Minimalist landscapes

This is an absolute gem of a photograph. The colours and light are the immediate attraction which draw you into the shot. The highlights on the greens are terrific and you can almost smell the lushness of the grass. The shapes created by the lighting and shadows on the ground really give the shot that beautiful feel of the rolling hills. Almost like waves. Next of course you come to the flock of sheep and the lone shepherd casting that fantastic shadow and his positioning is like a choirmaster conducting his choristers. I'm naturally drawn to landscapes that have a horizon but this is another shot that proves it's certainly not necessary. Beautiful work.

I've been completely spoilt judging this contest due to the staggering array of landscapes, but this really is an amazing shot of a frightening cloud formation. Where I'm based near the Fens in the UK it's noted for it's big skies, but I've got to say they are nothing compared to this. It's another photograph that really draws the viewer into it, firstly with the composition and secondly with the ferociousness of the cloud formation. The snaking shape of the cloud really drags your eye from left to right and mixed with the wonderful shades of grey it makes for a compelling shot. Clouds I could only dream about seeing. There are limited notes which accompany the photograph but I'm pleased to see that this particular type of cloud formation has been mentioned in the image title. An envious view to be able to witness.

I think if this shot hadn't had the mist in the bottom section then it may not have worked quite aswell as a minimalist landscape. Because it's there and masking most of the factory it's made for a quite dramatic capture with a great softness at the same time. The pastel tones in the sky and very delicate lilac in the mist really emphasise the softness of an industrial subject that could have been very harsh and overbearing. The smoke actually looks like it's formed from the mist so helps to distract from what a pollutant it can be. Add to that the candy striped chimney and I could almost imagine it being a sweet factory. I like the depth of the shot too with the slight shadings of the hills in the background which help to take you beyond the factory. Another unusual landscape.

To me this capture really summed up a minimalist landscape and stood out for it's uniqueness. I was intrigued by the shapes and could not make out what they were until I read the photographers notes. I don't think I would have ever thought they were from bubbles on a frozen lake but this really shows the beauty that can be found right under your feet. I think the composition is spot on and really takes the viewers eye from one corner to another and this is really emphasised by the shot being presented in portrait format rather than landscape. A superb shot and how lucky to be the first person to walk on a frozen lake.

Where do I start with this shot? To me it's absolutely stunning and it was the one shot that kept taking me back to have another look. It's the intensity of the cold mixed with the sheer power of the waterfall that kept drawing me back to it. When you add to that the perfect placement of the building, especially as it was taken from overhead then it was a definite winner for me. I love the way the photographer has managed to capture such harsh textures around the building yet they are completely complimented by the smoothness of the water behind. The lighting and tones have all been expertly handled with the choice of B&W being perfect. It was not what I was expecting as an entry and a very unusual landscape, but I really think it has captured the true essence of making less seem abundantly more considering it's made up of three elements; the building, snow and a waterfall. I'd be more than proud to have taken this. Congratulations on a truly stunning shot.

One of a few shots that had lone trees in them and another wintery scene. Firstly, I like it as it meets the brief of the contest with being a minimalist landscape. There are some good definitions in the branches and I like the slight lean the tree has along with the great shape within it's main structure. The horizon has been chosen very well to break up the shot but I think this is a classic case of the tree's position benefiting from sticking to the rule of thirds. Because of it's position it just feels as if it's in the slightly wrong place. I may also have been tempted to walk to the tree so as to have a set of footprints leading to it. A great effort for a minimalist landscape though.

Creeping mist, skeletal trees and very muted colours are what I'm personally more familiar with when it comes to landscapes. This wonderful shot really goes to show how spoilt we can be when venture out with our cameras. I love a shot that makes you feel that you're there, right within it and this does it perfectly. The placement of the trees is very equally balanced and it's lovely to see them just gradually swallowed up into the mist. The hedgerows on the right hand side break the formation up nicely and gently take you back into the shot. I think the photographer has also given the effect of extra width with the delicate horizontal bands from the sky to the grass. A terrific capture and a great title too.