New Joiners - Landscapes #579

This image is all about serenity. The kind of photo when at first glance I just knew it was taken at sunrise rather than sunset. There's a calmness to the landscape that seems more prevalent at the start of the day. The still lake creates a gorgeous reflection of the woodland and mountains catching the first warming rays of that rising sun. You've done really well to control the tones considering you're shooting directly into the sun, which is always tricky. Although it would have been a lovely scene on it's own, the inclusion of the two kayaks balances out the right side of the composition and just adds a little something extra. Well seen, well captured and nicely edited.

This is a classic landscape image which makes the most of the elements in the frame to make a compelling composition. The diagonal nature of the coastline works to lead the eye into the illuminated Isle of Mull in the distance. The greens work well with the browns of the heathland and the blues of the sunset sky. Nicely seen and captured.

I had to commend this because of the dramatic morning sky that you've captured, spreading across the sky and bouncing off the clouds. The colours are wonderful, both in the clouds and just above the horizon. I just wanted to give some feedback as to what might have improved the image. I love the leading line of the white fence. It would be more impactful if that line was traversing the right hand bottom corner rather than the middle of the image. The second tip is to always straighten your horizon. That aside, thanks for sharing what must have been a beautiful morning to witness.

This is a lovely panoramic mountainscape and makes use of the gorgeous autumnal colours and the golden hour light/colour in the clouds. I like how you've framed the mountain peak with the warm orange colours of the tree in the foreground which contrast well with the greener woodland beyond, leading the eye to the light catching on that dramatic peak. The colours are a tad unnatural (to my eye) but I wasn't there and sometimes nature can completely surprise us with the colours that can appear.

There's some gorgeous tones and colours in this composition. It has a lovely fresh feeling to it, illuminating the trees on the shoreline and the unusual shape of the mountain beyond. I like that you've included the bridge in your composition as it mirrors the line of snow along the mountain ridge. The still reflection created by the water is lovely, however I would not have included some of the near shoreline as it distracts from the perfect reflection.

This is a subtle landscape image that uses the elements in the frame to good effect. Sometimes an abundance of green can make it difficult to pull out different details from an overall composition, but the way you've arranged everything in the frame really helps here. The portrait orientation allows for the curve form the trees in the foreground all the way up to the peak of the hillside. The soft light that's catching the slopes is absolutely lovely, as is the colours in the clouds. Those warm tones compliment the greens really nicely. This is a lovely image, one to be proud of.

This is a lovely capture of what I'm sure was a freezing cold morning. When the snow is on the ground it can somehow make these sort of winter sunrises even more intense, with the pastel tones permeating through the clouds. The gentle reflection in the water works well, but the composition is a little off. The tree on the left side takes over the scene a little too much, and the horizon is rather wonky. I'd consider straightening the horizon and possibly adopting a 1:1 square crop to lose that tree on the left. That aside, this is a lovely wintery image.

Sometimes it's lovely to see an image from a part of the world that I'm sure has plenty of opportunities, but where I don't often see compositions from. This is a majestic scene, from the wonderful architecture of the house on the left side to the lake and mountains beyond. The warm tones of the left side of the image contrast with the cool tones of the hazy mountainscape. The mist rising from the water is the cherry on top. Lovely work, thanks for sharing.

Like an arrow traversing the heart of the composition, that line of glorious light is the main draw of this image. Wherever you look in the image, the eye is pulled back to the contrast between the dark hillsides and the illuminated shoreline, reflecting in the water that's still enough for a reflection but maintains a little texture as the weather ripples over the surface. The clouds add some interest to the sky, obscuring the mountains beyond. It would have been lovely to have some more information of where and why you took this photo, but nonetheless it's a rather lovely shot.

Some images are all about the moment and when the rain comes in and the sun breaks through, sometimes you can get a beautiful moment like this. The ancient architecture of the scene below helps to give this a rather timeless feel with the absence of modernity such as cars. The arch of the rainbow against that dark sky is lovely. However the image is at an angle which detracts from it's effectiveness. I'd consider straightening it out, even if you lose the start of the rainbow.

This is a classic view that I've seen various compositions of over the years, but it's classic for good reason. The imposing structures of the mountains provide the perfect backdrop for any landscape photographer, especially during the golden hours. I like the low angle that you have adopted here, with the log in the foreground acting as a way to lead into the composition. It's a shame that the sky is blown out and lacking in any detail. I would also consider allowing some more room between the top of the mountains and the top of the frame as the current composition is rather claustrophobic.

This photograph is a feast for the eyes. There's the pastel sunrise and the hint of light creeping over those natural rock formations. I like the archway and the silhouettes of the birds in the distance. Connected by waves crashing on the shore, the foreground is dappled with birdlife (egrets perhaps?). These birds, facing various directions but nicely spread out, add something else to the composition and elevate it from a run-of-the-mill landscape to something else more compelling.

There's plenty of drama in this photo and it would meet the original criteria of the word 'epic'. What really stands out to me, besides the gorgeous, warm morning light is the sweep of the islands in the middle, mirroring the sweep of the surrounding waters. You've doe well to capture that sunstar between the trees as it can be a struggle to control such strong light when you're shooting head on into the light. The clouds above add a little interest. The only thing that is mildly disconcerting is the foreground. I almost want more of that swoop of the cliff edge to ground the whole composition. That aside, this shows skill and understanding of how to create a compelling landscape.

This image has a lot of depth, with many points of interest for the eye to discover on it's journey from the foreground to the background. The long exposure of the water adds a sense of movement to the image, framed by the autumnal colours on the riverbanks in various stages of decay. The light catching on the mountain range in the background is delightful, giving prominence to that imposing natural structure. The colours are warm and lovely, although the saturation is making the image a little 'muddy', which all the tones merging into one. I'd be interested to see it with the white balance a little cooler in places. Still, this is a dramatic shot with plenty going for it.

I had to include this image in my top ten selection because it stood out from the the rest of the crop, but also, it demonstrates a good understanding of how to compose in a 1:1 ratio. All the shapes in the buildings is mirrored in myriad of windows. The water tank adds another geometric shape to the composition and the black and white processing works well because it creates some negative space of the overcast sky. You're right, it could be 1941 rather than 2021. Really nicely done.