New Joiners - Landscapes #719

There is a mood and atmosphere to this image that makes it more than just a photo of two large boats passing in the open ocean. There is a hazy feel to the atmosphere, and the waves are being slightly whipped up by the wind. The light that is breaking through the cloud and illuminating both the boats really makes the image pop, and the composition with the two boats heading in opposite directions and equal distance from the edge of the frame on either side, works well. The monochrome processing enhances the mood. Nicely done!

What I liked about this image is the glorious light catching on the bracken and ferns in the foreground. This in turn leads the eye to the hillside in the distance. This is a classic Lake District scene, especially in summer with the threat of rain always present. Your composition works well, and the only issue is with the blown out bit of sky at the top of the frame which distracts the eye and pulls me out the frame. That aside, the light you've captured with your iPhone is just tremendous and shows what the iPhone is capable of in the right conditions.

Sometimes incorporating a human element into a landscape photo can really elevate it. This is a prime example of such an image. The texture and colour in the mountain side change the further we make our way up the ridge, with the greens and granite giving way to the snow line. This leads the eye to the line of climbers slowly making their way to the summit, in various bright colours. I love that the person at the head of the line is also taking a photo. Without the climbers the image would have liked interest, but your foresight and composition has turned this into something rather brilliant. Thanks for sharing.

Gosh, you've captured some powerful weather in this image. I absolutely love that cloud formation that is seemingly covering the whole sky, it must have been quite something to witness! The hint of the rainbow at the bottom of the cloud is also delightful. For a phone shot, this works really well, capturing the moment, even if the quality isn't great. It's a shame you haven't added any further details in the description because I'd have loved to read your thoughts on the image and the story behind it.

It's always a pleasant surprise to see a rendition of a place of which I rarely see images. I knew that Gibraltar was built on a rock but the way you've represented it here really emphasises the rock in relation to the urban sprawl below! This is all down to your composition, standing in line with the ridge and using that as a leading line into the scene. The low cloud drifting across the top of the rock in the distance is delightful, adding atmosphere, and the strong directional lighting really makes the image pop. Nicely seen, captured and edited! Thanks for sharing.

This is one of those iconic views that really lures in landscape photographers. There is just something powerful about those white houses on a hill catching the light and facing outwards to the sea. There is a hint of light in your image that brings out some of the bright houses but not so much that it's overwhelming. I like the sky you've captured, with at hint of colour, but also a little bit of moodiness! A nice rendition of a often captured scene.

The colours in this image are glorious. Those pinks and blues during what I'm assuming is pre-dawn, leading up to sunrise, are gorgeous and really make the image pop. I love your composition too, with the rock in the foreground and the panoramic framing. Almost everything about this image works well, and this would have been in my top ten if it wasn't for the horizon being wonky which throws everything off. I suggest a quick correction in post to make this image even more delightful. I also would have loved to have learned a little more about your creative thought process, but other than that there is plenty to enjoy here.

There have been so many iPhone images in this week's entries and plenty of them have been absolutely brilliant photos. This is another one that really works and demonstrates that the best camera is the one you have on you, whether it's a DSLR or a phone. The great thing about iPhones is that they allow you to capture the moment and this is a perfect example of this. Shooting into the sun means the people enjoying the beach are silhouetted in the most magnificent low light. There is a little bit of lens flare from shooting into the sun which is a little distracting but that aside, this is a really powerful image.

I absolutely love the tree that is the main character of this composition. It's somehow existing in a hostile landscape, fighting to survive. I love how the trunk has twisted and turned, the greenery reaching up to the sky. The tree alone tells a story, but placing it in the landscape elevates the scene. The side lighting works well, catching on the tree and the sand, as well as the waves arriving on the shoreline. The portrait orientation means we concentrate on the tree without distraction. I like the layers in the landscape created by the sand, sea and sky, acting as a backdrop for the tree. Nicely captured.

Sometimes it's nice to see a landscape that does something a little different. Instead of taking in the bluebells and the woodland in a more traditional landscape image you've opted for a shallow depth of field which means the bluebells are the main focal points of the scene and the woodland is blurred, but perceptible, in the background. The bokeh created by the blurred woodland works really nicely and adds some interest and I like that you've captured the bluebells at the bottom of the frame. Nice to see some creative thinking, thanks for sharing.

Gosh, this is an image that has impact. For a brief second I thought that was a real scorpion before my brain made sense of what I was looking at. I like that you've used the two metal sculptures as a powerful foreground as it makes the whole image much more interesting. I'm always impressed by people who manage to take really good images of the night sky, and this is no exception. The line of the Milky Way is really magical, and it makes me want to look closer. This is a clever image that's been well executed, demonstrating your talent for both astrophotography and composition.

There is something whimsical about this image, and I mean that in the best possible way. Some photos are about the way they convey a feeling more than how they depict the scenery. I can almost feel and smell this image, it is the epitome of summer with wildflowers pushing through the grass and the proliferation of greenery all around, interrupted only by the pond, reflecting the blue of the sky. The light helps, low and gentle, covering the landscape, and your composition works, focusing our attention on the most interesting part of the image, and framing it with the trees on the right and left of the frame. A glorious photo that requires more than one look.

What a magnificent piece of driftwood! It almost looks like a creature that is morphing into life and out to get you! It really makes for a powerful foreground, with the pier to the right and the muted sunset above. The cool tones work really well with a little but of warm breaking through. A classic seascape that demonstrates an good awareness of composition and processing.. Thanks for sharing.

The Menai bridge is one of those places that deeply connects me to my childhood. Whenever I see a photo of it, or anywhere in Snowdonia, I'm reminded of those long summers visiting family and being in awe of the landscape. My own attachments aside, this is a lovely rendition of the bridge that shows the glorious landscape in which it is situated. The panoramic crops works really well, making sure the frame is tight and holds the eye. The landscape stacks backwards taking us from the sea to the bridge a the mountains behind. The monochrome processing ensures that no one colours distracts from the scene. Nicely composed and processed.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere you've created with this monochrome image. The flock of sheep in the right act as a leading line into the landscape, guiding the eye to the ruin of the building on the right. The pastoral feel to the image is emphasised further by the glorious shafts of light that are breaking through the cloud and illuminating the scene. This adds drama and interest, and all three elements of the sheep, the ruin and the light combine to make a really intriguing composition. The monochrome processing gives this an almost timeless feel and all in all this is an image of which you can feel proud.