New Joiners - Landscapes #652

I can imagine you were rather delighted to find those boats bobbing in the water just ready to act as a foreground for the dramatic scene behind. You've done well to position them to one side of the image, providing the eye with a lead in to the mountains in the distance and the colour in the sky above. The image has a rather overwhelming blue colour cast that makes it feel a little surreal, this could be corrected by editing it on your phone using a preferred editing app and you might then find the image is even more effective,

I really enjoy when someone enters a close up landscape into these New Starter contests. I don't see enough of them, and they always catch my attention because they demonstrate a willingness to embrace the landscape in an intimate way rather than just seeking out vistas and sunsets. There's plenty to behold here, form the delicate ecosystem on show, to the way you've layered different parts of the image for effect, placing some of the flowers in the foreground and the background separated by moss covered rock full of texture. It's an image that asks the viewer to look a little closer. I'd be inclined to crop out the dark edge in the top left to ensure that full attention is given to the rest of the composition.

I love images that focus on dramatic cloud formations, and this cumulonimbus is a wonderful example of why. It's one of natures wonders, catching the tones from the end of the day, set against a pastel background with just a hint of rain that has passed (or is arriving). It's vast in it's expanse, towering over the beach, dwarfing the humans below. It is magic in it's purest form. Thank you for sharing.

This is an image that prompts a closer look as there are several things occurring that could easily be missed if one was to merely glance at the scene. Evidently there is plenty to enjoy about the varied landscape pictured, with the snow smattering the stark landscape, giving way to ice and sea. Combined with the hint of colour in the sky above could conceivably make for an interesting picture, but it's the inclusion of the fulmar in the top left and more importantly, the delightful discover that there is a Walrus in the bottom left. Those elements combine to elevate the ordinary to something a little special. Well seen, processed and captured, thank you for sharing!

There is some lovely storytelling in this image, with the frozen lake in the foreground suggesting the power of nature (and winter) leading the eye to the industrial landscape beyond, steam rising from chimneys. It seems so far away over the frozen expanse, and yet they are interconnected in the grander scheme of the world. The hint of mist helps to create distance between the two, a fine line between nature and manmade. I'd crop out the trees on the far left as they distract from the overall effectiveness of the composition. Otherwise, an atmospheric image.

I think a lot of people might instinctively overlook this image, but I really enjoy it for several reasons. Firstly, I believe it's shot on a mobile device which reinforces the notion that it's not the camera that matters, it's the person taking the photo that makes the image. Secondly, it embraces the blue hour, that wonderful time between sunset and certified darkness. It means it's full of atmosphere, and although the subject matter is sparse, it's enough to pique my interest in wondering where those stone steps go. A quiet image that deserves some recognition.

You use the work 'majesty' in your title for this image and I would say that was rather accurate and was also one of the first words that popped into my head when I first looked at this image. There is a grandeur that is undeniable, carving the image into different layers, from the vast forest in the foreground to the epic clouds catching the light as they shroud the mountaintops. However, it's that patch of light illuminating the mountainside that really makes the composition sing, demonstrating the power of light and how it can elevate an image. There's a tiny hint of a blue colour cast (mostly evident on the left of the image) that could be easily corrected in post for an even more impressive outcome.

This image is all about the relationship between the landscape and the cloudscape, ad is elevated by the glorious low light so reminiscent of the golden hour. In photography we are always seeking repetition and patterns, and there are plenty in this scene, from the mountain on the far left mirrored by the sunlit rock formation in front of it and the top ridge of the hillside is mirrored in the cloud formation in the centre of the frame. The building pictured provides some structure and scale to the scene. I would have cropped out a little more of the sky to focus attention on the hillside and clouds.

A classic autumnal scene that uses the contrast between the myriad of golds, reds, oranges and greens in the trees on the shoreline and the blue of the sky. You've given room for the reflection in the (almost) still waters and the strong directional lighting makes the most of all the colours. I think the horizon is a little wonky and I think cropping out the encroaching foliage on the far right of the frame would minimise distraction.

I'm not usually a big fan of composites in landscape photography contests, mostly because they walk a fine line between photography and digital art. That said, I doubt anyone would look at this image and imagine it was all occurring in one exceptionally well timed (and exposed) moment. I rather enjoy the abstract nature of the scene, almost like a dreamscape. The elements such as the boat and the birds are graphical in nature, silhouetted against that oversized setting sun. It shows great creativity on your part and as such deserves a place in the top 10.

An iconic location, but for good reason. We landscape photographers love to look for patterns in nature, and this bend fits all the criteria. There's a lovely contrast between the dusky red of the surrounding landscape and the deep turquoise blue of the water. This in turn is framed by the hint of sunset beyond, colour laced through the evening sky. You've done well to fit in the whole bend and give it context, and I agree that opting for the pano crop works well. Nicely seen and captured.

Classic autumnal scene that works with all the elements to create a compelling composition. The wide rush of the river leads us into the image with those peaks of the current moving towards the heart of the scene, revealing the glorious autumn colour, the riverbank full of trees and leaves. The slightly extended exposure gives the impression of the river moving which adds narrative, and the hint of mist in the distance separates out the foreground from the background. Nicely done.

When there is snow on the tops and the promise of a little atmosphere, there are fewer places more beautiful than the Lake District and your image perfectly encapsulates why. The textures in the fell side illuminated by the light breaking through the low cloud, leads the eye to the wintery tops and muted valley. The river Esk runs through the heart of the scene, twisting and turning, reflecting the sky. The colours throughout are just lovely, as is the processing. Nice to see a different take on a well-photographed location. Definitely one to print out and pop on the wall.

Two classic landscape tropes together in one image; a lighthouse and a rainbow. I can imagine you were overjoyed when you happened across this transient moment of magic. I like that you've got the rainbow arching over the bright white of the lighthouse, the sky grey and full of rain. Although I know why you've kept in the bit of land in the bottom right, it rather throws off the balance of the image and I'd be inclined to sacrifice a little of the rainbow for a tighter, more effective crop. There's also a couple of dust spots from your sensor that could be easily removed in post if required. Thanks for sharing!