New Joiners - Landscapes #847

This shot boasts lovely layers and interest. It is well composed with the rocks acting like stepping stones, leading the viewer's eye through the shot. The timing is good too, with the waves linking foreground to background. The warm light and misty conditions enhance the atmosphere.

A gorgeous shot of a gorgeous location. A centred horizon often suits a mirrored landscape. The light and shade create lovely depth and layers, and the placement of the rowing boat is just about right - it certainly adds interest and a focal point. The jetty creeping into the right of the frame, and branches top right, are unnecessary distractions in my opinion - either include more of them, or exclude them altogether,

You see lots of photos of Antelope Canyon, and understandably so - it's an extraordinary place. It is interesting to see a black and white version, though. We assume the canyon's beauty is due to its colour, but this photo highlights the shapes, texture and sweeping lines of the canyon. It is a very abstract and impactful shot with depth and interest.

A drone provides a great, elevated perspective for scenes like this. The vehicles appear dwarfed by the canyon, and the road directs the eye neatly through the shot. I think this file would benefit from some additional post production, though. The sky is too light - the photographer needs to recover highlight detail by dragging back the highlights/whites slider in photo editing software. There appears to be plenty of interest in the sky to reveal in processing.

This is an amazing fungi - beautiful colour and texture. I'm not sure if the edges of the frame are blurred/soft intentionally or not. I find it a little distracting to be honest, but the 'vignette' does help draw the eye more toward the subject. I'm not sure this photo really qualifies as a landscape, though, which is why I'm leaving it in the Merit bucket.

This is a lovely tranquil, rural scene. It is a well considered composition with the reeds and tree creating a partial frame on the right, and the footbridge directing the eye toward the houses and onto the windmill. It's a quintessential dutch scene. The colourful sky and reflections enhance the shot, and the file has been nicely processed too.

This is a location I know very well and it's a great spot to shoot at both sunrise and sunset. I love the pastel tones toward the horizon. However, when skies are cloudless, I prefer to place emphasis on foreground interest. Therefore, I might have been tempted to get nearer the causeway, or rocky shoreline, and opt for a big foreground in order to reduce the amount of sky in the frame.

It can be challenging to shoot toward a rising or setting sun due to the high level of contrast. But the photographer has done well to (mostly) retain highlight and shadow detail. This is a tranquil scene. I might be tempted to lift the shadows in the foreground very slightly to reveal more recognisable detail in the seaweed.

Although the sky is a little empty and devoid of interest, the photographer has composed this shot thoughtfully. The tree on the right is placed neatly on a third and helps balance the hill top on the left of the frame. The warm side-light enhances the shot further, and helps create depth and contrast.

This is a really lovely, serene coastal landscape. The dunes/marram grasses add texture to the foreground and the high cloud helps frame the scene. The dramatic, partially silhouetted rock stacks add a focal point, while the late evening light adds natural warmth to the shot. A lovely moment to enjoy and capture.

This is a lovely atmospheric shot with a great nostalgic feel. The lighting, contrast, composition, and balance are excellent. It's a well conceived and constructed shot. It doesn't qualify as a landscape photo in my book, though, so I can't place it in my top 10. Sorry!

This is a well composed scene with lovely, atmospheric lighting and a strong, active sky. The colours are a tiny bit too punchy for my taste, but the photo has plenty of impact. The branches in the top left corner unbalance the composition slightly in my view, though. And the tree on the left is framed a bit too tightly in my opinion - it could do with a bit more breathing space.

It is hardly surprising that this is such a well photographed view. The intense colour of the water, snowy mountains, and mirror like reflections combine to create a really engaging photo. The narrower aspect ratio works well too. My only slight grumble is that the reflection of the highest peak is 'touching' the bottom of the frame - it could do with a tiny bit more space.

Frozen landscapes are hugely photogenic and this is a stunning vista - suited to the slightly narrower aspect ratio that the photographer opted for. I find the disturbed snow in the immediate foreground slightly messy, but overall the photographer has done exceptionally well to compose this from a moving train!

Astro photography can be complex and challenging, although thankfully modern cameras have made it easier to focus in low light and achieve correct exposure. This is a wonderful display of aurora and well captured too. The foreground trees provide needed interest and context - too many northern lights images lack this. What a wonderful way to start the New Year!