Industrial landscapes

What an excellent and striking image. You were right to recognise the potential in the scene and return when the conditions were playing in your favour for this wonderful capture. This image should serve as a clear lesson to all those who try to avoid photographing people in scenes such as this - whilst the person is tiny within the composition, their presence is vital to add scale and life to the shot. I love the way their silhouette contrasts against the brightest part of the water, and their outstretched arms seem to mimic the shape of the turbine looming behind them. The sweeping curve of the beach leads wonderfully to the main industrial subject, which for this contest has been shown perfectly sitting in its surrounding landscape. Strong black and white conversion adds to the mood too. The more I look, the more I see to appreciate - absolutely love it! Congratulations on your winning image.

This image really captures the essence of the theme of this contest - Industrial + Landscape to give a wonderful combination. This image clearly demontrates the importance of the lighting to create a special magic, with the low sun casting a warm softness to this industrial scene, accentuated further be the soft movement created by the extended shutter speed. Great composition, with equal foreground and sky interest, and the main subject and reflection sitting inside the curve of the riverbank. Expertly executed image, unfortunately I could not offer four first places! Great work, well done.

This image stood out as soon as I saw it, and was always in my top ten. I am unsure exactly what we are looking at here (a little information would be nice in the description, if nothing else to add interest and to educate during my judging) but to appreciate the image that does not matter. The strong lead in lines of these massive intake/outlet pipes captures the attention. I especially like the colouring, contrasting between the soft greenish grey and the warmer peachy yellow. The extended exposure time brings a gentle and beautiful softness to an otherwise harsh and ugly scene. Great image, well done.

This was a late entry to my top ten, and what I especially like is how you have been able to position yourself to capture several relics of the tin mining industry spreading along the coast, rather than just one. It further adds to the visual description of the industrial landscape of this beautiful part of England. It is strange how we can tend to view ancient industrial remains as charming and beautiful additions to the landscape, but view more modern additions as ugly and intrusive. You have done well with the difficult lighting conditions, shooting into the direction of the setting sun, but you have exposed with just enought detail in the foreground to see some detail. Lovely image, well done.

As the banner image indicates, I am familiar with this view, and that familiarity confirms what a great job you have done in your capture of the scene. Whilst the site is not large, not everyone negotiates the bumps and holes in the long grass to view the site from this spot, but the resulting image is worth it. The wide angle of the lens has allowed a broader view of the setting, dominated by these bold remnants of the lead mining industry. I don't know if you visit was planned or whether you were just lucky, but the sky is magnificent, especially using a slow shutter speed, and the darkened desaturated colours work especially well with the subject. Another fine image in a very strong contest. Well done.

This is a strong image which I am sure will do well in the Crowd ratings, but unfortunately in my judging I did not award it, as it does not meet the brief - industrial it is, industrial landscape it isn't, as the frame is filled with industrial buildings and structures, with nothing to describe the landscape in which it sits. I can appreciate the photographic skill of the shot, but unfortunately not for this contest. Still a great image.

There were a lot of entries showing night time views of large and imposing industrial plants, but where this one differs from many is that elements of the surrounding landscape are also captured, so the setting has been described too, with the inclusion of the sea and the foreground road elements. Nice contrast in colour between the oranges and purples, with the slow shutter speed capturing the movement of the rising smoke/steam. A great low light night image, enough light to see some detail, but dark enough for the lights to be a strong feature. Well done on your top ten placing.

I really like this image, and it is one of my favourite in the contest., with its ominous mood and demonstration of strong photographic skill. However I have not placed or commended the image as I do not think it meets the brief of industrial landscapes, which asked to see an industrial building or structure in its wider landscape. Instead the focus here is solely the structures, and no surrounding contextual landscape. Still a fabulous image, but not for this contest.

This image is a wonderful example of an industrial landscape image - the focus is clearly an industrial plant, but unlike many entries into the contest which portrayed solely the industrial buildings and structures, here we can see the wider landscape which provides the setting for the industry. A beautiful image of contrasts, between the hot and cold - both literal and in the warm and cool hues. The beauty of the natural Icelandic landscape also contrasts sharply with the manmade geothermal plant, harnessing what nature provides for use by man. Technically spot on in terms of composition, exposure, lighting, focus etc, with the steam taking on a lovely softnes thanks to the slow shutter speed. Well done on your third place.

A contrast to the other top ten images, this has not attempted to capture any beauty, but shows the scene in its harsh and ugly reality. The almost-conversion to black and white suits the subject and the mood, and the relatively low contrast adds to the sombre feel. The slicks of scum and rubbish in the water which you have captured in the foreground complete the scene, with some great reflections too. Well done on your top ten placing.

The contrast between the cool blues of the sea and the sky, and the warm golden glow of the lights is very attractive and what initially drew me to this image. The long exposure manages to bring a sense of beauty and calm to this very busy port, where it can be facsinating to watch the massive ships being loaded and unloaded with containers. Great framing and composition, with the wooden remnants in the sea adding vital foreground interest, balance and depth to the shot. A close runner-up, well done on your second place.