New Joiners - Landscapes #838

This is another nice seasonal image. In this instance, the walkers add to the composition, helping direct the viewer's eye into the frame. The dawn sky is gorgeous and the photo boasts atmosphere and a lovely sense of winter. I would consider a slightly narrower aspect ratio to reduce the amount of foreground.

This is probably one of those shots that doesn't have a lot of instant impact. But the longer you look at it, the more you appreciate the composition, light-play, and layering within the landscape. A well seen, timed, and captured shot.

What a beautiful scene, boasting lovely atmosphere thanks to the low, golden light. I love the layers within this scene, with the islands acting like stepping stones into the composition. There is some lens flare that needs tidying up and I would also consider a tighter crop to exclude the branches on the left - which act as a distraction rather than add to the composition.

It's the quality of the warm, morning light which really brings this shot alive. And what a view! The Irish coastline really is impressive and this shot highlights its ruggedness and beauty. For me, the foreground is a bit too dominant, though. I would have been tempted to look for a viewpoint slightly closer to the cliff top to reduce the amount of foreground and to capture more of the sea and its motion.

Backlighting can produce dramatic results, particularly combined with a strong subject and atmospheric conditions. This shot was well worth braving the chilly conditions for. I wonder if a lower viewpoint might have helped the tree standout more cleanly from the woods behind. However, I love the inky foreground shadows, which add depth and create an effective lead-in line.

This type of minimalist image can prove hugely effective. Although the photo lacks an obvious focal point, the texture and energy of the water's motion retains the eye, while the moon provides a sense of place and scale. The conversion to black and white adds to the shot's simplicity.

Many photos owe their success to their simplicity. This shot has instant impact, with this row of silhouetted palm trees reflected in the calm foreground waters. The rising sun adds a focal point and the reflections add a sense of symmetry. A narrower aspect ratio might enhance this composition even further.

For my, photography is an in-camera art. Therefore, I've never been a big fan of dropping a different sky into a shot. However, if you are going to create a composite, the sky needs to suit the scene and appear natural in my opinion. In this instance, the warmth and drama of the sky clearly isn't reflected in the rest of the scene - the result doesn't look authentic. This is fine if that is the intention, but if not, you need to select your sky with more care.

What a lovely wintry scene. I love the cool, blue tones which help convey the conditions and season. The aperture choice, f/5.6, is maybe slightly too large for a scene like this, though. F/8 or f/11 is often a better choice for landscapes, providing a wider depth of field, yet still keeping diffraction under control.

I love the rich, autumn foliage. The low lying mist not only adds atmosphere to the shot, but helps the tree trunks standout from their background. I'm not so keen on the foreground, though, which is a bit messy and also obscures the tree's reflection. I wonder if a slightly different viewpoint would have produced a cleaner, more effective result.

This is a really nice vista, boasting lovely layers within the landscape and atmosphere. I bet it looks great framed on your wall! The top right corner is slightly overexposed, so next time try bracketing your exposure and blending the files to generate a wider dynamic range. Keep shooting!

This shot has a lovely 'desert island' feel to it. I like the sky and the depth created by the combination of light and shade. However, the blown-out sky and wonky horizon are distracting and undermine the photograph overall. Keep an eye on your histogram to avoid exposure errors.

This is a beautiful winter wonderland. The trees are just stunning and I can understand why the photographer decided to include the overhanging branches to frame the landscape. Unfortunately, depth of field is insufficient and the branches are out of focus - rather than add to the composition, they are a distraction. Next time, select a smaller aperture to generate a wider zone of focus.

This is a dramatic, elevated viewpoint captured in good light. Depth of field is a little too shallow (or the photographer has focused too far into the scene) as the foreground isn't tack sharp. But its a nicely framed seascape with lovely atmosphere.

This is a tranquil scene, boasting lovely reflections and interest throughout. The cool blue tones add to the calming nature of this shot. Arguably, the file looks slightly over sharpened (or maybe too much clarity applied), but processing is a very subjective thing and is very much down to personal preference.