New Joiners - Landscapes #799

I really love this image. I think it's one of those images that on first glance, many might overlook it, but it's a real masterclass in using what's available in the frame to tell a story.

It's also a really good example of when to convert an image to monochrome. I imagine if this was in colour, it would not have the same impact and the elements that become important during the mono conversion would be lost. Whereas your choice to convert means that the elements in the frame work together rather than against each other.

The bright white of the two chairs contrast with the dark tones of the tree that towers above. This is all set against the mid-tones created by the sky, with the clouds adding some texture. It makes me wonder about who might have placed the two chairs there, and what it is that people sitting in them would be looking at.

Just a really satisfying image that demonstrates your eye for composition. Thank you for sharing.

I love Ullswater, and I especially love it on mornings such as this, full of atmosphere and promise.

Your composition works well, with the headland on the left and the island on the right of the frame balancing each other out. This looks to be taken in the depths of winter, maybe even January, as there is little to no foliage on the trees other than the evergreens and their skeletal branches give the image an eerie feel.

The conditions are certainly on your side here, with the low cloud consuming the tops of the fells, and the hint of mist drifting along the waters surface, creating some separation between foreground and background. The almost still water creates a majestic reflection, and the lack of light adds to the mood.

The horizon is a little off, which is easily done. If you're able to correct in post, the image would have even more impact. That aside there is plenty to enjoy here, thank you for sharing and making me look forward to winter!

I like the way you've framed this image, using a shallow depth of field to ensure that the tree closest to us is blurred, giving the impression that we're peeking around the tree to take a look at the river beyond.

The light is lovely, cascading down to the water and catching on those autumnal colours evident in the foliage of the tree. It's one of those images that makes me want to the step into the frame and sit down by the water, taking in the cool. crisp bite of the weather turning, admiring the way some trees have the ability to hold onto their leaves till the bitter end.

Thanks for sharing.

I love the backstory that you provided with this image. It must have been really exciting to grow up with your father working as the lighthouse keeper. To me that's one of those almost mythical job titles that conjures literary notions. Although I'm sure the reality was slightly less romantic.

There is something about lighthouses that suits photographic storytelling. They become this metaphorical (and literal) beacon of light in the midst of darkness. That no matter how dark the night gets there is always a way to get back home.

Your image certainly fits into that remit. I like that you've placed the lighthouse front and centre, using an extended shutter speed to add some movements to the waves. The moody clouds, contain small flecks of orange, complimenting the colour of the sand below. I like that you've caught the reflection of the lighthouse and that the bright white of the exterior stands out against everything else in the frame.

The image is a little noisy, something that distracts a little and could be improved in post to make the image even more impactful. That aside, i'd like to thank you for sharing such a poignant image and giving me some of the back story, too.

Sometimes I feel like drone shots can lack imagination, almost as if the perspective alone warrants merit. I feel the same when people exclusively use film and hope that covers over poor craftsmanship. However, I think this is one of the more considered drone shots that bucks the trend.

Yes. the perspective certainly helps, but more than that the composition is spot on. I love that you've used the landscape to your advantage, with the point of the shoreline adding some strong lines to the frame. The time of day is also relevant here, with the sun rising, catching on some of the atmosphere present lower to the ground.

It can often be tricky to shoot directly into the sun but you do well here to control the highlights. I like all the little details that are visible in the frame, such as the cars in the car park and the church rising above the town in the foreground. I like that we can see all the way to the water.

Just a really good example of what can be done when a drone is in the right hands and composition is prioritised above perspective. Thanks for sharing and congrats!

This is a simple image that does what it sets out to do and uses all the elements in the frame to its advantage.

I like the curve of the wave that you've captured in the foreground that leads the eye through the frame to the sun, low in the sky, the brightness of which has been dulled by the hazy atmosphere. I like the muted colours, almost peach, that dominates the sky and reflects off the water.

Just a lovely rendition of a dreamy sunset. Thanks for sharing.

This image is all about contrasts. The contrast between colours, the contrast between tones, the contrast between highlights and shadows.

In the foreground we have the warm tones of the sand, orange in colour, catching the low light of golden hour. The curvature of the dunes plays a part, creating shadow where the light does not reach and creating colour and texture where it does.

The bright orange of the sand contrasts with the pale blue and dusky pastel tones of the cloudless sky above.

A simple, yet effective composition, thank you for sharing.

I've intrigued by the island of Madeira and always look forward to seeing images from there. Often the photography is limited to the ancient woodland and foggy forests, so it's nice to see a seascape. This demonstrates your willingness to tread your own path and explore different locations.

The time of day helps your image, with the ensuing warmth of the day consuming the left over coolness of the blue hour on the horizon.

The image is elevated further by your composition, low to ground, using the daisies with their soft colours to complement the hard, rugged coastline created by the cliffs in the distance.

The choice of portrait orientation works well too, ensuring the viewer moves from the daisies to the water and the sky above.

A deftly done image and demonstrates a different side of Madiera, thank you for sharing.

I think this is an absolutely wonderful image and the only reason I haven't placed it in the top spot is that it is not strictly a landscape image. Usually when an image is entered in the landscape contest that is focused on animals I consider it off topic, but I think this has enough of the landscape in it to qualify.

As a nature photograph, this has so much going for it with that tender moment between the two foxes. It's absolutely beautiful and demonstrates your skill as a wildlife photographer. It's one of those moments that would have had me jumping up and down with joy, but as far as this contest goes, I can only really judge it in the context of the surrounding landscape.

There is plenty to love about the context, from your low angle catching the last of the light, the sky turning pink, to the sand in the foreground and the backlight catching on the foxes. There is a dreamy feel to the image created by the sunset and the light.

Overall, a beautiful image that I recommend you enter into some wildlife contests. Thank you for sharing!

It's always gratifying to see an image from a completely new location, one that I've never seen before in this contest or any of the others I've judged. It always fills me with intrigue wondering what brought you to that location and if this image was more of a chance happening or something you had planned on capturing.

Whatever the backstory, the final image speaks for itself. The composition works well, with the light catching on the euphorbia in the foreground, showing off the intricacies of the foliage and dominating the frame. This is aided by what is happening in the background, with the mist drifting atop mountain and creating some separation from foreground to background. The light is gorgeous and there is not even a single cloud in the blue sky.

A magical moment, well framed and captured, thank you for sharing.

I love a good cityscape, especially when the light is low and the warm glow of golden hour is cast over the buildings, illuminating the architecture.

You've caught the city in a good light in this image, with the colour catching in the clouds and still water of the river below creating a really nice reflection.

Your composition works well, especially with the cluster of buildings in the middle of the frame and the use of the bridge as well as the foliage on the river bank.

The fact that it is taken on an iPhone demonstrates once again that the best camera is the one you have on you. Thanks for sharing!

There have been quite a few really good examples of iPhone images in this weeks set of New Joiner entries so it's nice to see one from Samsung too.

As I've pointed out in some of the other reviews, it really is all about the composition and how you use the tools available to you. Here, the image is made by the composition. You've used the rugged trail that is visible to lead the eye from the foreground to the background.

The light is helping here, creating some gorgeous textures and bringing out the yellow and green colours of the hillsides. The portrait orientation means that the framing is tight, so there is less to distract us at the edge of the frame. The clouds also have plenty of texture with the light catching on them.

One of those images that makes me want to step into the frame and experience it for real. Thanks for sharing!

This is another wonderful example of the photographic power we have in our pockets. I love it when I see image like this taken on an iPhone, because I know that whatever the camera, it's the composition and framing that bring the image to life, whether it is shot on a Hasselblad or an iPhone.

The joy of mobile photography is the freedom it gives you. You don't have to lug tonnes of kit around and you still have the ability to capture whatever moments you happen upon. However, you cannot buy your way to good composition, that is where your creativity takes over, and you use the tools you have.

Here it is the composition that makes the image, using the purple and pink flowers in the foreground leading the eye to the gorgeous turquoise waters. The conditions are on your side, with the low cloud creating a scarf around the mountain in the distance, allowing for the peak to appear almost disconnected from the rest. Your choice of portrait orientation keeps the frame tight and all in all, this is a fabulous shot of a gorgeous location.

This is a powerful cityscape that uses the elements in the frame well.

Your positioning across the water means that you can capture the buildings face on, with the majority replicating the same roof, pointing up towards the sky.

I like that you've included a bit of the water beneath and the people seemingly enjoying their free time on the pavement between the water and the buildings. The inclusion of these elements adds scale and interest. Thanks for sharing.