Natural progression

This is a good example of 'less is more'. A shallow aperture softens the sharp edges of the leaf while the colour is left to lift the image from its dark background – excellent work! Suggestion: consider cropping the bottom of the image to leave around 2cm of the stalk, and increase the overall contrast slightly.

This poignant scene is enhanced greatly by the carefully considered composition. By making sure the right-most leaf on the wall is whole and not cropped and enough space is allocated for the head-stone on the left, all the components have a place and tell the story. Very well thought out and highly deserving of 9th place. Suggestion: Consider making a feathered selection around the foreground grass and darken by around half to one stop to add overall balance.

This image is all about colour and texture, which work really well together. Suggestion: consider turning the image 90° anti-clockwise and using a straighten tool to straighten the (what will then be) vertical lines.

A misty morning creates the atmosphere needed in this pleasant composition. Suggestion: consider darkening the sky by around 1 stop and cropping the bottom to just below the nearest telegraph pole; you could even consider going one step further and cropping both sides to form a square image to avoid the heavy shadows on the left.

A pleasant and simple image made even more appealing by the colour treatment that's been used. Suggestion: cropping the right-hand side to a squarer format would bring the viewer's attention more closely on to the leaf and the water droplets.

This well spotted and carefully composed image allows the frame of the bike to lead the eye in from both the top and bottom left towards the nicely focused leaves in the centre. Suggestion: be aware of all the components within an image – in this case it may have been better to remove the stray leaves in the background, resulting in less distraction and an even more satisfying composition. A great image nevertheless.

I love the way the soft light plays over the carpet of russet-brown leaves, catching a single yet delicate toadstool – a beautiful capture that only missed 1st-place spot because of the slightly distracting background. Suggestion: consider cropping out the green background from the top of the image (turning it into a panoramic shape), and lightening the foreground shadows so they don't dominate a scene characterised by delicacy.

A simplified and balanced image using texture as the main component make this image stand out: Suggestion: consider using a slightly smaller aperture so that all the heads are in focus.

A pleasant composition with autumnal hues of green and light brown. Suggestion: try using a smaller aperture so that more leaves appear in focus, particularly where it matters around the central area of the image. A small amount of edge darkening would also draw attention to the centre and add a little more balance.

The colour and shape of the leaves in this image work really well together. Suggestion: try turning the image 90° clockwise and adjust the background to pure white.

A vibrant and very autumnal-looking scene. Suggestion: next time, try focusing on a particular area or leaf pattern to create an 'anchor' (focal point) for the image.

Nice use of the circular bike wheels atop a carpet of autumn leaves sets an interesting scene that make you want to see more (a good recipe for a successful image). Suggestion: Consider creating a vignette to darken the edges to bring it together a little more. On a side note; although it would have been harder to justify submitting it for this theme, this image looks great (even better?) in black and white.

This sums up 'natural progression' effectively, with the horse and (colourful) rider plodding through the autumn woodland – a well-deserved 3rd place! Suggestion: consider cropping the right side of the image around 1cm from the foreground tree trunk, then flip the image 'horizontally' before applying a feathered vignette (darkening of the edges) to hold the image in (I'd be happy to send you an example if you wanted to contact me). A very pleasing image!

It's the combination of camera angle, symmetry and colours in this image that make this a successful shot. Suggestion: consider what's around the edges of an image and try to remove any unwanted objects and shadows; also consider how light affects the overall composition; and a tighter crop might also create more impact.

This bold attempt at creating something a bit different certainly fires the imagination and earns this image a commendation. Suggestion: Balance is the key here so consider a different arrangement of leaves in order to achieve this. Alternatively, consider cropping out the left most leaves to create a more balanced look. I'm not sure the frame adds anything to the overall image?