New Joiners - Landscapes #621

The power of the lone tree combined with a dramatic and fierce sunset is hard to ignore. You've taken the brave decision to shoot directly into the sun, which can often result in overexposure of the highlights, something you've done well to control here. The backlighting gives a surreal feel to the image, almost Sci-Fi, as if we're looking at the tree and landscape on another planet. I like your composition, ensuring all the branches are kept within frame and the processing fits the location/mood.

This image is full of mood and intrigue. The misty morning is creating separation between the log in the foreground and the headland beyond. I like that you have composed with the log leading the eye into the image, almost like it's reaching for the sea, just beyond it's grasp. I like that you've kept the tree below the top of the headland. I'd consider cropping out some of the sky as it doesn't add a lot to the composition.

There's something about this lighthouse shot that is a little different from some of the others I see. It's possibly that it's taken with a telephoto from beach level, but also that you've shot it at sunrise and used it to block the sun, creating a backlit scene, almost silhouetting the lighthouse. It works well, with the warm tones contrasting with the dark foreground. Sorry you had to suffer for your art! Those rocks can be darn well treacherous!

This is an intriguing urban landscape that demonstrates the juxtaposition between older architecture and the more modern buildings that tend to populate our cities. I like that you've composed with the main building on the right, in direct comparison with the tower blocks that fill the middle of the frame. This is then contrasted again with the trees and nature in the front. The monochrome conversion works well. I'd consider cropping the tree out on the far left as it pulls the eye out of the frame.

I like what you've done here, using the curve of the railway line as a leading line into the scene, landing on those snow capped mountains beyond. So often we can get caught up in shooting from a normal position and it can be easy to miss out on a plethora of compositions either up high, or like here, down low. The only thing is I wish you'd focussed in on the mountains instead of the rail track. That aside, it's nice to see someone thinking outside the box.

This is a rather tight and yet appealing composition. Wherever your company event was, the vantage point it gave you is quite something. There's plenty to like about the contrast between the greens of the sunlit valley and the greys of the mountain peaks. It really shows the relationship between both, with the low cloud clinging to the mountain tops and separating one section from another. The crop excludes the sky and focuses attention on the aforementioned relationship and the processing feels light and natural.

Really enjoy this image. I'm a big fan of civil twilight, that thin slither of time between the end of the sunset and the start of certified darkness (or the end of the night and the start of the day) and this image demonstrates perfectly the reason why. The blue tones are just gorgeous, with those artificial lights beaming through, creating symmetry and promoting atmosphere. The panoramic crop aids the composition, leaving the eye to focus on the pier and take in the scene. Well seen, executed and processed.

This is a wonderful misty scene and the reason why I love getting up for sunrise, you never know when you're going to get fabulous conditions like this. I like the layers that have been created by the landscape, separated out by the mist clinging to the water. The real star of the show however is the line of birds flying in 'V' formation across the sky, adding both scale and interest. Just a lovely scene, thanks for sharing.

Ah yes, I've been in your position before (not literally, I've never been to Niagara Falls) where I need a tripod but cannot use one/don't have one so I have to improvise by popping my camera on anything vaguely stable. Sometimes you have to use what's there and you've done that to your advantage in this shot. Without the long exposure smoothing out the water, the image might not have had the same atmosphere but as it is there's plenty to enjoy. The blue colours come through nicely, contrasting with the darker colours of the shoreline. I think it was wise to exclude most of the sky as it concentrates the eye on the water rather than the overcast greys above. Nicely seen and captured.

There is something really inimitable about autumnal colours, strong sunlight and the backdrop of stormy weather moving through. It makes the world come alive, full of personality and vibrance. You manage to capture that feeling in this image with the cliff face curving round through the frame, partially in shade but mostly catching the light. The detail in the moody sky is really lovely, and there's a hint of seasonal transition in the air.

I love winter, and I love wintery images, especially when I'm looking at them in summer. It reminds me of those cool, crisp days, especially in northern places that get considerable amounts of snow. I love how the light is catching on the snow in this image, and the line of the fence leads the eye up to the little hut. You've framed it well, with the trees and snowcapped mountains behind. You've also done a good job of controlling that sunstar, with minimal lens flare interrupting the scene. The colours are muted and yet still convey the mood. An enjoyable image that demonstrates skill and understanding of how to create a compelling image.

Love the image, love the sentiment. That lone tree certainly is a survivor and its presence makes the image into something rather special. I can image that this image took quite a bit of planning. The right time of year, the time of night, the right kind of weather. You certainly have skill as an astrophotographer, aided by the muted processing and hint of foreground interest. The pink glow on the horizon adds some much needed tonality to the image. All in, a marvellous photography, of which you should be proud.

Some images just give you a real sense of what it would have been like to stand in the photographers place and take the shot and this is one of those images. There's a crispness to the clear blue sky, a hint of cool air in the morning with the sun beginning to warm up the land. The light catching on just the tops is delightful. Although there's no interest in that clear sky, I actually like that you've left quite a bit of it visible. I'd consider just a small crop to even it up with the foreground.