Discussion for June 2025's theme: a series (page 2 of 4)

You already know my jeweler from Orupembe (Kaokoland, Namibia). We had spent the night by the side of the track. Noticing me, she first adjusts her outfit... ... then unpacks her treasures

Wow, so far it's intense! I was wondering where you were going with this That’s why photos are so important to avoid confusion! 😛 (That woman is really beautiful)

Untouched photos, but photos without captions... A little debrief to understand better?

@Montagnard @Kola

I’d love to understand too. Kola, you added a caption to each of your photos—others might interpret them differently, which is great, but that doesn’t explain how they were taken. They’re not edited, I don’t doubt that for a second. Did you use a filter on your lens? Was it really dark? Are they failed photos that turned out well? I’ve got a few like that—motion blurs that create something pretty...

Come on, spill your secrets! 😛

Me too, I’d like to understand.

What I don’t get are your insistent requests for explanations...

I titled my series: Nature is a fabulous artist, a creator of wonders. Then I added a caption. Wasn’t that enough?

If the virtue of a photo is to shake up certainties, to unlearn how we see, can these three snapshots—taken on the fly with a basic smartphone—that I personally don’t consider failures (though others might see them differently...) be seen as an invitation to armchair travel, to daydreaming, to the poetry that sometimes emerges around a bend when water and wind play with plants and rocks, when they break down the organic to naturally compose wild or delicate still lifes?

It’s just there, you look at it, and that’s fine if it’s a little mysterious. It sparks something, or it doesn’t... but it shouldn’t need to be explained, captioned, or debriefed any more than this on VF’s friendly amateur photo contest.

I titled my series: Nature is a fabulous artist, a creator of wonders. Then I added a caption. Wasn’t that enough?

For the contest, that was more than enough. When an image speaks to you, it gives it meaning: emotion, questioning, daydreaming...

As for our "side" discussions, a technical question fits right in (especially since I’m the one hosting 😛). I was just curious about how you went about it.

In conclusion—and this is purely personal—I appreciate when a photographer explains their images, a painter their paintings, a sculptor their statues... whether they’re a professional or an amateur.

A country without cows is like a meal without cheese. Something essential is missing!

And a country without cows is a country without cheese! (Apologies to the goats ;))

What a beauty! 😛

I’d love to do a series on cheese, but I’m out of ammo! 🙁

What I don’t understand are your requests for explanations... insistent ones at that.

I don’t get it either...

I titled my series: Nature is a fabulous artist, a creator of wonders. Then I added a caption. Wasn’t that enough?

Not only was it enough, it was even superfluous.

the virtue of a photo is to challenge certainties

I agree with this approach. A photo is 10% technique and 90% perspective.

Hello

Would anyone be kind enough to put together a slideshow of the photos in the competition?

Okay, I’ll be nice this time! 😉

Well, I’ll be nice again this time! 😉

Oh, well, thanks! 🙂

A photo is 10% technique and 90% perspective.

Oh wow! Whether unintentionally or completely on purpose, you’re dangerously dusting off a debate that regularly and fiercely shook VF back in the "good old days" 😉! Some here must remember !

@Kate,

As part of our "side discussions," a technical question is totally fair game (especially since I’m the one hosting ). I was just curious about how you went about it.

But what if there was no technique involved at all—what if Kola, like she tried to explain, simply captured a unique composition by chance in a particular moment?

@kola

these 3 shots—taken on the fly with a basic smartphone—

…something like you’re walking, you stop because you think you saw something, you grab "the decisive moment" (copyright « Ottobani », look it up on the site), then you sprint to catch up with the person who didn’t slow down? …that’s pretty much it ?

Good evening Attila, I find photo 1 in series 2 really interesting, not to mention how beautiful it is. What breed of cattle is this? Is it typical of the region? It looks a bit like our Brown Swiss cattle, which are mainly found in southern Germany (especially in the Allgäu region), but also in central Switzerland, Vorarlberg (Austria), and South Tyrol. A dairy breed. As for France, I only know the Limousin, Charolais, and Montbéliarde breeds... Brown Swiss too?! hgb

Hey Hery,

These are cows typical of this region. They even share the same name—they’re Aubrac.

They’re hardy animals (the climate here is harsh) and are mainly raised for their absolutely delicious meat.

With the surplus milk (the milk is mostly reserved for feeding the calves), they make some really good cheeses: Laguiole. It’s similar to Cantal but stronger—it’s got a lot more character. It’s not widely sold outside of Auvergne.

There’s another typical cow from Auvergne, the Salers. A reddish-brown breed also famous for its meat.

They’re typical cows from this region. They even share the same name—Aubrac.

Did you go during the transhumance? It’s a cool thing to see (even though you like crowds )

No, after. Not a soul in sight! 😛

Good evening Agnès,

Thank you so much for all these insights and the links too. I read everything. Okay, the Aubrac is a high plateau, so I guess it’s pretty windy there. That calls for some really hardy animals. Their qualities are truly impressive, especially considering how frugal they are.

Are the cowbells in Auvergne just as iconic?!

As for the cheese called Laguiole, the info online is pretty scarce. Instead of cheese, I keep finding a knife with that name... Is there a connection between the two?! Do you cut the cheese with it?!

Salers cattle are beautiful too. And the deep red color of the meat is incredible—I’ve never seen anything like it.

hgb

Laguiole is first and foremost a small town.

It gave its name to a cheese and a knife. The knife is much better known internationally than the cheese. It’s even copied by the Chinese... Not really the same quality...

The cheese doesn’t have large-scale production. That’s why it’s mostly sold locally. Plus, it’s made from raw milk, which isn’t viewed favorably in all countries...

Unlike Cantal, another Auvergne cheese of the same type, it’s managed to avoid the race to the bottom of industrial, standardized production.

You can still find good Cantal, but you have to look hard...

As for the bells, I don’t know. I imagine they used to be made locally.

After the cows, the dogs 😉 All Indian! Apart from the black model turned into a toy, I noticed that in Asia, street dogs look very much alike.

This series is for Raga, right? !😉

There are 2 that seem really worn out!