New Joiners - Landscapes #769

This is a really well-captured shot. I'm not an astrophotographer myself, but I can still appreciate the time, effort, planning and post production required too produce shots like this. The photo is well composed, bitingly sharp, well lit, and the star trails add fantastic depth, movement, and interest. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the current trend to always include an onlooker in shots like this, but its all down to taste and interpretation.

What an inviting scene this is - you almost feel you could walk into this photograph. This is a subtle and clean composition with a good sense of symmetry. The mixture of autumnal leaves overlaid on green creates layers and depth. The little wooden bridge acts as a perfect lead-in line.

This is a scene with so much potential - lovely light, nice reflections, and dramatic mountainous scenery. However, the foreground adds nothing to this image in my view. I'm not really sure why the photographer decided to include the parking bays. Why not take a few steps forward to exclude the manmade foreground - or walk down to the shoreline to make the most of those inviting reflections?

This is a well chosen viewpoint and the low angle works well - the water tumbling into the corner of the frame adds energy and flow. While the composition is good, I'm not keen on how its been edited - it has a HDR (High Dynamic Range) look. I suspect the photographer has lifted the shadows too aggressively, while the highlights in the sky are blown. I would try reworking this file to produce a more natural, pleasing result.

The shapes, texture, and colour of glacial ice are hugely photogenic and this is a nicely composed photo. Unfortunately, the highlights are a little bright (and overexposed) in places. For high contrast scenes like this it is worth bracketing and blending exposures to effectively extend the camera's dynamic range. A lovely, tranquil scene.

This is such a beautiful location, with a sky to match. The clouds almost appear to be pointing toward the mont, directing the viewer's eye to the subject. It is a shame the beach isn't more interesting - a reflective tidal pool or wavy sand patterns would have really given the foreground more interest. This is a very attractive shot of an iconic landmark, though. I would quickly check to see if the horizon is perfectly straight.

This is a beautiful sky and the light is warm and attractive. It is a very tranquil and inviting scene, but it lacks a focal point. If only there were a boat, little island, jetty or something for the eye to settle on. As it is, the photo just doesn't hold the viewer's attention.

This is a beautiful and very natural looking scene. Even without the bison, the trees standout so beautifully against the diffused, misty backdrop. This photo has a lovely softness and atmosphere about it and I like the overall tone and high-key feel. I'm unsure why the photographer hasn't cropped out the ugly dark strip in the bottom of the frame, though? It adds nothing. I would crop this image into a letterbox aspect ratio, losing some of the sky also.

This is a lovely sky and a scene with potential. Beaches often get messy with footprints, though. Next time, consider getting closer to the tideline, where the sand is pristine. Many photographers struggle keeping the horizon straight, but a wonky skyline is quick and easy to fix post capture using an App or photo-editing software.

I really like this shot. The Icelandic landscape can look almost moonlike, and the aerial perspective captured by this drone highlights the wild, remote scenery. I love the inclusion of the road and single white vehicle - they provide essential context and a sense of scale. The lack of colour within the landscape produces a mono-like result. A well seen, captured and edited photo.

The golden sidelight in this image is simply delicious. The light's quality can transfer an otherwise fairly ordinary scene into something wonderful - as it has done in this instance. The dark, brooding sky and warm light combine to produce a wintry landscape with drama and interest. The composition is effectively simple. There is a nasty dust spot just below the photographers watermark that needs cloning out, though.

I do love the symmetry of this photo. The mixture of palm trees and buildings - at staggered heights - produce an engaging result. The shot lacks contrast, though - I might be tempted to re-edit this photo and give its a bit more punch for added impact.