New Joiners - Landscapes #863

This is the third rendition of Yosemite that I've seen this week in the contest, and this is the most classical of the three. The composition is further back looking towards the arid mountainscape and half-dome in the distance. The foreground is filled with foliage and trees and of course, our focal point lands on that infamous waterfall.

I love that you shot this on film, especially Portra 400 which just has this wonderful quality to it. I think the image looks all the better for being shot on film. My only recommendation would be to crop out that little line in the bottom right of the frame because it pulls me out of the composition and distracts from what is otherwise a marvellous image. Thanks for sharing!

I love the mood you've captured in this image. There are certain conditions that I love to shoot in, and misty/foggy mornings are up there at the top of the list. Your image demonstrates why such conditions are so popular amongst landscape photographers. The mist helps to separate the foreground from the background, so the tree is front and centre and although the background is visible, it's hazy and obtuse.

Shooting and composing from a 1:1 format is always difficult but you've made it work, with the tree just right of centre, surrounded by lots of flowers on the ground.

As this is pre-dawn or as close to dawn as you can get, there is a real mood to the images, with those cool pre-dawn colours dominating the frame. I like the tight crop that keeps our attention on the tree and doesn't include too much of the sky.

Overall, a wonderfully atmospheric image that works well, thank you for sharing.

When I first glanced at this image I thought it was somewhere in the English Lake District so I was surprised to find that it's California. It's amazing how so many parts of the world that are so far apart can look similar to each other.

This feeling is helped by the gorgeous sidelight that you've captured on those rolling hills. Your framing works well, allowing for a little bit of the water at the bottom of the frame, and including a lot of the sky at the top. Often a lot of sky can make an image feel unbalanced, but it works here because of the texture and colours filling up that space. The light is making its way through and catching on some of the clouds before hitting the landscape.

The sky is almost grey in colour which complements the greens of the landscape and your description of the scene as 'romantic' fits well.

Nicely seen, captured and processed. This image demonstrates that you have an eye for seeing and framing beauty and understand how to use the available light. Thanks for sharing.

This is a classic landscape image that uses the elements in the frame to powerful effect.

In the foreground we have the row boat which acts as a way into the rest of the image. This also helps to form a narrative around the scenery, suggesting that this lake is more than just a pretty feature of the landscape. In the mid ground is still water, reflecting the sky which is full of light from the low sun. There is a quite a bit of cloud cover which adds some texture, and the sun has managed to sneak out to illuminate the scene and add some contrast.

In the distance on the far shore is a tree line reflecting in the water and the spectre of distant mountains that adds a whimsical feel to the image.

The panoramic aspect ratio works well, and all in all this image is well seen, captured and processed, thank you for sharing.

There are several images depicting Yosemite in this week's submissions and some, like this one, try capturing all the majesty of this location from a different angle.

Shooting during the day (rather than during the golden hour when the light is lower) is always tricky as the light is harsh and you're having to deal with strong colours and contrast. This can be especially difficult with a bright blue sky, but thankfully there are a few clouds visible in this image that help to temper down the overwhelming blues.

I like that you've included the lake in the foreground and used the trees beyond to reflect the shape of the mountain above. The textures and colours of the hillside are lovely, with the greys complementing the patches of yellow.

As ever, the main focal point, where our eyes eventually end up, is the waterfall. In this shot it is catching some of the light and making its own rainbow, which is lovely and adds a touch of magic to the image.

Despite the harsh lighting, you've done well the capture this and make it work. Thanks for sharing!

As photographers, we find it hard to resist and good sunset, and after many years in this profession, I've realised that a good sunset is a rare thing indeed and should always be captured.

Here, you've adopted the technique of silhouetting the foreground and ensuring the highlights are not blown out. This can be tricky, especially when shooting into the sun which is the brightest highlight all them all, but you've done well to manage that in this frame.

The sun is low, casting the last embers of the light across the water and ensuring the sky is filled with warm colour. The clouds add some much needed texture and all in all this is a classic sunset image that does what it sets out to do, thank you for sharing.

Some image are all about the light and others are all about the landscape and the composition. You've done a grand job of ensuring that both the light and the composition marry up to create something rather appealing.

In the foreground we have six individual trees that are huddled together. Photographers, particularly those who specialise in landscapes, can become a little obsessed with the idea of odd numbers. However, for me this works because it's essentially two groups of three trees and it makes for a powerful foreground.

In the distance is the vines, and I love the curve they've created in the landscape. Above, all the greens and yellows of the landscape give way to the blue of the sky. The fluffy clouds add some texture and complement the trees below.

You've leaned into the colours and stamped your own mark on the scene.

A really nice image that does its best to show off the scenery and create a mood. Thanks for sharing.

It could be argued that the crows in this image make this more of a wildlife image as opposed to a landscape one, but I would argue that there is enough landscape in the image for it to be considered for this contest. In fact this is one of those instances where both elements in the frame complement each other. Without the landscape, the crows would appear a little odd and they add something interesting and mystical to the scenery, enhancing it and making the image worthy of a top ten position.

What helps with this is that there are 3 crows and landscape photographers love odd numbers. Also, your composition elevates the image, as you've positioned the birds carefully in the frame. Your choice of portait orientation makes everything feel like it fits well and the moody, threatening sky in the background enhances the narrative of the landscape, suggesting that a storm is rolling in and the corvids are here to bring ill tidings.

An intriguing image that demonstrates your imagination and quick thinking as a photographer, thanks for sharing.

I often see photographs of Yosemite submitted to this contest (in fact there are two in this week's submissions) and it never fails to inspire.

There are, of course, some classical compositions of this location that people repeat time and again, so it's nice to see it from a different angle. I'm also pleased that you've opted for a monochrome conversion, especially as it seems you've captured this when the light would have been harsh and the colours might have been overwhelming. Instead, the monochrome works well, bringing out the textures in the rocks, dampening down the blue sky and allowing the waterfall to remain the most important part of the composition.

Nicely seen, captured and processed. It's always good to see photographers exploring their own personal editing style.

This is a fabulous black and white image of a lesser photographed location. We often see images of downtown New York or maybe even San Francisco, but rarely have I seen an image of Atlantic and the photo is all the better for some different subject material.

Your elevated position makes for a good composition, with the buildings nearby leading us through the frame to the buildings residing at the end in the background. Your verticals are pretty much spot on and the clouds in the sky add some lovely texture.

Nicely seen, captured and processed. Thank you for sharing.

It's always nice to see a new location captured and submitted into these contests and I can definitely say that I haven't seen many images of Colombia over the years I've been judging on Photocrowd.

The rarity of the location is only part of the story. You've done the location justice with your composition. I love that you've used elements in the landscape to frame other elements. For instance, you've used the woodland and surrounding foliage as a frame for the hills that are visible in the distance.

I love that there is a little bit of atmosphere visible, making its way off the hilltops and the sun is trying to creep through the clouds. The greens of the trees and the grass give way to the blues in the distance.

Nicely seen, captured and processed, thanks for sharing.

This is a lovely rendition of an interesting location. The portrait orientation works, keeping our attention on the cliffs and the curves of the tops of the cliffs curve through the image and leads the eye from one part of the image to the other. The overcast conditions ensure the tones are even throughout and the detail of the bird in the sky helps to add some interest.

Well seen and captured, thanks for sharing.

I love the colours you've captured in this image. It's always wonderful to see what colours are produced at the end of the day. Sometimes you get warm oranges and yellows, and sometimes, like in this image, the colours are cooler, with the blues and the pinks overwhelming the sky,

I like that those colours are reflected back onto the boats and your framing works well, giving over much of the frame to the sky, and only a small amount to the water. This use of negative space demonstrates your skill as a photographer. There is a dust spot or two visible which could be removed in post to tidy up the image, but other than that there is plenty to enjoy here, thanks for sharing.

Stone circles always feel like they'll make a decent focal point, but I've found that they can be tricky to compose with, mostly because, like these ones, they are rather spread out and there tends to be a lot of them.

However, you've done a decent job with this image, helped by the time of the day you shot the photo and the conditions present. There is a thin layer of ice or snow on the ground which speaks to the time of year and the low sun adds some interest to the sky. I like the contrast between the green on the ground and the blue/orange tones in the sky.

You've done the stone circle justice, thanks for sharing!