New Joiners - Landscapes #545

Shooting into the sun can often be a tricky business because it has the potential to blow out the entire image. However, you've managed it without too much incident in this image. There's a softness to the light and colour that you've captured, and the silhouetted walker with their dog gives the photo just a little something special. Without the figures it would be just be a standard shot, but the inclusion of them brings a sense of romanticism into the frame. It adds a sprinkle of timelessness. Lovely, evocative work.

This is an intriguing image that brings together nature with manmade structures. The juxtaposition between these two elements makes for an interesting composition. The lush greens of the crops contrasts well with the colour in the sky and the water that is spreading across the crops give the illusion of mist which divides the land and the sky well. Nicely done.

This was probably one of the only monochrome images in the whole cohort, so it was a pleasure to see it amongst all the colourful scenes. There's something about this image that I really like. There's a nostalgia present. It's perhaps the panoramic frame, or the processing, but I'm reminded of old black and white westerns that I would watch with my Granny when I was off school sick. The landscape you're photographing is timeless and this image also has a timelessness to it.

This is a nice shot of Ladybower (I assume) that is aided by some gorgeous light that is flooding the scene. I like that there is a hint of the blue sky visible at the top of the image to contrast with the greens and the yellows of the landscape below. It's a shame that the lake isn't still because the inclusion of a reflection would have just elevated the image further.

This is a good example of how aerial photography can give a brand new perspective to landscape photography. The higher elevation allows the eye to take in all the glorious golden evening light flooding through the scene. The trouble with drones is that it can be hard not to lose the focal point of the image, and also difficult to control the exposure, which is evident here with the blown highlights. However, there is still plenty about this image to like; the forest, the light, the hills in the distance. Nice work.

I mean, this image is quintessentially Canadian, and all the better for it. I love those snowcapped mountains jutting out from the landscape into the sky, ancient and epic all at once. The fluffy clouds provide some interest in the sky and the line of trees provide a much needed foreground and colour contrast. It's a nicely seen and nicely captured image. There's a little bit of a blue hue that's throwing the colour off, but that could easily be corrected in post. That aside, it's an image that makes me want to go to Canada, so a job well done!

Lovely shot of one of the most recognisable hills in the Peak District. I like that you've been very considered with your post processing, keeping the overall tones of the image neutral throughout. The hint of the inversion moving over the hillside adds a nice bit of atmosphere and the individual on the path gives a sense of scale. Although I can appreciate why you haven't included the tree in the image, leaving it partly in frame is rather distracting and pulls my eye out of the frame. Still, cracking conditions that you've captured well.

It's always refreshing to see someone submitting something unusual and different to these competitions and this fits the bill. Abstract photography can be difficult to do well, because there's always the need to keep some link to the landscape, but you've managed it with this image. The bold colours almost divide the frame into three, with the bright greens, soft pinks and lovely blues. It's an image that invites the viewer to look close and challenges notions of what landscape photography can be and for that alone, it's worthy of a spot in the top 10.

This image just has a lovely feeling to it. The warm tones that resonate through the clouds and sky reflecting in the marshes below. There's a lovely soft mood to the whole image. Often I can find the inclusion of birds can be a little distracting because the eye almost immediately is drawn to the darker silhouettes but in this case the unmistakable shape of the humble Oystercatcher(s) just add something extra to the composition. Lovely mood, well captured.

This image is all about that big sky that fills the top half of the frame. That's the joy of shooting at the beach, especially when the light is low and the sun is setting. Composing with the still puddle of water in the foreground works well, reflecting back the colour in the clouds above. The panoramic composition also works well, extenuating the sense of scale and drama. Nicely done.

This is a competent and interesting coastal shot that makes the most of the conditions to elevate the overall image. The low light that's flooding in from the right hand side adds a rather lovely bit of drama to the scene, boosting the colour of the cliffs and wildflowers in the foreground. The composition is strong, with that slice of foreground helping to ground the rest of the image. There's lots of layers at play between the rugged coastline, the sea and the weather. Lots to like about this, well done.

This image stood out immediately when I was clicking through the images on the first pass. It made me stop and just think 'wow, that must have been something to witness'. I can almost get lost in all the textures and patterns created by the clouds. I love the grey tonality throughout the image and the way you've made the cloudscape the main feature of the frame. I can only imagine the weather this cloud created!

This is a well seen cityscape that makes really good use of the urban sprawl to create an interesting composition. The frame is comprised of plenty of vertical and diagonal lines, the building blocks of any impressive composition, and you use these to good effect, pulling the eye into the middle of that frame where it settles on the red and white chimneys, both of which are adding a burst of colour to contrast with the evening light. It seems you've shot this through a window so there is some artificial light sneaking into the frame that's a little distracting, but that aside this photo still has a lot of impact.

This is a powerful image that has plentiful drama throughout the frame. You've done really well to maintain the exposure even within the frame as there is quite the dynamic range in play from the sun shining though the passing storm and the silhouetted land mass beyond. The yacht intersecting through the heart of the image provides a real sense of scale as it pales in comparison to the deluge breaking through the clouds. Fantastic, powerful image that demonstrates good technical knowledge.

Absolutely lovely image that acts as a powerful reminder that the absence of light can be as powerful as light itself when used in the right way. The autumn colours here are delightful, with the hint of atmosphere helped by the wet conditions. You've captured a wonderful range of colours, from the deep red on the right side of the frame to the greens of the woodland floor. As well as thoughtfully capturing the foliage, the composition is spot on, with the pathway leading through the middle of frame. Gorgeous image, and a worthy winner.