New Joiners - Landscapes #750

A beautiful rendition of how dramatic Senja can be, especially in the winter. Your elevated position, helped by using a drone, gives the impression of the viewer looking down on the mountains and sea below. I like that one side of the mountain is covered in snow and the other isn't. The low cloud drifting below our vantage point and the colours of either sunset or sunrise really elevate the impact of the composition. It's a shame you haven't provided a description because I would have loved to have read about your creative process when capturing this image. That aside, there is plenty to like here, thanks for sharing!

One of those images that makes me immediately want to know the story behind it but you unfortunately haven't given a description so i'll have to use my imagination. When looking at this scene I wonder why the trees are underwater and if this is a temporary state. The composition aids that line of questioning as there is no context of how close the trees are to land. We are floating on the water with them. I like that you've positioned one of the trees closer to the lens but allowed the others to remain in the frame for scale and background interest. You've done well to position the sun in a way that is creeps through the branches and foliage of the tree, creating a pleasant sun star. Your processing elevates the uneasy, eerie feeling, with a hint of haze in the sky. The only thing I'd change is the space between the tree on the far left and the edge of the frame. However, that is a minor discrepancy in an otherwise fabulous image.

As a landscape photographer I often find myself tracking the seasons by the different wild flowers that bloom and bluebells are invariably the moment we enter late spring. It's so nice to see a shot of bluebells outside of a woodland context and I love that they're covering the foreground, leading us to the hut in the distance. The manmade walkway through the middle acts as a leading line and the surrounding trees work well. The lighting is strong, probably taken in the middle of the day, and I'd love to see what this place might look like during a misty sunrise or dramatic sunset. Lovely image, thanks for sharing.

There is so much going on in this image that I wonder it is two images stitched together. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but as you've not mentioned it in your description I shall create it as a single frame. The drama of the rushing water is the main spectacle, especially under that dark, moody, threatening sky. Your composition works really well, and it feels like we're almost part of the waterfall, about the disappear off the edge. The browns of the water and the rock contrast with the greys in the sky and the tiny hint of light on the left hand side. The good fortune to capture that lightning bolt is what really elevates this image. It adds even more drama and compositionally it's in the perfect position. Nicely done.

There is something about winter that captures the imagination. When snow blankets the ground and everything that was once familiar suddenly appears brand new. What I like about this image is the framing. Using the tree on the left and at the bottom of the image to surround the scene in the distance. I like that there is variation in the textures and tones, with the darker pines standing out against the frozen trees behind. The composition works well, with the reflection elevating the impact of the image. The lack of light works here, creating uniformity in the tones. Overall, a cracking winter image.

There is something powerful about the lone tree trope in landscape photography. I think we are drawn to them because they represent strength and resilience, standing as a metaphor for solitude in a busy world. The tree you've captured in this image speaks to that trope, and your composition has highlighted this metaphor further. The sharp, dramatic lighting works well, catching on the grass and the tree, bringing out all the greens and yellows in distinct contrast to the blue of the sky. I like the low cloud behind the tree as it adds a bit of separation between the subject and the sky. A wonderfully minimalist shot that demonstrates a clear understanding of composition.

The lone tree. It's popular with landscape photographers for good reason. There is something romantic about a tree standing in solitude. A metaphor for strength and resilience. I like that you've excluded the sky and we just have the tree against the backdrop of the forest behind. It's a shame you weren't able to push in a little on the tree as it rather gets lost amongst the rest of the scenery. That aside, it's still the stand out element in the frame. Nicely seen.

There is so much going on in this image that it's hard to know where to begin. The composition is a feast for the eyes, with the dead driftwood consuming the foreground, almost reaching out of the frame towards the viewer. The dark processing gives the wood a gnarly, threatening presence, as if they were sentient and claiming the beach for their own. The driftwood gives way to the dramatic scene in the distance, full of storm clouds catching the last of the light. What really makes the image for me though is the little forks of lightning mimicking the shape of the driftwood. It's not something you might notice on first glance, but when seen it just elevates the whole image. Magical.

Although this is a landscape photography contest, I always think that the inclusion of wildlife into a landscape scene, as long as it isn't the main focal point, can enhance and elevate an image. The inclusion of the bald eagles in frame is a great example of this. Without them, it would have been a pleasant enough sunset image with the orange sky looming over the trees and the water, but the presence of the silhouetted bald eagles, sitting in the tree, just adds a touch of magic. It must have been a beautiful thing to witness in real life, so thank you for sharing.

Sometimes the inclusion of manmade boardwalks can detract from a landscape image, but you've incorporated it so well into this frame that I would say that it actually elevates the scene. I like the way the walkway twists through the forest, creating an s-curve as it winds through the trees. I like that you've excluded the sky and just allowed enough of the trees into the frame to provide context and show the size of the woodland. I also enjoyed your muted processing. Nicely done.

What I enjoy about this image is the built in s-curve created by the boardwalk below that leads the eye through the scene. The vantage point that you've chosen really helps, looking down on the small figures of people meandering across the boardwalk. The strong lighting helps to pull out contrasts between the green water and the foliage and the people add a sense of scale. A nicely seen and executed composition.

This is one of those images that almost doesn't look real. We've had to deal with a few AI images in recent weeks, so I was suspicious at first that this was another one. I think the fact that there is EXIF data has just about convinced me that it's the 600mm lens that's making things look particularly dream-like and the two figures at the end are a happy coincidence. I love the light breaking through the trees and soft blues contrasting with the bright oranges of the left over foliage. The person and their dog in the distance really do make the composition work. An image that appears more like a fairytale!

This is a fabulous monochrome image that really makes the most of the elements in the frame to create a compelling composition. I like the vantage point that you've chosen, where we're close to the water and you've used the docks as a lead into the Liver Building in the distance. Liverpool is one of those cities that I've never been to, but images like this make me want to visit. I do enjoy a well executed cityscape, and this is exactly that. The stark contrasts between the shadows and the highlights make monochrome a good choice as colour may have been too distracting. A really impactful image, thank you for sharing.

This is one of the times where the inclusion of a human/canine element can take an ordinary image can just elevate it. Although the vantage point here works well, looking over at the landscape after the sun has set, the inclusion of the dog and it's owner just adds scale and context as well as a hint of narrative. We wonder where they came from, if they're heading back down, what they are feeling as they look out on the vastness below. The colours are beautiful, with the pastel tones of the sky complimenting the blues of the foreground.