.
Peter D: A wonderful monochrome image. Light and Shadow - that’s what it’s all about. Excellent.
Phil C: I’m old enough to remember Herbie. An very nice image.
Richard B: An imposing building against an imposing sky. I would have liked to see more of the lower part of the building.
Alex B.”Experimental Image"
ReplyDeleteHarsh lighting, casting a shadow from the coke can, with a slight red tinge, a very interesting and Unusual image.
Antonio M. “Amsterdam station”
Delightful image, which shows the fantastic Architecture of this railway station, the person in the distance and the foggy/misty weather makes this photograph.
Brian.O “Tudor re-enactment”
Wonderful colourful Image.
Dave.C “ Smoking Strings”
You definitely have to look twice to understand what he is holding, I would like to know how the smoke was produced, smoke pellets perhaps? Interesting shot.
David.Ro “ Woodland”
Nicely structure shot of ferns and the woodland with soft lighting.
Dave.S “Artist kaya Mar”
I love the Humour in this shot, well done.
Mine.
Julian.P “Loch Culbokie”
I love the reflected sky on the Loch, with nice warm colours in the foreground.
Ken.G “ Genoa”
They almost could be talking to each other, well spotted.
Ken.L “Minerva at sunset”
Difficult to photograph without being parallel, but you have managed quite well with the Q43.
Malcolm.R “Wilfred”
Nice shot, love his heart-shaped pupil.
Mark.F “ Fire at Dunwich”
Wow, a well captured image of the destruction of a wild fire, all well too common now days.
Nigel.T“Bar Frontage”
Nice photograph, very psychedelic in nature.
Peter.D “ Shadows”
Great Monochrome image, showing the contrast between light and dark shadow detail.
Phil.C “Herbie”
Great shot of iconic car.
Richard.B “ After the storm”
Great sky against this ancient roman temple, works well in B/W.
Alex B
ReplyDeleteIt’s good to experiment, I do like the texture of the bricks and the hint of colour in the coke can, A tighter crop to remove the upper 1/3 of the image would be my suggestion.
Antonio M
An excellent B&W shot of the station - fully of moody atmosphere and a figure adds to the overall impact.
Brian O
I do like this image - the slightly muted colours add an almost painterly feel to the picture.
Dave C
I had to really study the picture to realise it was a guitar he is holding, The lack of sharpness in the face and hair I find a little distracting.
David Ro
A peaceful woodland scene well illuminated, I find the “hot spot” on a few leaves adjacent to the trunk a distraction.
Dave S
A most topical image, I do like it.
Harry H
An interesting seascape, well retained detail in the foreground, an interesting sky and a timely wave to give impact to the image.
Julian P
A lovely landscape made quite dramatic by the reflection in the water edged by vegetation.
Ken G
A well recorded busy street scene - the slightly out of focus women on her phone leads the eye to the gentleman resting against the wall. The image works well in B & W.
Ken L
The tiled panel is an interesting design, well recorded, however the slightly divergent top and bottom edges of the panel is a little jarring to the eye.
Malcolm R
This is a fun image of Wilfred, I do like the sharpness of his head and the muted tones of the stones beneath.
Mark F
A striking image of the impact this year’s hot summer and drought conditions has had on the countryside - a sign of future summer conditions?
Nigel T
Mine.
Peter D
I do like this study of shadows and shapes, the wall lamp provides the central interest and is complemented by the awnings, a well captured moment.
Phil C
Herbie, resting in dappled shade is the star of this image with the bright fire red doors adding a splash of colour - excellent!
Richard B
This is an excellent dramatic shot - the converging columns pointing to the dark forbidding sky, the vignette adds to the overall impact of the image.
1. Alex B. This certainly makes a statement about litter, it is bold soot and whitewash relieved by the touch of pink. Does the foliage add anything to the picture? I think perhaps it would if it were sharper.
ReplyDelete2. Antonio M. The solitary silhouetted figure raises this shot above the ordinary.
3. Brian O.A picture of concentration, the woven hoop and baskets at her feet tell the story. Colourful in red white and blue.
4. Dave C. At first sight I thought he was holding a gun. The hard stare at the camera (and therefore also at the viewer) is what gives the portrait impact, so for me the eye should be the sharpest point.
5. David Ro. Sunlight though leaves with dappled shade, perfect woodland scene.
6. Dave S. Cheeky. All three facing the camera, who will last longest?
7. Harry H. The hardness and roundness of the granite nicely expressed here and the breaking wave caught perfectly.
8. Julian P. Lovely sharpness to the foreground grasses/sedges and a great sense of depth to this shot.
9. Ken G. The twin hand to ear gestures are a nicely caught moment, the bicycle could not be avoided.
10. Ken L. Impossible to photograph the artwork without distorting it on a camera without movements but you have fitted the skewed panel onto the regular rectangle of the image frame in a way that works rather pleasingly with both bottom edges parallel.
11. Me.
12. Mark F. Wild fires have been worryingly numerous and destructive this year. The colour of the smoke is markedly different to that of the clouds. A good record of the event.
13. Nigel T. A glorious mix of coloured coils complete with paint brushes. Is that a bar stool in the bottom left corner?
14. Peter D. The lamp and its shadow certainly grab the attention here and they are perfectly sandwiched between the adjacent canopies. That little pool of light below the lamp is a happy accident.
15. Phill C. A famous car (or look-a-like?) happily posing for the photographer, the fire station looks interesting too.
16. Richard B. This looks very dramatic perhaps overly so - a little help in processing? Any way it works splendidly.
Certainly, Malcolm....enhanced contrast, and the addition of a vignette to better re-create the dark mood that existed in the moment following that electric storm. Richard.
DeleteAlex B: Intriguing experiment, with the vestigial text colour emerging from the near-monochrome surroundings. The battered can and slant give it a grungy quality.
ReplyDeleteAntonio M: Atmospheric architectural geometry, the tracks disappearing into the bright mist evoking journeys to come, the solitary figure providing scale and human interest.
Brian O: Rich colour, light and pose give this re-enactment portrait a period quality - as if the picture itself is a re-enactment of a contemporary painting
Dave C: Dramatic portrait which takes a moment to decipher. Smoke and deep monochrome combine to create a mysterious atmosphere in keeping with the subject.
David Ro: Woodland patterns resolved through light, layers and diagonals. Particularly effective how the illuminated foliage suggests the sun above the canopy
Harry H: Powerfully elemental landscape, the breaking wave adding energy to the immense rocky setting. Closer inspection reveals the tiny building giving a sense of scale.
Julian P: Beautifully quiet landscape, with the reflection extending the sky into the foreground. The warm vegetation contrasts pleasingly with the cooler sky.
Ken G: Lively street photograph with people on their phones compressed into a well seen moment of symmetry from these prevalent poses.
Ken L: the sunset light, artwork and surroundings imbue the picture with a warmth that brings the ceramics to life and make me wonder about contrast with the uninspiring office block.
Malcolm R: Delightful eye contact plus great detail and colour give Wilfred considerable personality - a mignon little fish indeed (not in the culinary sense).
Mark F: Simultaneously a fine landscape and powerful documentary image, the enormous plume giving a striking sense of scale. At once beautiful and unsettling.
Nigel T: Exuberant abstract of colour, pattern and reflected light. Enough structure to hold the composition while allowing the eye to wander around the vibrant swirls.
Peter D: Well observed monochrome where light, shadow and diagonals transform an incidental street detail into something engagingly graphic.
Phil C: Affectionate portrait of a motoring icon. Strong colour and the period setting give the scene a pleasing retro character as if from sunnier times.
Richard B: Monumental architecture matched by a monumental sky, the turbulent clouds encircling the bright halo as if the temple has been highlighted by its deities.
Alex B.
ReplyDeleteA good angle, but a little busy.
Antonio M.
Good composition, a great mood.
Brian O.
Tells an interesting story. Good environmental portrait.
Dave C.
Mine.
David Ro.
Competent Woodland scene, highlights a little bright.
Dave S.
Very good capture of an artist and his work.
Harry H.
A very good coastal scene in monochrome. Good range of tones.
Julian P.
Very good capture shame about the lighting.
Ken G.
I like the synchronicity of the hands.
Ken L.
A good record shot with a pictorial edge.
Malcolm R.
Challenging subject well captured.
Mark F.
A very good newsworthy shot.
Nigel T.
Very colourful, but a bit busy.
Peter D.
A well crafted monochrome.
Phil C.
Very sharp and colourful capture.
Richard B.
Dramatic monochrome photography.
Alex B I like the crop, hi contrast and split tone. A successful experiment. Refreshing take.
ReplyDeleteBrian O an intense shot both in expression and the colour saturation.
Dave C Intriguing but I think the hair, smoke and guitar coming together make this a little less striking than could have been.
David Ro Sharp and fully saturated this is a very pleasing shot really showcasing the dappled lighting
Dave S I like the idea of artist and his work but to me the balance is a bit out of kilter, either should be dominated by portrait or with sitter, having them to similar in scale doesn’t make the most of this.
Harry H in my top 3 this month, I like the contrast, sharpness and drama of this crashing wave shot.
Antonio M my winner this month with a moody and well composed retro shot showing wonderful tonal range that make it very atmospheric.
Julian P great use of wide angle with sharpness through the frame.
Ken L sharp and good colour rendering in this shot
Malcolm R lovely depth of colour and good sharpness
Mark F In my top 3 this month as I love the muted colour palette and dram of the cloudscape
Nigel T a very intriguing, sharp and well saturated abstract.
Peter D very good composition and use of light.
Phil C charming shot of an old favourite.
Richard B I like the looming perspective. Nd stormy clouds. Very nice shot!