New Joiners - Landscapes #607

This image is full of atmosphere, enhanced by the sandstorm catching the low light of the setting sun. It can be really difficult to shoot directly into the sun and control the exposure but you manage to do that well without many flares interrupting the composition. I'm glad you've kept some of the cloud in to compliment the dunes below and your processing gives the scene a sci-fi, futuristic feel.

Lovely classical reflection shot of a one of nature's glorious vistas. You've given prominence to the sky, positioning the mountains lower in the frame and reducing the reflection. The light is lovely, entering from the side and lighting up the trees and the snowy peaks. The contrast in colour between the blues and the greens works well. I would have been inclined to give the reflection a little more space in the frame, although I suspect you were constrained by foliage and reeds on the water in the foreground trying to sneak into your shot.

An enjoyable waterscape that shows understanding of composition and exposure. I like that you've captured it at blue hour with the moon still in the sky and just a hint of the dawn to come. The power of three works well here, with the three trees reflecting in the water and the hint of the stars above. Nicely seen and captured.

Lovely rendition of Bamburgh during what looks like a spectacular sunrise. I like that you've captured those first rays of light bouncing off the wet rocks in the foreground to help lead the eye to the castle and you've done well to catch the sunstar without too much of a flare. The processing is light, giving prominence to the gorgeous warm colours in the sky, reflecting in the wet sand. Nicely seen, wonderfully captured, full of emotion and heart.

If ever there was a place suited to a high contrast monochrome conversion it would be this part of Iceland, with the ice strewn across the beach like diamonds. There's plenty for the eye to explore in this image, from the the ice in the foreground to the dark, rocky outcrop and the mountainscape beyond, consumed by low cloud. Your composition allows for plenty of diagonal lines zigzagging through the image leading the eye from one element to the other. The monochrome conversion simplifies the scene and overall this is a well constructed and powerful photograph.

Some images are less about the technical achievements of the image and much more about the emotion they convey. Although the quality of this iPhone image isn't great and the horizon is a little wonky, those things don't do much to distract from the main event which is the relationship between the green rocky outcrop, the stormy skies and the rainbow that is traversing the left side of the frame. It must have been an amazing thing to witness and sometimes the best camera is the one you have on you. Thanks for sharing.

A fine urban landscape that shows off the sprawl of London and the sweep of the thames as it winds itself through the heart of the city. It's fascinating to see the co-existence of the old and the new architecture, defining the past from the present and a potential future hinted at by the cranes smattered along the skyline. The overcast sky hints at sunset and creates an even tone throughout the scene.

Nice use of leading lines into the heart of this composition. There's a welcomed relationship between the textures of the pier and the colours of the hills in the background. I like that it's choppy on one side of the pier and more still on the other. The side light entering from the right hand of the frames creates some definition in the landscape and falls rather nicely across all the elements, pulling attention away from that clear sky. Thanks for sharing.

Well composed and executed long exposure that demonstrates an understand of how to compose to maximum effect. The zigzag of the rocks in the foreground helps to lead the eye through the scene to the white lighthouse beyond, against those dark skies. The moodiness of the clouds compliments the dark, wet rocks in the foreground and the long exposure works to smooth out the water and give a sense of movement. Lovely work.

You're right, the light at the beginning and end of the day can have differences. For me, the clarity of the morning light has a lure, but the impactful colours of sunset can also be delightful. If I were to hazard a guess I would say this was shot at sunset with that sun diffused, spilling light through the clouds above. There's a cinematic feel to the colours and the composition, helped by the geometric shapes of the bridge traversing the bottom of the scene.

There's a lovely contrast in this image between to sunlit rocky shoreline and the icy surface of the loch. I like that you've used the line of snow/ice covered rocks to the reach out to the middle of the loch and lead the eye into the image. There is a little bit of a blue colour cast covering the image, especially in the bottom half that could be easily corrected in post-production, making the image even more impactful. Must have been rather lovely to stumble across this frozen loch so thanks for sharing.

Gosh. When I first saw this image something in the back of my brain said 'I know that pier' and then I read that it was Hervey Bay and lots of memories of travelling there (and seeing humpback whales) came flooding back. The blues of the sea, the white of the sand. Classic eastern Australia. The top down drone shots works well here to give a new perspective and emphasise the bright contrasts and colours. The people wandering across the sand add some perspective. Nicely seen, captured and processed. Thanks as well for the memories!

I love this image because it's not just a landscape photograph, it's not just telling the story of nature, it's telling a bigger story about our relationship with the landscape. The figure of the dog standing at the start of a seemingly endless road, disappearing into the mist, contemplating the start of another day, acts as the guide for our eye to get into not just the heart of the image but the emotion of it too. It has a narrative and leaves me wondering what awaits on the walk.

Sometimes all you need is simplicity to create an appealing image. Just a couple of elements that work well together and a good eye to position them in the composition. When I look at this I'm reminded of the Windows XP wallpaper which is a bit of a nostalgia trip. The green of the grass contrasts well with the blue sky and those clouds, enhanced by the light giving some definition to the scene. Nicely seen and captured.

A nice, uncomplicated lighthouse scene that uses the cool tones in the sky to lift the lighthouse and give it prominence in the frame. The cool blues of the sea compliment the sky and the framing works well. The image is a little overexposure, but that doesn't detract too much from the scene.