New Joiners - Landscapes #748

For me this is the stand out image in this set of New Joiners imagery and demonstrates that there is plenty of talent out there taking beautiful images. It is a difficult discipline to be able to create an image at night as you have to balance the artificial light with the available ambient light and you've done that rather well in this frame. I love that you've opted for a portrait orientation which means you're able to accomodate both the water in the foreground and the mountain in the background. The snow that is covering the trees and the slopes of the mountain works well, but there is still plenty of texture visible and the contrast between the darks and lights works well, as does the detail of the stars in the night sky. However, what really ties the frame together is the house on the shore, illuminated by the porch light. It acts as a beacon and adds some orange into the blues tones of the image. The reflection in the lake is a nice touch and this image demonstrates talent in composition and processing. A very worthy winner.

There is a lure that pulls photographers to Jökulsárlón and the other lagoons in Iceland, and this image is a lovely demonstration of the reason why. The colours and texture of the icebergs make for an intriguing composition, especially with the conditions you've captured, covering the lagoon in low cloud and light. I like that you've focused in on the icebergs and ensured that the sky isn't swallowing too much of the composition. The colours that the light has enhanced really make the image pop, with those cool blues complimenting the more neutral tones. The fact you took this on an older iPhone demonstrates that the best camera is the one you have on you, and a good photographer can make a photo, whatever tools they have. Thank you for sharing.

I really liked the layers you've captured in this image. Your choice of portrait orientation works well, with the windswept grasses of the foreground giving way to the turquoise blues of the sea and the cloudy sky above. I like the sense of movement in the grasses and the inclusion of the person wandering along the beach, adding a sense of scale to the scene.

A classic seascape image that uses the elements in the frame to powerful effect. I wish you'd included a little more information about your thought process but the image does a good job of telling a story. The strong light covers almost every element in the frame and it's all the better for it as it brings out the bright, bold colours in the landscape. This includes the gorgeous turquoise colours in the water and the greens/yellows in the headland above. The panoramic framing means we get a little bit of the sky, full of textured cloud, but our focus remains on the landscape, with the natural curve of the clifftop acting as a nice leading line.

This is a powerful image that makes the most of the weather conditions. The sun is doing its best to shake off the cloud behind which it is hidden, with light breaking through and creating some textures and patterns below. The even lighting helps to reveal the colourful buildings and your elevated position gives the viewer a sense of being above the city, looking down on proceedings. I like that you've given half the image to the man-made metropolis and the other half to the clouds and sky above.

Now, this must have been a sight to behold. To find yourself above the clouds and staring out across to the distance mountains, taking in nature in all its splendour. Although there is no light, the absence of light makes the image work. There are textures galore in the clouds above, with the mist moving in wisps, catching on the trees existing on the mountainside. I like the muted tones and colours as well as the stark contrast between the granite of the mountain slopes and the snow capped peaks.

I love the mood that you've captured and crafted in this image. The darker, muted tones you've cultivated gives the impression that we're in the middle of a passing storm and there is a sense of threat in your processing choices. That aside, I like that we're able to pick out some of the colours on the buildings on the shoreline, with the hint of colourful beach huts finding a way through the gloom. However, the part that makes the image for me is that wave, curling up and heading towards the sea deferences, a moment of ferocity captured and frozen in time. The shape is delightful and the story it tells is compelling. Nicely done.

What a fabulous morning to be in a hot air balloon travelling up above a cloud inversion. Talk about good luck! It's a fabulous vantage point to capture proceedings below, with some of the more elevated parts of the landscape poking through the fog to reveal the topography. I like that there are two other balloons in the image although I wish they were above the horizon rather than below it as it would have added something in to the sky which dominates over half the frame but doesn't really add anything to the composition. I'd consider a panoramic crop to balance out the composition by removing some of the sky. That aside, there is plenty to enjoy here, and I'm sure it is a moment you're unlikely to forget.

There is a rather lovely narrative in this frame that speaks of how humans co-exist with nature. It could be the opening frame for a film such as 'Local Hero' with the buildings of the community standing stalwart and catching the low light. The blue slate roofs compliment the colour of the sea, and in the distance the houses give way to the greenery of the far headland, connected by the bridge on the far left. What makes the image work is that glorious light catching on the low cloud/mist drifting over the scenery. Nicely composed and processed.

Who can resist the lure of a misty morning? Shooting in misty conditions is one of my favourite things to do as a photographer and this image is a good demonstration of why I'll excitedly hop out of bed at the prospect of such conditions. Mist helps to create separation between the foreground and the background as well as adding atmosphere to an otherwise mundane scene. Here it allows the eye to focus on the trees and the church in the foreground and we are only given hints to the landscape that exists in the distance. I love that the low light is catching on the facade of the church and helping it stand out against the greenery of the woodland. It appears that the sky is a little blown out but that doesn't detract from the image too much. Nicely seen and captured.

This image has a cinematic feels to it, an evokes films such as 'La La Land' and all the romanticism surrounding Los Angeles. I think any image that can evoke that sense of feeling deserves a spot in the top ten. Your framing is spot on, with the gap in the fence revealing the distant cityscape and all the skyscrapers rising up from the city streets. The line of colour from the sunset remains on the horizon, orange and bold, singing in the impending evening. Above it, inky blue and below, just black. Our attention is focused on the distant mirage of LA and all its presumed busyness. The fence seems impenetrable, but the gate is open, inviting the viewer to walk through. A magical, evocative image.

This is fabulous sunset that you've captured, and through experience I know that these kind of sunsets don't come along everyday. I love that the cloud seems to be streaking across the sky in a diagonal fashion, catching all the colour of the setting sun. It goes from warm oranges to pinks and blues, reflecting in the water below. Although you'd lose some of the sky, I'd consider cropping out the tree on the left because it's such a dark part of the frame that it steals attention from the magnificent sky and doesn't add anything to the composition.

Autumn in all its glory, fitted into a single frame. What makes this image is the trees in different stages of autumnal decay, but also your timing and composition. The archway that is created by two of the branches arcing over the stream works really well to connect one part of the image to another, and the light that is touching on the golden foliage really elevates the whole scene. The decision to exclude the sky was a wise one as it means the eye isn't pulled out of the frame. Nicely seen, captured and processed, a true testament to the beauty of Autumn.