Damaged landscapes
ian snowdon

Damaged landscapes

May 2017

Entry 599439
194th
53
Entry 600276
20th
169

Such a surreal landscape here and truly unnatural. You do really get the sense that these mounds go on forever (and I know they do having seen them myself). While I can understand why you chose to crop like this I feel that to create a sense of even more "vastness" as you put it, a taller image with more mounds closer to you would have given you even more of this feeling. Also compositionally the edges of the shot don't really enclose the image, it feels a little cut off. But again I appreciate the difficulty of this given you'll always be cutting into some of the mounds whatever you do. Overall a really great shot, good work.

Entry 600851
42nd
194
Entry 602579
66th
48
Entry 604183
16th
333
Expert
winner

What a great image, you've really managed to embody the theme of the competition here. The intense colour of the water really hits you and just feels so unnatural (which it is of course) and dirty before you even read the description. And compositionally I really love the way this colour is echoed throughout the image, from the water to the roof of the church and then hints in the hillside. The composition also feels considered with the elements in the foreground leading the eye into the image and the placement of the church. While I like these elements a slightly tighter crop may have been more impactful. My only critique might be that the blues in the sky feel a little hyper real and it feels a little over sharpened but the latter could be down to compression when you uploaded. Overall a great shot, well done!

Entry 601823
48th
115
Crowd
winner
Entry 606378
25th
62

This I have to say is probably my personal favourite from the competition and it was a tough choice placing it. the only reason it's not first is because I felt it didn't embody the theme quite as impressively as what did win. A very strong composition here, compounded by the choice of exposure and edit. The simplicity really allowing the viewer to create their own narrative and consider broader concepts of humankind's interaction with nature and it's often destructive consequences.

Entry 611756
273rd
16

Such a desolate image here. A really great contrast between the degrading human construct in the foreground and the epic natural landscape surrounding it. And while the content is contrasting the colours are beautifully complimentary. The composition is OK, but I think the sides need to be shifted a little, particularly the left where the silo touches the edge of frame. It either need to be cut into more or given some space between it and the edge of frame. Overall though a really nice shot.

Entry 618943
50th
193
Entry 622558
26th
26
Entry 627392
21st
4
Entry 629740
45th
11
Entry 633020
451st
4
Entry 636172
492nd
2
Entry 655352
611th
16
Entry 662369
44th
24

1,016 Images entered

Meet the expert judge

833 Photographers

Brief

See more contest details

Landscapes naturally alter and evolve over time, but some are transformed dramatically by either natural or human damage. This doesn't make them less photogenic, however. In fact a damaged landscape is one that tells a story and acts as a striking reminder of a world in flux. We're hoping your submissions will tell a story, and show us a new and unidealised perspective.

58,663 Ratings

Entry 669456
34th
298
Entry 676589
189th
101
Entry 680704
221st
35
Entry 681360
951st
2
Entry 681803
716th
2

You really managed to embody the theme of the competition here. A truly artificial scene here showing mans frivolous nature at the expense of the natural landscape. While the concept is very strong and I understand the composition it falls down a little here. The image feels cut off on the left and it's a little flat. Perhaps if you'd moved closer to the lift on the left it would have added more depth to the shot. Don't be disheartened thought the concept is great and technically it's perfect.