Industrial Landscapes

A very different sort of industrial landscape to many entered in this contest, but one which has been well captured and fascinating to view. By avoiding taking a closer shot of the leather processing pits and going for a slightly wider shot, we get a real sense of place as the tannery is surrounded by the ancient city architecture. There is so much variety of colours, shapes and patterns for the eye to explore, with every available inch of space being filled and put to use, from the different coloured pits crowded together to the leather hanging to dry. An image best viewed large as there is so much to see. Well done on your top ten placing.

This is just the type of image I was looking to see in this industrial landscapes contest, with just the right balance between the industrial architectural structures and the natural landscape within which it sits, perfectly describing the mining heritage of Cornwall. Lovely lighting, with a simple uncluttered sky as the backdrop, allowing the near silhouettes of the buildings to dominate rather than an overly dramatic sky. The slightly panoramic format suits the subject too. Simple and understated, but very effective and well captured. Congratulations on your second place finish.

There were a number of entries showing a similar viewpoint with Battersea Power Station in the background, but this one stood out for me. There is a lovely clarity to the image, and everything looks crisp and clean. The lights are bright but not overexposed, and the colours are bold but look natural. The slow shutter speed has captured a few light trails nicely curving around the frame and drawing the eye into the image. The square crop suits the subject and holds everything together well. Congratulations on your winning image.

I find there is a strange kind of beauty to this image, captured in what looks to be the gentle light of the early morning. I am uncertain as to what type of industrial function is being carried out here, but that does not really matter, as whatever it it, it shows a large impact of industry on the otherwise scenic riverside and mountain landscape. Exposure of the image works well, as there is sufficient light to pick out some of the detail in the mass of industrial structures, but there are no areas where the brighter smoke/steam billowing from the chimneys has become over-exposed, instead bringing a gentle softness to the ugly reality of heavy industry. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

A slightly different view of this iconic Peak District location, making the most of the low evening sun to create additional interest to the composition by the inclusion of the long shadows. There is a lovely mood to the shot from the warm golden light, and your patience and planning has been ewarded by catching the little starburst effect of the sun as it peeps between the mechanism of the headgear. The use of a narrow aperture has also kept everything in sharp focus, and the wide angle gives a broad and interesting perspective on this industrial landscape. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

The blue colouration to this image is very appealing, as it provides a lift to the image on what looks to be a dreary gloomy day. A simple composition, with the two spindly chimneys centrally placed, but due to their slight height difference they do not over-dominate the shot. There is just enough light to see some details in the landscape, at the same time as creating a rather moody look. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

There were a fair number of night time industrial landscapes entered in this contest, but this was one of the stand-out shots for me. I especially like the composiion of the different layers within the image, from the foreground structures of the transporter bridge to the more distant landscape beyond, but neither are over dominant so everything harmonises nicely. The orange glow of the artificial lights contrast well with the cool blue glow of the moonlight, and the use of a slow shutter speed has softened the surface of the water to allow more of the light reflections to show. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

The lighting captured here helps create a strong image and tells a story of the dramatic weather. Although I have not seen this image in its natural colour, I believe it was a wise decision to convert the image to black and white, as that adds to the mood and drama. Especially effective is the generally low key tones of the image overall, with the brighter highlights focused on the distant wind turbines and the foaming tops of the stormy waves. A sense of movement has been conveyed really well through the capture of the waves in the mid-distance, bringing a lovely dynamic to the scene. Super image, well done on your top ten placing.