Discussion: Bridges of the World July 2026
FR

Discussion: Bridges of the World July 2026

by Rouquine38

in Other › Travel games

Translated into English.

XR Xrctn Veteran ·
Okay with the realignment and lighting, but I think the change in orientation is a bit too radical, even if the aesthetics are improved.
https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6884794;a=6884794
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
Okay with the straightening and lighting, but I find the change in orientation a bit too radical, even if the aesthetics are improved.

Yes, totally agree—I made the orientation change to show how the feel can be really different. Of course, I wouldn’t do it for real since we’ve got to prioritize reality over aesthetics 😄
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
Hi there,

Thanks for your tips, and you're right—your edited photo has a lot more energy!

Personally, I don’t like retouching my photos. I prefer keeping things as I saw them, even if sometimes (rarely) I let my phone app crop them a bit.

Actually, my photos are mostly for sharing on FB with friends.



This photo has potential—it could use some improvements, in my opinion. I’ll go ahead and make a suggestion: - Photos are read from left to right, and while that doesn’t reflect reality, I’d flip it horizontally. - I’d straighten the perspectives a bit. Though there’s not quite enough detail to do it perfectly. -I’d work on the sky, which is really interesting, by boosting the whites and blacks for more contrast. -I’d highlight the castle by darkening the rest of the photo.

Here’s my take:

GA Gaura Veteran ·
You're going all out, Isabelle—flipping a castle is bold! I’d just straighten it, enhance the sky like you did, and maybe crop the bottom. The reflections aren’t as interesting as the castle, and they throw off the balance—the castle’s almost hitting the top of the frame.
gaura
GA Gaura Veteran ·
Hi Michel, We all take photos to show our friends, not for exhibitions or books. And your camera, like all others, doesn’t photograph "what you see" as you say—it captures what its software interprets from what you’ve framed. Straightening an image takes a few seconds, tweaking a sky or brightening shadows only takes a few minutes at most. You often share interesting photos; they’re almost there to be really great. Your friends wouldn’t mind if you gave them a little boost, and I think you’d be happy with the result too. Don’t underestimate yourself😉. Take these constructive suggestions as encouragement, not criticism😉
gaura
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
Don’t worry, I didn’t take it the wrong way at all! 😄

I take a lot of photos, and I must be a little lazy not to do it 😄
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
You're going all out, Isabelle—flipping a castle is bold! I’d settle for straightening it, enhancing the sky like you did, and maybe cropping the bottom. The reflections aren’t as interesting as the castle, and they throw off the balance—the castle almost bumps into the top of the frame.

Yeah, I went for it 😄 😄 True, if you remove the bottom, the reflection loses its purpose, but I think here it works because it fills the water in the foreground. The photo could’ve used a wider angle to get more sky 😊
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
Don’t worry, I didn’t take it the wrong way at all 😄

I take a lot of photos, and I must be a bit lazy not to do it 😄

I really like this photo—that’s why I allowed myself to share my take on it 😊. We don’t take photos to please everyone; the main thing is to enjoy yourself 😉
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
KA Kate Globetrotter ·
I’d adjust all the perspectives a bit. There’s still not enough material to do it properly.

In Photoshop, you can recover the material that gets cropped out. It doesn’t always work, but it gives good results.

Overall, I agree with you, with just a few minor details. The discussion remains open, and this is just my point of view 😉 This new composition is solid, the sky is gorgeous and adds a cinematic feel to the scene, but does such a spectacular sky steal the spotlight from the castle? Isn’t the castle supposed to be the main focus? (Unless it’s a contest about bridges, of course.) Also, during editing, the castle lost a bit of its ochre color, and I find the overall image a tad too dark. I imagine if you had worked with a raw file, you’d have gotten finer nuances.
Mes photos sur Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/153304262@N05/albums "Le Temps nous égare. Le Temps nous étreint. Le Temps nous est gare. Le Temps nous est train".
MU Muriel18 Globetrotter ·
I’ve been following all your exchanges with interest... even if I feel like I’m on another planet I (almost) never edit my photos (except for horizons that aren’t horizontal, which drive me crazy). I did try to get into it (with Lightroom) a few years ago, but honestly, it just doesn’t interest me. I just try to pay attention when taking the shot (framing, settings)... maybe the result of many years with film That said, I still find your comments about Tylassin’s photo really interesting 😉.
Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
I’d adjust all the perspectives a bit. There’s still some material missing to do it properly.

In Photoshop, you can recover the material that gets cropped out. It doesn’t always work, but it gives good results.

Overall, I agree with you, with just a few minor details. The discussion is still open, and this is just my point of view 😉 This new composition is solid—the sky is gorgeous and gives the scene a cinematic feel—but doesn’t that spectacular sky steal the spotlight from the castle? Isn’t the castle supposed to be the main focus? (Unless it’s a bridge competition, of course.) Also, during editing, the castle lost a bit of its ochre color, and I find the whole thing a tad too dark. I imagine if you’d worked with a raw file, you’d have gotten finer nuances...

Thanks, Kate, for sharing your thoughts! 😊 I really love this exercise and these exchanges—they give a different perspective and help us improve. Yes, with Photoshop, anything’s possible now 😄—personally, I rarely use it. Lightroom has come a long way in recent years, and usually, it’s enough for me. Yes, the sky is stunning—I love skies like this and always tend to highlight them 😊. I think you’ve probably noticed—I love photos that are a little dark, and yeah… sometimes a bit too much 🙈 Absolutely, the file we get from VF has very little resolution… we can’t work miracles.
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
I’ve been following your exchanges with interest... even if I feel like I’m on another planet I (almost) never edit my photos (except for horizons that aren’t horizontal, which drive me crazy). I did try to get into it (with Lightroom) a few years ago, but honestly, it doesn’t interest me. I just try to pay attention when taking the shot (framing, settings)... maybe the result of many years shooting film That said, I still find your comments about Tylassin’s photo really interesting 😉.

Yes, Muriel, you’re absolutely right. Almost all pro photographers say the same thing: "90% of the photo happens in the field." You have to use all the camera’s capabilities to get the desired result right when you take the shot. The RAW file is what the negative was in film—you need to develop it to get a photo. If you shoot in JPEG, the camera automatically processes it, but you no longer have the native file.
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Hi Isabelle,

Absolutely, the file we get from VF has very low resolution... we can't work miracles.

I was actually wondering how you managed to rework this photo, especially after Kate’s first comment. I was thinking, how did she get the file? A screenshot? I’ve done that myself with other photos, but I found that the result wasn’t what I wanted with a photo captured that way, and I didn’t say anything because I thought the photo’s author wouldn’t be happy that I’d taken the liberty of "working" on their photo. I did it once, and the woman who took the photo was really shocked—or hurt—that I’d touched her photo and "made a big deal out of it."

I use Photoshop Elements, which is more than enough for me for small corrections, because I prefer to stay as close as possible to the original photo without distorting my initial work too much when taking the shot. I gave up on Photoshop—it’s too expensive and too complicated for my degenerating brain—and along the way, I also stopped shooting in Raw (for the same reasons). I think I’m at least 20 years older than all of you, and my various health issues have really compromised my attention, concentration, and cognition in general, so I don’t want (or can’t) bother with too many edits anymore. Unfortunately, "in the field," I realize I’m making more and more setting and calculation mistakes, not to mention the times I forget to disable a previous setting—you can imagine the disaster! My eyesight isn’t what it used to be either. Etc. So I try to fix things in post-processing with Photoshop Elements, which is more than enough to adjust levels, contrast, depth of field, brightness, etc., as long as the end result is a photo I like. Like you, Isabelle, I’ve already told you—I much prefer dark photos, though not everyone agrees. But I find that you can express so much more in a dark photo, and it’s so much more aesthetic (artistic?). But that’s just my personal opinion and taste.

I’ve also noticed that my photos from recent years are often much less successful (beautiful?) than the ones I took 10, 15, or 20 years ago. Is it the equipment or the brain—or both—that’s changed?
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
From a computer, you just need to download the photo. Usually, I click on it, choose to open it in a new page, and then by clicking again, the download option appears.

On a smartphone, it’s not possible. At least not on mine.

The problem when you get older isn’t necessarily the photo or the device, but our eyes.

Between severe myopia, presbyopia, cataracts, and other delightful issues, we don’t see like we used to.

My brother just had cataract surgery at 61. He tells me he can see again!

Others have said the same thing after the operation.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
From a computer, you just need to download the photo.\nUsually, I click on it, choose to open it in a new page, then click again, and the download option appears.\n\nI don’t have that option. When I click on the photo, all I get is the photo’s URL, which doesn’t help with downloading it. I’ve already tried...\nAnother thing about getting older is that tech keeps evolving all the time—it just feels more and more complicated. You’ve got to keep up constantly, and there comes a point where you just can’t keep up anymore... Eyesight can be fixed. Lost brain cells? Not so much. 🧓
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
Hi Jean Marie, To save an image, I right-click on it and choose "save image as"; the file doesn’t have much resolution and is only 200–300 KB. In Lightroom, I use super-resolution to increase the pixel count. Yes, unfortunately, nothing gets easier as we get older—the main thing is to still enjoy ourselves and go at our own pace.
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Anyway, thanks for your help!
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Hi Jean Marie, To save an image, I right-click on it and choose "save image as"; the file doesn’t have much resolution and is only 200-300 KB. In Lightroom, I use super-resolution to increase the number of pixels. Yes, unfortunately, as we get older, nothing improves—what matters is still enjoying ourselves and going at our own pace.

Thanks for your explanation. I tried it with one of Noelle’s photos. This time, it worked even better than your method. Save as, and then when I click to open it, the photo automatically opens in Photoshop at 1400 x 787 resolution. Full-screen display. Perfect image. And I can work on it perfectly. Thanks for your tips. Now I’ll be able to "borrow" your photos and others... 😈🤹‍♂️🤹‍♂️
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Hi Noëlle, I had a lot of fun playing with your two photos of the Ponte Vecchio, front and back. Especially by darkening them a bit, just the way I like it. Just to see what I would’ve done if I’d taken those photos myself.

I get why, a year or two ago, I found one of my photos online with someone claiming it was theirs...

Your photos are really beautiful. It was just for fun, to see what you can do by "borrowing" a photo like that. Now I understand why some people here in travel journals slap a huge signature watermark on their photos to protect them... a little, at least. But it ruins the photo, and on top of that, you can remove that signature in all sorts of ways...
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Tancarville Bridge

Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
XR Xrctn Veteran ·
On the other hand, no dancing on Pemberton Bridge! (see photo 3 in the contest)

https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6884794;a=6884794
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
A bridge can also connect two wings of a building (the Viceroy’s Palace in India under the British Raj, in Shimla)

Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
I’d kind of forgotten about this bridge, but Facebook just reminded me—it’s the anniversary! Exactly one year ago in Saxon Switzerland, north of Dresden. 😊

RA Ragamuffin Globetrotter ·
Good evening,

la Suisse Saxonne au nord de Dresde

I’d say it’s actually southeast of Dresden, following the Elbe River upstream (see the link to Google Maps below).

https://www.google.com/maps/@50.978766,13.956555,10.53z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I regret not visiting during my trip to Dresden in June 2017, as I chose to go all the way to the Polish border in Görlitz instead—a city that inspired Wes Anderson for his film *The Grand Budapest Hotel*. I think Saxon Switzerland might have also been part of his inspiration, right? Anyway, thanks for the photo—it took me back to my travel memories! 😉
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
Yeah, you're right about the geography. Sorry 😅

It *is* a really pretty place, but packed with tourists in July.

Several films have been shot in Görlitz. I stopped there for lunch just before crossing into Poland.
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
Last day in Germany before heading to Denmark—visited an inhabited bridge (not a mill) today in Wismar.

RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
A big thank you for your wonderful bridge suggestions! 😊 For those who are running late, there are still a few days left! 😉
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
The three Queensferry bridges north of Edinburgh



"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
A bridge can also connect two wings of a building (the Viceroy's Palace in India under the British Raj, in Shimla)



Hi Jean Marie,

That’s a gorgeous photo, but it doesn’t look like a bridge—more like the interior of a beautiful wooden residence 😊 I really love the two light spots in the photo: the one below that highlights the painting and the one above that really brings out the bridge. To nitpick a little, I would’ve liked to see the person climbing the stairs instead of standing still in the lower part of the image.

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Ansel Adams’ 11-zone system, but you must be getting pretty close to mastering it 👍 Well done! I get what you mean about loving dark photos—I do too, just not as much 😄
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Hi Isabelle,

but it doesn’t look like a bridge—more like the interior of a beautiful wooden residence

Well, the photo is dark, so it’s hard to see, but click on it to enlarge it and look closely at the upper left part. You can clearly see the other part of the wall, which shows that this gallery is surrounded by empty space on both the right and left, and it connects two independent parts of the château. So, in my view, it *is* a bridge between those two sections since its role is to link them.

To nitpick a little, I would’ve liked to see the character climbing the stairs instead of being in a static position at the bottom of the image.

You know, you can’t ask too much of museum (or château) guards. They usually just wait for the day to pass as best they can...

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Ansel Adams’ 11 zones, but you must be getting pretty close! 👍 Bravo!

You know, I’ve told you before—I have no formal photography training. I’m completely self-taught. I regret it, but I’m not ashamed of it. I rely solely on my eye, my intuition, and my personal taste.

I get it when you say you like dark photos—I do too, just not as much 😊

I *could* have made this photo less dark, but I wanted it this way to better capture the eerie atmosphere of the château, the austere people who lived or stayed there, and that "tomb-like" vibe I imagined. Otherwise, there’s a trend I’ve noticed on Youpic among photographers specializing in monochrome—they *all* make their photos *very* dark, much darker than mine (😵), and I don’t particularly like it, but they’re among the most "awarded" by the curators (pro photographers on the site). One day, I asked one of them if the extreme darkness was intentional. (Big mistake! Felt like I was telling him he didn’t know how to handle light.) He gave me a curt reply, very politely pointing out that I knew nothing about black-and-white photography... 😵
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
VO Voyajou Globetrotter ·
In some parts of the world, bridges are also targets. A bridge destroyed by an American strike in Bandar-e Abbas, southern Iran, on July 17th.



Photo published by Le Monde, on July 21st (and not retouched )
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
We had to wait three days before finding a bridge worth a quick photo. In Silkeborg, just a small wooden bridge at the junction of two lakes a few hours ago. The bare minimum 😅
LU LuluMae Veteran ·
Hi there,

So happy to be back here and see so many familiar names! After a few years away, and some odd behavior when I try to preview my messages, I’ll start with a test by posting a photo here before I dare enter the contest.

Let’s see if this post ends up like that Icelandic bridge, swept away during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
Hello,

So happy to be back here and see so many familiar names! After a few years away, and some odd behavior when I try to preview my messages, I’ll start with a test by posting a photo here before I dare enter the contest.

Let’s see if this message washes up like that Icelandic bridge, swept away during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.



Welcome back to the forum, Sophie—everything’s working 👍 You’ve still got two days to post your photos for the contest 😊
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
One last bridge, perhaps.

At Den Gamle By in Aarhus, Denmark, this morning.

A reconstructed village with old houses.

MU Muriel18 Globetrotter ·
Hello! That photo #3 looked familiar to me.... I’ve got (almost) the same one under the sun ;)

Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
LU LuluMae Veteran ·
Fresh off the press, photo taken in the Rhodopes, in southern Bulgaria.

MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Good evening Isabelle... The bridge photos are pouring in like rain. Each one is as interesting as the next. That’s exactly what I told you from the start. It was an excellent theme choice because who isn’t tempted to take a photo of a bridge? And I suspected we’d have a plethora of beautiful bridge photos. It’s going to be really tough to choose. Like in presidential elections—so many candidates that it’s hard to see just two make it to the final round... Three for the photo contest. 🤔
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
Another bridge in the Rhodopes (Bulgaria)😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
Another bridge in the Rhodopes (Bulgaria)😉

Gorgeous!
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
Good evening Isabelle.. The bridge photos are pouring in like rain. Each one is as interesting as the next. That’s exactly what I told you from the start. It was an excellent theme choice because who isn’t tempted to take a photo of a bridge? And I suspected we’d have a plethora of beautiful bridge photos. It’s going to be really tough to choose. Like in presidential elections—so many candidates that it’s hard to see just two make it to the final round... Three for the photo contest. 🤔

Yes, some truly stunning photos in the contest and the discussion 😊 Only a few hours left to post your photos—after that, voting begins! 😮
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
TY Tylassin Veteran ·
One last little one for today—this afternoon, the Rosenholm Castle bridge, still in Denmark 😊. Maybe it’ll switch sides soon 😄.

RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
You’ve got a few days left to vote for the top 3 bridge photos! 😊
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
As a nature lover, I eliminate anything that leans toward gigantism and is just concrete and steel. I favor traditional structures and local materials like stone and wood that blend into the landscape. I also eliminate photos where you can barely make out the bridge or only see a small part of it. With what’s left, the choice is still tough—I lean more toward stone structures than simple wooden or vine bridges, which require less work and ingenuity to build and are sometimes just there to entertain tourists.

Hello Djalma,

We all have our own personal criteria for judging a photo, and they’re all valid. So this is just my take.

I think that’s a pretty narrow view, especially since in a photo contest, the focus is more on the photographer’s ability to capture an aesthetic moment that tells a story. Why would stone, wood, or vine bridges—only in a natural setting (and photographed in their entirety!)—be the only ones aesthetically acceptable or capable of telling a story? Plus, with such rigid criteria, there’d be little variety in the submissions—all the photos would end up looking the same.

I appreciate the aesthetic you’re talking about, but a metal structure in an industrial landscape, captured beautifully (even partially) and telling a story about its human, social, or cultural role, totally fits the theme as long as the bridge is the main element.

I’d definitely vote for a stunning photo of a modern bridge over a poorly shot vine bridge in the jungle, and vice versa—because this is a photo contest, not an ideological one.

Anyway, I’m not trying to convince you, and I respect your perspective. But it’s a shame to limit your vision so much in an artistic field.

Have a great day!
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
I was about to chime in just to say that this is a photo contest, not a bridge contest. Like Attila mentioned, the theme is the bridge, but no matter which bridge it is, what counts is the aesthetic and technical quality of the photo.
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
Hi

We all have our own personal criteria for judging a photo, and they’re all valid

So, in principle, mine are valid too? I fully accept that mine are outside the norm—or let’s say atypical—but that’s just how it is. It’s not about ideology but an instinctive reaction that doesn’t go through "the intellect." Whether it’s skyscrapers, high-voltage power lines, wind turbines, or bridges made of steel and concrete, they deeply offend my sensibility and my particular sense of aesthetics. Even though photos of these "structures," products of advanced technology, might tell a story and fit perfectly within the theme—as you say—I’ll never be able to appreciate the photo representing them at its true value. If my judgment and my vote cause a problem, I can remove the latter, or you can—it won’t bother me. Besides, until now, I haven’t taken part in this kind of contest, and I think this will be my last participation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
RO Rouquine38 Globetrotter ·
Hi everyone, I’m bouncing off the latest messages and not replying to anyone in particular. Voting is always subjective because it’s inevitably based on personal feelings. Everyone has their own criteria and votes accordingly—I think it’s great to share why we made our choices. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of the heart... I love all this diversity we have on this forum, which isn’t necessarily due to photographic skill but rather the emotion and story behind each photo. The discussions are always interesting—it’s how we broaden our perspectives. Happy voting to all!
"Voyager est un triple plaisir : l'attente, l'éblouissement et le souvenir." Ilka Chase
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
No, your criteria don’t bother me, and I don’t want any comments deleted. I won’t repeat everything I’ve already written—basically, that all choices are valid and I accept yours. But since this is a discussion and your message struck me, I was just reacting on a purely personal level to say that I felt all the criteria you listed for what makes a bridge photo "valid" in your eyes necessarily led to a very narrow view of the theme. Though I don’t know where you got the idea that I was asking for censorship or anything like that.

Still, my reaction ended up giving you a chance to explain your choice more clearly, which is great and really adds to the discussion!
KA Kate Globetrotter ·
You're being pretty touchy, Jean-Michel! 😉 You're not gonna pull that on us too, are you... no, never mind...
Mes photos sur Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/153304262@N05/albums "Le Temps nous égare. Le Temps nous étreint. Le Temps nous est gare. Le Temps nous est train".
MA Marien33 Veteran ·
You’re being pretty touchy, Jean-Michel! 😉 You’re not gonna pull that on us too, are you... no, never mind...

I was dying laughing too, and I immediately thought of you and your... no, never mind... 🤭😂
Je rencontrai sur mon chemin tant de difficultés Qu’elles furent toutes surmontées MIRZA GHALIB poète urdu (1796 -1869) https://www.telling-india-pictures.com https://youpic.com/marien
Start a new discussion Printable version Report this post Follow this discussion

Similar discussions

You might also like

The Pearl of Africa - July-August 2026
Travel logs › Ouganda·39 photos
 A little piece of Sulawesi with the family: Rantepao and Selayar
Travel logs › Indonesia·172 photos
 Tanzania Classics (Safari & Zanzibar)
Travel logs › Tanzania·170 photos
 Getting Away to Ireland
Travel logs › Ireland·149 photos
 On the Roads of Costa Rica
Travel logs › Costa Rica·66 photos
 Storm in the Canary Islands
Travel logs › Canaries (îles)·254 photos
 New adventures from Perpignan to Ranchi (Jharkhand)
Travel logs › India·237 photos
 Breathtaking Kyrgyzstan!
Travel logs › Kirghizistan·304 photos

More discussions

PA
Pagaljavab 16 hours ago · Gaura
September 2026 Photo Contest Discussion Thread: "The Street as a Livelihood"
Good evening to all you photographers and photo enthusiasts on VF,

This is the place to exchange, debate, chat, philosophize, nitpick, ramble, bicker, and congratulate each other on this month’s theme: "The Street as a Livelihood."

Just a reminder that the photos expected in the contest thread should depict street scenes showing people using the street as a place to earn a living—whether it’s legal work, informal jobs, illegal activities, or begging. In the discussion thread, feel free to be much more open-ended.

Open
PA
Pagaljavab 3 days ago · Kate
September 2026 Photo Contest Theme: "The Street as a Livelihood"
Good evening to all you photographers and photo enthusiasts on VF,

So, I’ve chosen this month’s theme: "The Street as a Livelihood". The photos we’re looking for are street scenes showing people who use the street as a place to earn a living—whether it’s legal work, informal jobs, illegal activities, or begging.

The rules:

- Photo submissions until Thursday, September 24 at 11:59 PM (Paris time) You can post up to 3 photos, numbered and posted in separate messages, ideally with a short description of the location and the story behind it.

- Voting from Friday, September 25 at 12:01 AM to Tuesday, September 29 at 11:59 PM. After the deadline, it’s too late! Please indicate the photo number, the username, and the points awarded: Photo #1 = 3 pts Photo #2 = 2 pts Photo #3 = 1 pt

- All VF members can vote (even those who didn’t submit photos).

- In case of a tie for first place, the winning photo will be the one with the most first-place votes, then second-place votes!

- The lucky winner will not only earn the admiration of all September’s photo contest participants but will also get the privilege of choosing the theme and organizing October 2026’s photo contest.

For discussions about the theme, head over here: Discussion thread for September 2026’s theme: "The Street as a Livelihood"

Wishing you all some amazing shots!
Open
GA
Gaura 6 days ago · Rouquine38
August 2026 Photo Contest Theme: Religious Buildings
Since I don’t have time to come up with an original theme, I’m suggesting a broad, international topic: religious buildings around the world. Given how vast the subject is, I’d like us to focus on photos of exteriors—wide shots or details. Interiors, which are just as varied, could be the subject of another contest.

A few of my own photos, just to give you an idea:













Open
GA
Gaura 7 days ago · Pagaljavab
August Photo Contest Discussion: Religious Buildings
Pressed for time due to a full house of kids, grandkids, and cats, I decided to go with a general theme. Everyone has photos of religious buildings, so architectural variety is guaranteed. Just a reminder—I’m asking for exterior shots only, either wide-angle or detailed views.

Phanom Rung, Thailand Wat Phra Keo, Bangkok

Abu Simbel

Quimper

Venice

Istanbul

Khiva, Uzbekistan
Open
RO
Rouquine38 2 weeks ago · Noirenvoyage
July 2026 Photo Contest Theme: Bridges of the World
The theme for this July’s photo contest is: Bridges of the World

Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon

Here’s the definition of a bridge: “A structure, typically made of stone, wood, or metal, that spans a depression or obstacle (such as a transportation route or waterway) by connecting the two sides or crossing over the obstacle.”

Viaducts, aqueducts, and footbridges will all be accepted.

Millau Viaduct

To allow for as many original photos as possible, the bridge can be photographed from the side, below, or above—the main thing is that it’s the focal point of the image.

Bridge in the Algarve

Pont du Gard from below

Details are also welcome, as long as you can still recognize it’s a bridge 😊

Brooklyn Bridge

Practical details:

Participation: Each VF member can submit up to 3 photos, until Sunday, 26/07 at 11:59 PM Paris time. Each photo must be posted in a separate message, with its number (1, 2, or 3). Don’t forget to add a little explanation (comment, location, etc.).

Voting: Each VF member can vote for the 3 photos they consider the best, based on their own criteria and the theme.

Voting will take place from Monday, 27/07 to Friday, 31/07 at 11:59 PM Paris time.

Selected photos should be listed in order of preference: - 1st photo: 3 points - 2nd photo: 2 points - 3rd photo: 1 point

The winner is the photographer whose photo receives the most points.

Results will be announced on 01/08. In case of a tie, the number of first-place votes will decide. The winner will have the honor of organizing August 2026’s contest.

Photos that have already been nominated (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) in another contest are not eligible to participate in this one.

This thread is exclusively for contest submissions. Any discussions or comments should be posted in the following thread: Here
Open
RA
Ragamuffin 2 months ago · Tylassin
Discussion thread on the May 2026 theme: Staircases
If you’ve already posted your three photos in the contest thread Staircases: May 2026 Photo Contest Theme and a fourth one comes to mind, you can ease your staircase obsession here.

A few examples of staircases:



Some of the 6,600 steps on the staircase leading to the summit of Jade Emperor Peak at 1,545 meters.



Emergency staircase at the Orléans library (France).



Brussels street artist Créons incorporates the staircase into the dress design of his character.



The staircase is part of the roof of Villa Malaparte (Adalberto Libera) on the island of Capri (Italy).
Open
PH
Philippebrg 2 months ago · Pagaljavab
June 2026 Photo Contest Theme: Such a Beautiful Landscape
Hello,

It might not be very original, but I see it hasn’t been suggested—or at least not for a very long time. I’d like to invite you to discover the beauty of the great outdoors through landscape photos. Whether they’re desert, sea, countryside, or mountain scenes—with or without other elements (people, buildings, animals, etc.)—they should make us want to dive right in without hesitation.

To participate: Photo submissions until Wednesday, June 24 at 11:59 PM You can post up to 3 photos, numbered and shared in separate messages, along with a short description of the place and the story behind it.

To vote: from Thursday, June 25 at 12:01 AM to Monday, June 29 at 11:59 PM After the deadline, it’s too late!

Please include the photo number, username, and the points awarded: Photo #1 = 3 pts Photo #2 = 2 pts Photo #3 = 1 pt

All VF members can vote (even those who didn’t submit photos). In case of a tie for first place, the winning photo will be the one with the most first-place votes, then second-place votes! The lucky winner will get to organize July 2026’s photo contest.

For discussions about the theme, it’s here: Discussion thread for June 2026’s theme: Such a Beautiful Landscape

Good luck to everyone!

Philippe

Chumphon, Thailand: Doi Tapang
Open
RA
Ragamuffin 3 months ago · Philippebrg
Staircases. Photo contest theme for May 2026.
Hello

This month’s photo contest theme for May 2026 is "Staircases"

Plural or singular? Does it really matter as long as you’re told you’ve gone up or down them well?

Anyway, it’s not that complicated, even though I’m sure some will manage to overcomplicate it—after all, why keep things simple when making them complicated is so much more fun (as an Indian proverb goes).

To participate: Submit your photos until Monday, May 25 at 11:59 PM You can post up to 3 photos, numbered and shared in separate messages, along with a short description of the location and the story behind it.

To vote: From Tuesday, May 26 at 12:01 AM until Saturday, May 30 at 11:59 PM After the deadline, it’s too late.

Please include the photo number, username, and the points awarded: Photo #1 = 3 pts Photo #2 = 2 pts Photo #3 = 1 pt

All VF members can vote (even those who didn’t submit photos). In case of a tie for first place, the winning photo will be the one with the most first-place votes, then second-place votes! The lucky winner will get to organize June 2026’s photo contest.

For discussions about the theme, click here: Discussion thread for May 2026’s theme: Staircases
Open
EN
Envallis 4 months ago · Muriel18
April 2026 Photo Contest Theme: Feeling Fishy?
The 140th (wow!) edition of the contest is now live!

Since it’s April Fools’ month and I’m a diver at heart, I had to pick a theme around the sea and fish.

This month’s theme is: sea fishing 🙂. Deep-sea fishing, rockpooling, shore casting, shellfish & crustaceans—anything remotely related to sea fishing fits the bill 😉

Photos of fishing boats, fishing ports, fish auctions, seafood stalls, nets and trawls, lobster pots, fishermen, your kids collecting cockles, even those New Year’s oyster shells 😏—no limits as long as it ties into the theme 😛 And of course, a special shout-out to anglers worldwide! 🙂

I’m traveling right now, so I don’t have many photos on hand. To illustrate the theme, I’ve chosen this shot of a small Vietnamese fishing boat I spotted near the Cham Islands, returning from a dive.



Contest rules: You can post up to three photos, each in a separate message, clearly numbering them (1, 2, or 3) and including the location where the photo was taken. Any explanations about your photos are welcome.

When voting, you’ll choose three photos, clearly stating the participant’s name followed by their photo number. The first photo in your vote gets three points, the second gets two, and the third gets one.

The winner will be the person whose photo earns the most points. In case of a tie, the winner will be the one with the most first-place votes, or if still tied, the most second-place votes. If it’s a perfect tie, the person who reached their score first wins. The winner then gets the honor of choosing and organizing May 2026’s contest theme. Ties for any other position won’t be broken. Finally, you don’t need to enter the contest to vote, but participants (and I hope there’ll be lots of you!) are *strongly* encouraged to vote!

Please only post contest photos in this thread. Starting Saturday, April 25 (00:01 Paris time), only votes should be posted.

Key dates: You can submit your photos from today until Friday, April 24, 2026 (23:59 Paris time—Xavier, you can do the math for Perth 😏). Voting starts the very next minute and ends on Thursday, April 29 (23:59 Paris time). Results will be announced on Thursday, April 30, 2026... The next host can take over on Saturday, May 2 (yeah, May 1 is a no-work day 😛)

Ready, set, shoot!
Open
XR
Xrctn 5 months ago · Jojoone1
March 2026 Photo Contest Theme: Metal, Metallic
The 139th edition of this contest is now open, and this month’s theme is: « Metal, Metallic».

From ore to rockets, wire to the Eiffel Tower—or in a pinch, even a self-portrait at the bottom of a spoon—the theme is broad enough that you should be able to come up with at least three ideas pretty easily! Sure, things might get tricky when it’s time to vote, but that could just be a sign of a successful contest, right?! But we’re not there yet.

Contest rules: You can post up to three photos, each in a separate message, clearly indicating their number (1, 2, or 3) along with the location where the photo was taken. Any explanations about your photos are welcome.

You’ll vote for three photos, clearly stating the name of the participant you’ve chosen, followed by the photo number. The first photo in your vote will receive three points, the second two points, and the third one point.

The winner will be the person whose photo earns the most points. In case of a tie, the winner will be the one with the most first-place votes—or, if still tied, the most second-place votes. Finally, if it’s a perfect tie, the winner will be the one who reached their score first. The winner will then have the pleasure of choosing the theme for the April 2026 contest and organizing it. Ties for any position other than first won’t be broken. Lastly, you don’t need to participate in the contest to vote. However, participants (and I hope there’ll be lots of you!) are strongly encouraged to vote!

Please only post contest photos in this thread, and starting Thursday, March 26 (00:01 Paris time), only votes.

Key dates: You can submit your photos starting today, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, until Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (23:59 Paris time). Voting will begin the minute after and end on Monday, March 30 (23:59 Paris time). Results will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 ... if all goes well!

A discussion thread for this contest is open HERE: The photorama can be found HERE
Open
MU
Muriel18 6 months ago · Sinforosa
February contest theme: lakes and ponds around the world
Let’s stick with the water theme—it’s definitely the season (maybe a bit *too* much for some of those dealing with floods 😕). After the flowing waters (with varying energy levels), let’s take it easy with still waters:

Lakes (Annecy)

Ponds (near Moustiers Saint Marie)

Lagoons (Bacalar)

If you’ve got nice photos of a pond—or even a puddle—why not? Natural bodies of water only: no pools or fountains (reservoir lakes are accepted… because they often look like natural lakes ).

The contest rules are the same as always 😉: Up to 3 photos per member, one photo per post (a little explanation is better), and past winning photos from other VF contests aren’t allowed. You have until Sunday, February 22nd at 11:59 PM (Paris time) to post your photos. Voting starts Monday the 23rd at midnight—rank your top 3 photos in order (3, 2, and 1 points). Voting ends Saturday, February 28th at 11:59 PM. Results will be announced on March 1st. The winning photo is the one with the most points (in case of a tie, the photo ranked first the most times wins). The lucky winner gets to organize March’s contest 😎.

Dig into your archives…
Open
RO
Rouquine38 7 months ago · UnaMilanese
Waterways Around the World: January 2026 Photo Contest
The first theme of 2026 is: "Waterways Around the World".

Water is present almost everywhere on our blue planet, so I’ve narrowed the theme down to waterways—rivers, streams, brooks, and the like.



Seas, oceans, lakes, or other stagnant waters won’t be considered for this month’s theme 😅. However, waterfalls and cascades are very welcome 😊!



Practical details:

**Participation** Each VF member can submit up to 3 photos, until Sunday, January 25th at 11:59 PM Paris time. Each photo must be posted in a separate message, with its number (1, 2, or 3). Don’t forget to add a little explanation (commentary, location, etc.).

**Voting** Each VF member can vote for the 3 photos they consider the best, based on their own criteria and the theme.

Voting will take place from Monday, January 26th to Saturday, January 31st at 11:59 PM Paris time.

Photos should be ranked in order of preference: - 1st photo: 3 points - 2nd photo: 2 points - 3rd photo: 1 point

The winner is the photographer whose photo receives the most points.

Results will be published on February 1st. In case of a tie, the number of first-place votes will decide. The winner will have the honor of organizing February 2026’s contest.

Photos that have already been nominated (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) in another contest are not eligible to participate in this one.

This thread is exclusively for contest photo submissions. All discussions, comments, and chit-chat should take place in the thread: here
Open
GA
Gaura 8 months ago · Rouquine38
One or More Towers: December Photo Contest
I suggest we compete with photos of towers. No magic tricks or potter’s wheels—we’re talking about "tour" as in the feminine noun. So, a kind of tall building, round, square, or polygonal, or a high structure that could be metallic, or a flat-topped bell tower (campanile), or a high-rise building (building)... You can find them almost everywhere in the world and from all eras. The tower(s) must be the main subject of the photo. Examples: The first photo, which is Saint Mark’s Square (with the Campanile), won’t be accepted. The second one, where the Campanile tower is the main subject, will be accepted.



Have fun and surprise us! Photos of computer towers are excluded 😏
Open
GA
Gaura 8 months ago
December Photo Contest Discussion: One or Multiple Shots of Towers
This is the place to chat about December’s theme! I’ll start with a little TOUR of the world’s TOURS.

















Of course, you can submit multiple photos of the same tower in the contest—it’s the quality of the photo that’ll be judged during voting, not just the subject!
Open
UN
UnaMilanese 9 months ago · Attila
World Gardens and Parks – November 2025 Photo Contest


Good evening everyone,

So, it’s settled—the first idea (this book about the lush garden of a New York state parsonage, "this garden obsessed with the love this man had for his late wife." Reverend Cheney musically noting all the birdsongs, the water droplets in the watering can, the wind rushing through cloaks at the end of the 19th century) will be the theme.

Garden: A plot of land, usually enclosed, attached or not to a dwelling, planted with useful or ornamental vegetation.

So, private gardens, vegetable patches, herb gardens, botanical gardens, winter gardens with their lush greenhouses, the "hortus conclusus" of cloisters evoking the Garden of Eden, public gardens, and their extension into parks are all welcome. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some...

Photos can be posted until Monday, November 24 at midnight, following the usual rules: one per message, numbered from 1 to 3, with the location of the shot and, if you’d like, a few details.

Voting, where you explicitly assign 3 to 1 points to your top 3 photos, will take place from Tuesday, November 25 at 12:01 AM until Sunday, November 30 at midnight. The results will be announced on December 1.

Your turn! 😉

Catherine

PS: This thread is reserved for contest photos. For all other photos and conversations under the trees by the fountains, it’s here.
Open
MU
Muriel18 10 months ago · Montagnard74
October Photo Contest Theme: Doors
Hi everyone!

This theme has probably been done before... but not recently, at least 😉 Doors—open, closed, of houses, castles... even if only the threshold remains. Since I’m not home, I don’t have access to my photos right now, and regarding the rules, I’ll let you refer to one of the previous contests.

Photos can be posted until Thursday the 23rd at 11:59 PM (Paris time). Voting will take place from the 24th to the 30th of October, and the results will be announced on the 31st during the day.

See you soon! 🙂
Open
AT
Attila 11 months ago · Rouquine38
September 2025 Photo Contest: I Signal, You Signal, We Signal – Get Your Signs Ready!
Hi there, 🙂

The point of this contest isn’t to photograph Mathilde or even to frantically click the "report" button on every post in a thread.

It’s to post **road signs**!

Whether they’re official or not...

Funny or serious...

Of all shapes, all colors, in all languages...

The rules are the same as usual—I’ll let you check out the previous contests for reference. 😛

Just a quick reminder:

- Max of 3 photos per person.

- One photo per post (preferably embedded 😉) with a caption and the photo number.

Submissions close on **Monday, September 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM Paris time**.

Voting starts on **Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM** (and not a second before… 😇), Paris time, and ends on **Monday, September 29, 2025, at the same time** (still Paris time).

Results will be posted on **September 30, 2025**, sometime during the day!

Ready, set, snap!



(To discuss, it’s here…)
Open
RO
Rouquine38 last year
World's Felines: August 2025 Photo Contest
Hi everyone, Here’s the theme for August... the world’s felines. Yep, wildlife photography! 😺

Forest cat

So, this theme isn’t exactly a "travel invitation," but coming up with a new one is quite a puzzle 😅. During February’s “white” theme discussion, we had pages of cats, so you should be inspired 😸. I won’t be restrictive—wild felines, domestic cats, and even those in zoos (though I’m not a fan) will be accepted. Plus, engravings, paintings, statues, or any other representations of felines fit the theme. The Sphinx is also welcome ;).



Practical details:

Participation: Each VF member can submit up to 3 photos, until Monday, August 25th at 11:59 PM Paris time. Each photo must be posted in a separate message, with its number (1, 2, or 3). Don’t forget to add a little explanation (comment, location, etc.).

Voting: Each VF member can vote for the 3 photos they consider the best, based on their own criteria and the theme.

Voting will take place from Tuesday, August 26th to Saturday, August 30th at 11:59 PM Paris time.

Selected photos will be ranked in order of preference: - 1st photo: 3 points - 2nd photo: 2 points - 3rd photo: 1 point

The winner is the photographer with the most points.

Results will be published on August 31st. In case of a tie, the number of first-place votes will decide. The winner will have the honor of organizing September 2025’s contest.

Photos that have already been nominated (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) in another contest are not eligible for this one.

This thread is exclusively for contest submissions. Any discussions or comments should be posted here.
Open
UN
UnaMilanese last year · Rouquine38
Wood in all its forms – July 2025 photography contest
Hi everyone,

This month’s contest theme is WOOD. Wood as a plant material—roots, trunks, branches that make up a tree. Dead or alive, splinters and knots. Sawdust too. Firewood, from the woodshed to the hearth. Wood as a crafting material and all the things it can become: from a spoon to a violin, a boat to a stave church, and so much more—way too long to list! 😉

Technical details:

1. Each of you can post up to 3 photos. One photo per message, numbered 1 to 3. Along with the shot, feel free to share a few written details—location, context, anecdote, or photography technique. Photos can be submitted until Tuesday, July 22 at midnight, Milan time.

2. Voting will take place from Wednesday, July 23 at 00:00 until Tuesday, July 29 at midnight. All forum members can vote for their 3 favorite photos, listing the photographer’s name and the photo number in order of preference: 3 points for first place, 2 for second, and 1 for third.

3. Results will be announced on Wednesday, July 30 during the day. In case of a tie, the number of first-place votes will decide. Photos already featured on a podium are not eligible to compete.

The winner will have the special privilege of organizing August’s contest.

This thread is reserved for contest photos. For other wood-themed photos and general discussions, head here.











Alright, your turn! 😛

Catherine
Open
See all discussions in this forum →