Discussion: Bridges of the World July 2026 (page 16 of 18)

I think it’s just the three of us (Pagal, you, and me) and a few rare contributors who got the reference 😏 (Jean-Michel, no hard feelings in particular)

“That’s a very narrow-minded view” “Such obtuse criteria” You’re all set for summer!

Besides, until now I didn’t take part in this kind of contest, and I think this will be my last entry.

Don’t do that, Djalma! Many of your photos are interesting. They’re even more so because, until now, you’ve kept them to yourself without sharing them, while others overshare. Plus, Pagaljavab already discouraged a long-time participant last month—at this rate, there won’t be many of us left.

For years, participants have shared their photos here simply, without obsessing over winning or being pretentious, while others are full of themselves. As Rouquine says, it’s this diversity that makes this game so rich.

And if a photo “tells a story,” that’s ideal, but it doesn’t need ten lines of text to do the storytelling for it. For example, in Marien’s latest contest photo, I don’t just see “women hurrying along” and even less “the husbands, brothers, sons, and cousins (who) are still laughing and having a good time with their friends.” It’s the photographer who tells the story.

@Kate

You’re being quite touchy, Jean-Michel!

Isn’t it unusual here for one participant to comment on another’s vote?

It’s at least unusual here for one member to comment on another’s vote, isn’t it?

Hey Voyou, It doesn’t particularly shock me. Plus, it’s not the first time Pagal has said what he thinks, no filter. You just gotta reply, that’s all (without pulling a DQ 😛). And I agree with you about Djalma’s photos.

No bitterness at all... nothing like that! I entered the photo contest with the landscape (natural?) theme because I wanted to express myself there... then I continued with the bridge theme, even though I knew from the start I didn’t stand a chance. I should’ve sat this one out. I really liked your photo—it could’ve easily fit the "people strolling" theme ;)

Hi Jean-Luc,

This is really nonsense—there’s hardly a single accurate point in this comment. It’s a pile of unverifiable conflations and confusion.

Don’t do anything, Djalma! Many of your photos are interesting

But where was it ever said that Djalma’s photos weren’t interesting or that he shouldn’t participate in the contest? That’s completely off-topic.

For years, participants have shared their photos here simply, without the obsession to win, without pretension, while others are full of themselves.

If that’s a dig at me, it’s totally off-base. I’m a beginner photographer and really don’t have any pretension to win. I’ve only recently started joining contests and discussions because I’m just beginning to get into taking better photos and admiring others’ work.

As Rouquine says, it’s this diversity that makes this game so rich.

I said that too—see my previous message. Why try to suggest I think the opposite, except to be off-base again?

And then, Pagaljavab already discouraged a long-time participant last month: at this rate, there won’t be many of us left.

That’s the best part! All I did was ask for clarification on the contest theme, and this so-called Long-Time Participant chimed in strangely to say I was making a big deal out of nothing—which wasn’t the case at all. Everyone saw it. Besides, even Djalma defended me! Otherwise, I have nothing against Tamadeen—I didn’t ask him for anything—and I don’t want him to leave the contest. Why would I do that? It makes no sense. Go re-read instead of making up paranoid nonsense.

And if a photo “tells a story,” that’s ideal, but it doesn’t need ten lines to tell it for the photo.

You’re mixing up Marien’s comments with mine. We’re not the same person—that’s a total conflation. That said, it’s revealing.

Isn’t it unusual here for a participant to comment on another’s vote?

"What? He dared to challenge the norm and comment on photo choices in a discussion about photos?? Oh my God, how awful, what a terrible blasphemy!"

Anyway, can I ask why you’re so often on my case, responding negatively to my posts when I’ve never asked you for anything? Or trying to play "mosquito hunter," as you recently offered to do on an ongoing travel journal. Are you the forum’s guardian or something? Do you enjoy that?

What’s the point of writing such a pile of nonsense?

It's lively in here. 😄

As usual whenever the discussion turns to why this or that photo was chosen...😛

Good evening

This photo also reminds me of that period of exceptional cold, as exceptional as the heat we're enduring here this summer. The thermometer dropped below -10°, -12° every night. Across Rajasthan, they were picking up the dead—from the cold—every morning in the streets.

Uh! I’ve been trying for two days to find out more about this deadly cold wave in India and... nothing 😐

Could you cite some sources to back up this information, which completely slipped past me?

All I found was this:

https://forums.infoclimat.fr/f/topic/37275-record-de-froid-en-inde/

It’s true, though, that it wasn’t very warm that February morning in 2012 in Churu (Rajasthan)



and also:

Northern India experiences its coldest temperatures in over 20 years...

Huh! I’ve been trying to find out more about that deadly cold wave in India for two days and... nothing 😐

Hello, um... Are you questioning what I said? It was in 2010. It was so cold that everywhere in Orchha where I was at the time, people on the sidewalks were burning just about anything to keep warm: plastic cans, bike or motorcycle tires—exactly like in your photo—and even old shoes (unfortunately, I can’t find the photo in my archives). I had 5°C at night in my room despite the electric heater kindly provided by the guesthouse owner. The temperatures of -10°C, -12°C he mentioned were what he’d told me (found in my travel notes). Maybe they were exaggerated? Or more precisely, he must’ve heard that on the radio or TV but probably further north in Himachal Pradesh or Ladakh. Here, I’ve heard people talking about 43°C, even 45°C, and yet the official 39°C was more than enough without people adding to it... Mea culpa. I shouldn’t have mentioned unofficial, unverified temperatures. https://fr.cctv.com/program/journal/20100113/101503.shtml

As for the deaths, I got the information from major Indian newspapers available everywhere in hotels. Maybe you could focus your research in that direction.

Sometimes, it's just a crush...

Hello,

The photo contests in this forum have been taking a hyper-intellectual turn for a while now. If, like me, that's not your "thing," if, like me, you only take photos to enjoy yourself, then do like me (from now on):

- Don’t participate in the contests (just post photos in the discussion chapter, if you like).

- And don’t vote.

What I find most laughable are the comments explaining the votes (for "ego"...).

Cheers,

Puma2A

With the heatwave, I guess some brains are overheating... I’m worried.

...

Pagal, I converted your photo of the Tibetan bridge in Andorra to black and white and tweaked it a bit. Are you okay if I upload it here, or would you rather I didn’t? Let me know...

Hey Alain,

The discussions about the contest go through what we might call "technical" phases and more "let's have fun" phases.

It’d be a shame if the "technical" side completely took over because that aspect can make some people lose interest in participating.

(I’m not saying the "let's have fun" side should be the only one to stick around either. A mix of both would be perfect.)

For the vote, we should be able to add: the choice can be explained in two lines...😇😏

You could also send it to them via PM. ;)

You could also send it to them via PM.😉

I think you can't upload photos in PMs... or maybe by copy-pasting?

For the vote, we should be able to add: the choice can be explained in two lines...😇😏

For the vote, everyone does as they please. No one has to impose rules on how to vote or ask participants to justify their choice. Those who want to explain their decision have the right to do so. What’s with this debate about what we should or shouldn’t do? 🤪

At most, the organizer can set the tone. I’ve noticed that Isabelle likes to explain her choices and comment on photos. A helpful tip for those who want to improve, which includes me.

I don’t see how this takes anything away from others. What’s the actual problem?

The so-called deterrent effect didn’t work very well. Between 52 and 59 photos were shared from the staircases, landscapes, and bridges—😇

Some "regulars" came back this month: Gaura after a few months away and Lulumae. It would’ve been a shame to miss out on their photos.

New members joined us too: Djalma, Pagal, and Marien. It’s always enriching to see different perspectives, especially when the images are beautiful.

@Puma2A

- And don’t vote.

Especially when no photo meets your standards? 😇 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=11461953;a=11461953

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

Oops, it’s an emotion contest 😉

We’re not on a photographers’ forum, but a travelers’ forum where people often share suspended moments captured sometimes even with a phone.

I like it because it gives a voice to amateurs 😛. And I learn things from the pros’ comments🙂

: Is that three planks up close or a bridge from far away?

The crevasse would be massive if it were a big bridge seen from a distance. 😮

The footbridge must have been about a meter wide and at most 10 meters long.😉

Didn’t you maybe get the reference wrong too? 😛

If the contest wants to stay alive, we’ve gotta avoid turning it into just another photo-forum competition.

In short, don’t make it niche or too obscure for most people.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get technical or point out what’s wrong with a particular photo.

But if that’s *all* it becomes, it’ll not only discourage some folks but also turn into a full-on brawl...

You can laugh about anything, but not with everyone—same goes for criticizing... (Even if the criticism is constructive.)🤪

I think some topics should be handled privately first. Especially retouching other people’s photos.

Yeah, you just have to copy and paste. 😉

If the photo isn’t already on VF, here’s how to add a photo to a PM:

You open a reply window on any thread. You insert your photo into the message.

You copy it once it’s uploaded to VF.

You paste it into your PM.

You delete the reply window.

In any case, the photo will only be visible for a few hours (maybe a day or two). If the person checks VF regularly, they’ll see it when they open the PM.

Thanks for your explanations... I wouldn’t have thought of that on my own! 😊