New Joiners - Landscapes #788

When taking photos into the sun, be careful that the highlights in the sky don't overexpose. This is an impressive vista, and the road helps lead the eye through the frame, but the washed-out sky is a distraction. Bracketing and blending exposures in one method to help deal with high-contrast scenes like this.

There is nothing wrong with this photo, but I can't commend the image as the subject matter doesn't suit the category. Try entering this into an upcoming Animals: New Joiners contest. To avoid future disappointment, always be careful to match your photo with the theme.

This looks like a good long exposure location - and I like the clean, simple composition. The photographer has selected a good viewpoint with the foreground tidal pool providing reflections. I would tidy-up the footprints in the bottom left corner, though, and also the dust spots (and/or rain drops) visible in the sky. Finally, I would try converting the image into black and white to see if this scene works better without colour.

This image looks unbalanced to my eye, due to having such a dark, heavy sky and bright, white foreground. It is unusual for the sky to be darker than the foreground and this photo just doesn't look natural. It might be worth the photographer taking another looking at the original file and reprocessing.

I love the layers and contrast in this image which provide depth and invite the viewer's eye into the frame toward the snowy mountain peaks. Placing the horizon centrally works well in this instance, promoting a sense of symmetry. I'm not sure about the overall tone, though - the blue/cyan cast is not attractive and I would be tempted to warm-up the image. There are also signs of lens flare in the bottom third of the frame.

The rows of lavender create a compelling lead-in line, while the soft, low sunlight provides contrast and depth. This is a very beautiful and engaging photo - simple with a lovely sense of symmetry. The sky is a little washed-out on the left of the frame and there are a few dust spots to tidy up also. But otherwise a good, striking landscape image.

What a stunning vista - this photo almost looks unreal in appearance. I'm guessing this shot was captured from a plane as it appears to be taken through glass (you can see what appears to be reflections on the far right and also left of centre). But the photographer has done well and both exposure and composition are good. The elevated perspective really helps create a sense of context and scale.

This is a nicely composed and captured image - the light is attractive and it is a lovely scene. But I would crop a slither off the right of the frame to remove the out of focus orange flower and foliage just creeping into the photo. This file is also quite noisy, which is surprising given the low ISO setting.

When the conditions, light, and scenery are this good, it is easy to assume landscape photography is easy. But you still have to place yourself in the right place at the right time to capture what nature has provided. Credit to the photographer for identifying a good viewpoint and for capturing the best of the conditions. Those last rays of golden light - striking the peaks - really make the image, providing so much depth and interest.

Although this shot works well in monochrome, I would be interested to compare it with the colour version. This is a huge, far-reaching vista and a striking composition. I would be interested to know what processing has been applied, though, as there is quite a few 'halos' around the cliffs/rocks in the middle distance - typically a sign of overly aggressive processing.

Not everyone likes to include manmade objects in their landscape photos, but roads create a compelling lead-in line and - in this instance - it really enhances the composition. The road directs the eye neatly into the frame and toward the towering mountains behind. An effective and striking image.

I do like the helicopter perspective of a drone - it offers a completely fresh way to view the landscape and reveals shapes, textures, and patterns we simply don't see from ground level. The road and river cutting through the woodland provides interest. If only there was a little boat on the water to create a sense of scale.

This is a very beautiful scene - I love the spring colours, light and mixture of rolling countryside and coast. It barely looks real, though, with colour forming in the sky, but light still striking the hills - the two don't quite correspond. Unfortunately, file size is quite small so it is difficult to assess the image accurately.

What a beautifully natural and tranquil shot. In an age when so many photographs are over processed, over-saturated, or enhanced in some way, it is lovely to see such an authentic image. The stillness and reflections create a sense of peace and - while there is no sign of 'Nessie' - the male blackbird adds interest and life to the photo.

This image has an HDR feel to it and I'm not normally a big fan of landscapes where shadow detail has been lifted. However, I do like this photo and the mixture of rich colours, detail, and textures it contains. The composition is engaging and the shot retains the viewer's attention well.