New Joiners - Landscapes #855

This is a thoughtful composition with the foreground cascade adding interest and balance to the waterfall beyond. The slow shutter speed has added attractive subject motion to the water. However, a tighter composition (or slight tweak to viewpoint) would have allowed the photographer to exclude the ugly, distracting sign on the left.

This is such an impressive scene. The inclusion of the trees is important, providing a genuine sense of scale - meanwhile, placing them so low in the composition helps make the dunes appear more imposing. The low, warm sunlight adds contrast and depth. Nicely captured.

This schoolhouse is photogenic, and the branches provide an effective partial frame. The sky is dramatic and this is a nice capture overall. However, the sky is littered with sensor spots caused by dust particles settling on the camera's image-sensor. You can buy DIY sensor cleaning kits, or take the camera to a local dealer and pay to have a sensor clean.

Always remember to do 'border patrol' when you compose your photos. Look for unnecessary distractions around the edges of the frame that can be easily excluded by simply refining composition. In this instance, the wooden hand railing (in the bottom right corner) weakens the shot, yet would have been easy enough to keep out of frame.

This is a colourful and vibrant spring photo, with instant impact. I'm assuming the photographer used polarising filter to give the sky punch. I love there layers in this scene, as the bright yellow oilseed rape gives way to lush green fields. Meanwhile, the trees add a point of interest.

I love the juxtaposition between natural and manmade in this photo - flowers and foliage contrasted with the sleek lines and design of modern architecture. The photographer has dealt with the extreme contrast neatly by bracketing and blending exposures. They've processed the files well, although there is a little fringing just around the tallest points of the memorial bridge. Overall, a very well captured and executed shot.

This shot has lovely atmosphere. The muted dusk tones, calm water, and reflections produce a tranquil and attractive scene. In my view, there is more foreground than needed, though, and it dominates the composition. I would be tempted to crop this into a narrower aspect ratio to reduce the amount of foreground rock. There is also a few dust spots that need tidying up.

This is a beautifully simple shot. The colourful sunset and gently lapping waves combine to create a tranquil, calming scene. The vertical composition suits the landscape, allowing the photographer to go 'big' on the sky. I'm not sure if the horizon is quite level and I would be tempted to just quickly clone out the footprints in the foreground, so that the sand looks pristine and clean.

Beginner or not, this is a really nice shot. Light is the key ingredient to capturing successful and engaging landscapes, and the low backlighting adds drama and interest to this photo. While people can add interest and a sense of scale to landscape photos, I'm not sure the figures add anything to this photo as they are not quite in the optimum position. But overall, a very good capture. Keep shooting!

The light's quality really elevates this shot. While the tallest tree on the right feels 'cut-off' rather abruptly, the composition overall is good and well-balanced. The light-play is excellent, providing contrast and a three-dimensional feel. The editing is subtle, but helps bring the image alive.

This is a very photogenic croft in the outer Hebrides. It is thoughtfully composed and the little pool balances the dwelling nicely. The light and stormy sky add to the feeling of remoteness, although it's a shame the highlights are blown. Just around the croft and - most clearly - to the left of the building are some obvious signs of masking and exposure adjustments. The selections needed to be more accurate or feathered more, as they are clear to see. Therefore, I would be tempted to re-edit this file.

This is a really striking panoramic. Although the photographer hasn't included a description, this is clearly a composite of two shots, with the reflection being captured at nighttime. I'm not usually a fan of this type of photograph, but the gorgeous, warm evening sunlight contrasts beautifully with the dark, low light reflection. It is a neat blend and the result is certainly eye-catching and effective.

It can be difficult to convey just how vast a scene like this is from ground level - but a drone is excellent for providing a proper sense of context. The back and white conversion works well. The sunburst adds interest, while the sandboarders provide scale. This shot has an almost otherworldly look to it.

Lightning can be very hard to capture successfully, but this is a fantastic effort with drama and impact. The cloud structure and bright reflections on the water add interest and depth. Personally, I find the group of people on the beach a little distracting, though, and the horizon just needs to be straightened. Otherwise, a very 'striking' shot - well done!

This is a stunning, big vista. The light is good and this photograph boasts wonderful layers and depth. My only real niggle is that the sky is too bright in the top left, with highlights close to being overexposed. The use of a graduated ND filter would have retained more detail and information in this area of the sky - or the photographer could have bracketed and blended exposures to extend dynamic range.