New Joiners - Landscapes #746

Love the angle you've chosen for this shot, looking over into the gorge, and rushing water, below. The trunk of the pine that traverses the frame makes for a decent leading line and the dappled light catching on the foliage adds some texture to the scene. This is further enhanced by the wet rocks below. I like that you've excluded the sky so all our attention is on the gorge and all the little details.

This is my kind of morning, usually where I'm in my element. Nothing beats a bit of low-laying mist at sunrise to add some atmosphere to a scene and here it's doing just that. There is a hint of the sunrise above, with the warm tones fighting through the blue hues of the cloud. The trees in the distance are just visible through the haze, and the decision you've taken to use the barbed wire fence as a leading line into the scene works really well. Nicely seen and captured.

The simplicity of a sand dune at sunset. It is a popular subject and for good reason. There is something appealing about the shapes and curves of the sand as it's been moulded by the wind and weather. An ever shifting scene that is never quite the same twice. The light in this, catching on one side of the dune, illuminating the orange and brown hues in the sand, is delightful. This is complimented further by the tones in the sky, moving from orange to blue as the light fades. There's plenty for the eye to enjoy, from the textures in the sand to the relationship between the dark and light parts of the dunes.

A powerful scene that is elevated further by your choice of processing in black and white. This allows the eye to focus more on the subject matter and not get distracted by any untoward colours, but relies more heavily on the relationship between the shadows and the highlights. The processing you've done compliments and enhances this relationship, and there are some lovely tones in the pebbles on the shore and the clouds in the sky. Between, the waterfall, glimmers in the sunlight, attracting our attention. The fact that it was shot on an iPhone is even more impressive. Nicely done.

This is an image that is imbued with mystery. From the viewpoint we're shrouded in the darkness created by the dense woodland, blocking out the light, catching quietly in the reflective surface of the water. From the darkness the eye is led to the light bursting through the middle of the composition, catching on the green foliage visible. There is a real sense of foreboding that is offset by the bright, vibrant proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. An image that is full of feeling and emotion.

I absolutely love this image, it's full of life and the portrait orientation means the scene is broken down into distinct layers. At the top we have the tips of the woodland, covered in ice and snow, framed by the snow covered hill in the distance. Then there is a morning mist rising from the cold, frozen ground. The light has found its way through, creating shafts in the veil and adding some much needed atmosphere. At the bottom there is the skeletal outline of a winter tree, surrounded by a herd of sheep making their way through the snow. The sheep create a really nice diagonal through the image, compliment the lines from the lit mist which travel in the opposite direction. A stunning wintery scene, thanks for sharing.

This shot has an alpine feel to it, with the mountains in the distance and the pine forests giving way to the white building on the shoreline. The water has an emerald hue, complimenting the grasses on the shoreline that are almost yellow in colour. The blue of the sky above works well with the greens of the woodland and water, although some of the highlights are blown out in the top right. That aside, the fact this was shot on an iPhone makes it an impressive image, thanks for sharing.

Although the ram takes centre stage in this image I still consider this a landscape photograph. The sheep only works in the middle of the frame because it exists in the context of the landscape in which it roams. I love the framing you've chosen so that we get both the ram and the mountains in the distance. The lower position you're shooting from gives the ram a feeling of superiority, as if they're asking what your business is being in their domain. One of those fascinating moments in time that really captures the heart of the landscape.

Whenever I see images of this particular coastline it whets my appetite and I want to visit. This is no exception to that rule. The rocky outcrops make for a powerful compositional tool, especially when they stand stalwart against the vastness of the ocean behind. The driftwood in your image is numerous and for the most part points towards the large rock formation creating a pleasing composition. The sky is full of mood and intrigue, demonstrating knowledge of how to create an effective composition and hold the viewers attention.

This is a classic shot that uses the juxtaposition between nature and man-made to powerful effect. The road is occupied by white lines and a usefully painted arrow which directs up to the mountains beyond, hazy and catching the light. The blue hue throughout gives the image a cinematic feel as if we're driving into the start of some Hollywood epic. Although it's good to have some of that blue sky to tie the image together, it creates a lot of negative space that doesn't aid the composition and I'd consider a tighter, panoramic crop to really get the most out of the composition.

I love the concept you've landed upon with this image. Although this is ostensibly a landscape photograph competition, it's clear that the landscape is dominant in this image, even if it's not the main focal point. The long exposure you've used of that choppy, tumultuous sea becomes the canvas for something spectacular, with the lady standing holding the red umbrella in the middle of the frame. She becomes the focal point, a droplet of serenity in the face of the fierce ocean. I'm not really a fan of colour select, but here it works well and gets the message across.

There is an ethereal feel to this image, enhanced by the sea fog that is filling up the landscape and obscuring the headland in the distance. There is the spectral shape of the estuary below and the faint hint of the beach, but that is all overwhelmed by the shock of poppies in the foreground, existing and flourishing almost in spite of the intrusive fog and low cloud. Their colour is no less vibrant for the lack of light and their presence turns and ordinary coastal shot into something extraordinary.

A classic view of the the Old Man of Storr, which has become a target for many photographers over the years, and for good reason. It's always worth the hike upwards to be able to see the Old Man from various angle and I particularly like this composition because the cloud is touching the top, obscuring some of the peninsular and focusing our attention on the relationship between the rocks in the foreground and the large overhanging cliff edge above. I like the muted weather conditions as it gives the scene an even tone, and the cloud formations are rather delightful. Really lovely shot of a well known location.

This is a classic reflection shot that does what it sets out to do. Either shoreline is populated by woodland, some green and still hanging on to summer and others showing hints of autumn. Their colours compliment the blue sky above which is reflecting in the still waters of the lake. What really makes this shot work for me is the cloud formation that you've given room for in the reflection. It's like the wings of a bird gracefully making its way across the sky and it just adds a little something special to the composition.

I absolutely love the mood in this image, with the choppy waters in the foreground occupied by the wooden hut and the rowing boat, leading the eye to the imposing mountains in the distance, caught in the grip of the passing weather, the streaks of rain evident against the granite black rock. Unfortunately the image itself appears to be really low quality which may have happened in the export. It means I'm unable to fully appreciate the image and therefore cannot give it a place in the top 10. Would love to see the full res version at some point.