Blocking tactics

A great combination of long exposure and sharpness in the static objects. I like the composition of this shot with the water flowing through the bridge and the cloud movement also drawing you into the distance. Using two exposures to get contrasting effects is a great technique. This is a strong combination, with the contrast and detail paired against the softness of the longer-exposed parts of the image. My only advice would be to make sure you blend all parts of the sky and clouds as the white fluffy one in the centre does not blend so well with those to either side.

This is simply a striking and superb image. The contrast of the black beach, blue ice, and longer exposure brought about by the polariser has really created an incredible combination at this Icelandic location. The exposure and details captured in the ice are spot-on, giving us texture and sharpness where it's needed and helping to separate the fragments of ice from the softer feel of the sea. There is also a great depth to this shot from the elevation and use of a wide angle focal length. A stand-out shot and worthy winner.

A wonderful early morning winter scene. Whilst the need for a polariser in this light may not always seem obvious, it can help to reduce any bright reflective areas and therefore improve overall exposure and the tonal range of a shot. This image has also been exposed for a longer time by the use of a neutral density filter, which has helped remove surface ripples on the water. Overall, it's a calming winter scene that has been tastefully processed to keep the tones and colours more muted, leaving us to enjoy the softness, tranquility, and subtlety of this scene.

A great simple image of this Icelandic place. My mind did wonder about the towel and whether someone was brave or mad enough to actually swim in those icy waters... I really like the use of the longer exposure here to simplify the contrasts between sky and water on the one hand and the jetty and hut on the other. The polariser has helped reduced reflective glare on the water surface and in the sky really helps to emphasise the sulfur-coloured water. A lovely simple image that has been expertly shot and tastefully processed.

I like this image for its composition and mystery. It's one of those photos where the viewer can invent their own story about what's going on, what the people are looking at, why the two empty chairs and so on. The simple but effective composition of chairs, geometric windows and the view outside work really well together. The polariser has helped to reduce internal reflections to enable us to see the sky and greenery outside. A nicely balanced photo with lots of interest.

My mind still boggles at this image and I can't quite work out how, what, why, etc. However, that mystery just makes me stare for longer and holds my attention. What struck me immediately when I saw the image was the simplicity of the subject in the space in the frame. The wonderful backdrop of the polarised sky and clouds really emphasise the man. A great image that has been carefully crafted and thought out, and which has a really big impact.

A wonderful icy scene and interesting perspective on these flimsy-looking huts in what must be a fierce place to be. The composition in this shot, using an extreme wide angle lens, really emphasises the the walkway and opposing structures. The sky and the crisp and cold tones of the clouds also add impact without distracting away from the main subject in the photo. The lens distortion causing the precarious-looking leaning of the buildings towards the water can be fixed in software, but this is really well captured with nicely balanced processing.

Great sky and rich colours in the heather. This shot has stacks of impact and contrast. I really like the design of the shot that takes the eye around and through to the mound left of centre. The polarised effect on the sky has helped to really bring out the contrast and colour to pick up an amazing range of tones in the sky. Personally I feel it's been a little overcooked in post-process for my own taste: it feels like there is too much texture throughout the scene and the image has started to take on that 'HDR' feel that can be a bit over-the-top if you don't resist the temptation to crank it up. A lovely setting and image and more separation in texture between soft and hard would really help hold the attention for longer.

This cross-polarised effect is wonderful in creating rainbow colours throughout the plastic geometry set. Taken using a lightbox, the image's colours really pop out against the black background. The photographer has also thought about the design of the shot and cleverly made sure that the geometry set is geometrically spaced out evenly, arranging the shapes to give a perfect and harmonious balance. This a great example of cross-polarisation and something that anyone can try at home with some film, a lightbox and a polarising filter on the lens. Great image and I imagine lots of fun too.

A beautiful and atmospheric autumn shot. The photographer has done a great job in slowing the shutter speed by use of the neutral density and polarising filter together. The neutral density filter enables the capture of the moving water and patterns on the surface. This effect has been enhanced beautifully in this image as the rich colours of autumn leaves are caught up in the swirls on the surface of the water. The polariser has helped with exposure and tonal range but also enabled us to see through the water.

A wonderful image of cirrus clouds shot at an extreme wide angle to exaggerate perspective. The polarising filter has been used to great effect here without overdoing it. It's been subtly adjusted to just give enough punch to the little wispy filaments of these clouds. The central lane takes us through the image but does not show us an end point, which enables the viewer to then explore the sky and enjoy its vastness and tones. Great image and well executed.

This image is a great example of how you can photograph architecture in a dynamic way. The extreme wide-angle focal length really exaggerates perspective with the converging lines of the buildings taking your eye through the image. The polarised effect is interesting too, as many of these modern glass structures use polarised glass. The sky and clouds together with their semi-reflections in the glass give this a wonderful smokey and futuristic feel. Well spotted and executed with fantastic angles and depth.

Wonderful composition and point of view. The photographer has done a great job in getting low down to capture the dog from this angle and height. The sharpness and depth of focus is lovely, too: it gives us great detail in the dog and foreground grass with the sky and clouds behind acting as a great backdrop as the dog proudly stands there. Unfortunately, though, the effect of the polariser on the sky looks overdone, turning the top third into an unnatural tone of blue and and making it very dark in the corners where the polariser is at its strongest in effect. Dialing down the polariser is as simple as a little turn on it whilst looking through the viewfinder so you can see just how much effect it's having.

This scene has tons of drama and I can personally recall many days in the UK this summer where we had really stark contrasts of bright sunshine mixed with dramatic thunderstorm clouds and light. The composition and design of this shot are all great but I feel it's been let down by the processing and use of too much vignetting, turning large areas of the image black. The light on the building/pub looks so unnatural compared to the surrounding light in the sky and trees. This contrast is just too extreme and whilst it gives the image drama it also feels too contrived and unrealistic. I am sure a more subtle version would work really well without removing the dramatic feel of the UK weather that the photographer was trying to capture.