Landmarks

A landmark has to be noteworthy, something that's prominent within the landscape, and this wrecked ship is certainly something that people on shore and other boats out at sea could recognise and navigate by. Thanks to the way its rough, rusted surface contrasts with the soft blue sky and ground, it has absolute prominence in this picture too, with just enough texture in the ground and the small wave curling at the base of the ship to give it texture.

A Victorian landmark meets a modern one in this photograph. A slightly slow shutter speed has enabled the photographer to capture Glasgow's ferris wheel in motion, as well as the details in the buildings and the foreground statue. The limited colours work brilliantly to define the action on the shot: the white wheel is in motion, while the amber elements are static. That, coupled with the flat textures and blown-out lights on the wheel, gives the whole image the graphic feel of a poster.

This is an absolutely classic shot that gives you three landmarks for the price of one, in the shape of Liverpool's 'Three Graces'. The photographer has waited for the sun to be in exactly the right position to light all three buildings evenly, while a hint of cloud prevents the sky from looking flat and boring above the lower structures. Conversion to monochrome has given the buildings a more uniform colour, allowing the viewer's eye to slide down from the bird at the highest point of the Royal Liver Building all the way to the Port of Liverpool Building on the right.

Misty dawn scenes like this can be horribly difficult to capture. You may have to visit a location repeatedly before you're there on a day when the mist is heavy enough to pool without blanking everything out, and then you've got to get your exposure just right. The church on the hill would be visible for miles on a clear day, and here it's one of the most prominent things in the valley, giving you a clear indication of where the village is.

HDR techniques can make or break a picture. Light and texture are the two key elements in this shot, so the boosted range of tones HDR gives has really brought it to life, emphasising the roughness in the rocks, the uneven surface in the grassland and the billowing clouds. The monument itself is tiny within the frame, but thanks to its clean shape and dark colour, plus clever composition that has ensured it sits on the horizon, your eyes can't help but fall on it.