New Joiners - Landscapes #529

There’s plenty to like about this image, from the fresh spring greens that dominate the frame and the balance of the deep purples of the bluebells that carpet the woodland floor. The inclusion of the gate ensures there is a frame within a frame, a pattern you’ve repeated with the trees of the woodland towards the edges of the photo. It would have been easy to have blown out the sky, but you’ve managed to balance the exposure. I’d have been inclined to include less of the sky and more of the bluebells, but that aside this is a charming spring image.

An image that is quintessentially ‘Peak District’ with the looming face of Stanage Edge dominating the foreground. The light breaking through the cloud and illuminating the valley really adds to a sense of drama, and you’ve done well to ensure those highlights aren’t blown out. From the title of the image, you’ve spent a bit of time waiting for the sun to make an appearance. There are two things that make this image stand out to me; the winding road on the left which leads in the eye and the figure standing on the edge which gives a real sense of scale. Lovely image, tastefully processed.

I often don’t like the inclusion of vehicles in a landscape image, unless it’s a long exposure to add a sense of movement. However, there’s something about the inclusion of the car here that really helps to balance out the bright exposure of the sun that’s appearing through the trees. If I hadn’t read your description, it would have been easy to miss the chap on the bicycle! I like how the shape of the hill in the distance is mirrored by the shape of the tree arching over the road. Intriguing image!

This is an interesting panorama. I love the old wooden fishing shack that seems pretty abandoned and I’m intrigued to know more about it’s history. The rough texture of the wood is complimented by the messy brushwood in the foreground and contrasts with the moody sky and sea. The colours of the sunset also contrast with the deep blues of the water which is pleasing. However, the foliage on the right hand side is rather distracting, something that would be easily solved with the crop.

The information you’ve added to this image really brings depth to the story. Woodland imagery can be very chaotic and it’s clear that you’ve done your homework and made sure you’re aware of the compositions that would be available during such interesting conditions. The hint of mist really elevates an already beautiful scene, and the pathway through the middle leads in the eye. The delicate autumnal colours are beautifully processed and all in this is lovely image, well done.

The Himalayas have a romanticism to them that is hard to ignore. They’ve inspired adventurers for generations and it’s not difficult to see why when I look at this image. Photography is a great way to tell a story, and there’s so much that this image has to say, from the undulating mountains, the snow-dusted trees and the gorgeous colour in the sky. You’ve composed well, with the tree line leading me into this frozen world, my eye finding the light catching off the peaks in the distance. An alluring image with much charm and majesty.,

I’m guessing that this Himalayan mountainscape is taken at a similar time to the other entry into the top ten. This one, although it contains all the same elements, doesn’t quite have the same impact because of the composition and the lighting. There’s still plenty to enjoy, however, from those snowy trees, to the slopes of the mountains in the distance and the delightfully vibrant sky. The image would have benefitted from a better foreground that could have helped convey the viewer into the image.

This is a photo that demands the viewer take a closer look. I really love those kind of images. The dramatic sky has many layers to it, from the moody cloud at the top to the bright, vibrant nucleus burning behind the bull and illuminating the foreground. It’s the inclusion and composition of the bull that really provides the charm, and gives the image an almost surreal edge to it. Lovely storytelling that demonstrates the power of phone photography.

This photo is a fiesta for the eyes! There’s so much going on that I want to see it printed big and fall into all the different moments of life happening within the frame. I’m immediately drawn to the camel in the foreground, and then I jump to the hot air balloon and the landscape in general. What I really love about the image is the sense of place you convey. I can feel the waning heat, I can almost sense the sights and sounds. The colour is lovely, balanced between the various complimentary tones of the camel and the sunset. Thank for taking me on a fascinating pictorial journey.

I like that you’ve tired to do something interesting with this image. Instead of focusing on the snow capped Scottish mountains, you’ve instead concentrated on the foreground, focusing on the rock sticking out of the water. I really like that there’s a large shell visible that calls back to those snowy mountains. The rock in the water, however, is a bit drab. When I take images like this, I’m always looking to see how different elements of the landscape compliment each other, and the shape of the rock in the foreground is mirroring the mountain on the left to a certain extent, which is pleasing. There is a little bit of a blue hue to the image that could be corrected in post to give the image a more natural look. You might also want to have a look into focus stacking if you’re interesting in creating these kind of compositions where the foreground and background are both in focus.

Some photographs just really provide a sense of the destination and the conditions, and this is a fine example. From your description it sounds like you had a pretty torrid time suffering through the sandstorm, and the image you’ve produced really demonstrates that battle. I love the layers that the desert can provide in compositions, and it’s satisfying to see a hint of the dunes beyond through the blowing sand. What elevates the image further is the figure in centre frame who is also fighting their way through the storm, and providing some much needed sense of scale and humanity to an otherwise desolate and unforgiving landscape. I’d be inclined to crop away some of the sky which doesn’t add too much to the image. It would help focus attention on those layers and that figure. Still, compelling stuff!

This is an intriguing monochrome image. Creating compelling mono images can be difficult because it pairs an image down to highlights and shadow which can be unforgiving, but impactful when done right. There are two things about this image that made it stand out to me. Firstly, the way you’ve used the highlights and shadows to create definition and balance both halves fo the image. Secondly, there’s some very interesting shaped trees on the left of the image, some in shadow and some in sunlight. They almost look as if they’re in a dance together. I think because this is quite a wide composition, some of the impact is lost. I would have loved to see a together composition contrasting on those trees instead.

Oh to have a front garden with a view such as this! Before I even read the description I knew it was Lofoten. It just screams out ‘North Norway’. I’ve spent many an hour marvelling at the snow covered peaks of this part of the world and this evokes the sene of cold and grandeur. I like the unorthodox inclusion of the snow in the foreground because it sort of mirrors the mountains. The hint of colour in the sky balances out the colder tones, although there is rather a blue cast to the image that could be easily adjusted in post production to give the image a more natural look. An image that makes me long for the north.

There’s loads of atmosphere in this image. These are the kind of conditions that send a landscape photography wild. We’re always hunting that combination of conditions, scenery and composition. You’ve got the first two in abundance. The light catching off those autumn trees and the mist rolling off the water is just delightful. Sadly the composition is a little off. The horizon is not quite straight and the dark rocks in the foreground disrupt that glorious reflection. One of those images where I wish I could have been there!

I have to agree with the title of this image - nature is the best painter, and this photo is demonstrable proof of that. Those amazing clouds implicate the vastness of the sky and the power of nature, and the reflection in the still water provides a real sense of calm. The hint of architecture adds to the composition, as does the contrast between the greens and the blues. There is some distracting foliage on the extreme left and right of the image that could easily be cropped out, and I’d be tempted to use a square crop to focus on those amazing clouds in the middle of the image. Evocative shot, well done.