New Joiners - Landscapes #873

Although this is a busy composition, I do like the contrast between the gnarly tree and canyon beyond. The blue sky is a bit too saturated for my personal taste - and I might be tempted to reveal a little more detail in the shadow areas. But overall this is a nicely seen, framed, and processed image.

Pre-visualisation is an important trait for a photographer, and I'm guessing this photo was well planned and considered, with the sunset neatly framed. The image boasts almost perfect symmetry, with the photographer positioning themselves carefully. iPhones have a habit of pushing saturation is a little bit too far and - for my personal taste - this photo is a little bit too punchy. But the framing, timing, and conditions combine to create an impactful and successful shot.

The only word you could use to describe this sky is 'epic'! It looks like the World is about to end and adds vast drama to this image. This is a good shot, but I do wonder if the photographer should have zoomed in more to reduce (or even eliminate) the foreground foliage and place greater emphasis on the cityscape and weather conditions. Using a wide-angle lens unfortunately reduces their impact somewhat.

What a wonderful wintry scene. Looking at this shot almost makes you shiver! I love the cool, blur tone, misty peak, and reflections. The vertical composition suits the scene well and the buildings add a focal point and context. The river creates a neat diagonal and helps invite the viewer's eye into the scene.

Lovely conditions and interesting subject matter too. There is lots to like about this photo, but - crucially - the photographer has failed to check if the horizon is level. A sloping horizon can ruin a photo, looking wonky and awkward. Thankfully, it is easy enough to correct, though. Just take the time to check the skyline is perfectly level and use a photo editing app or software to straighten it when required.

This is a lovely spring view, with the flowering daffodils providing the foreground with interest and colour. However, the closest flowers aren't in focus. Next time, select a smaller aperture, in the region of f/11 or f/14, to generate a larger depth of field.

The low, 'crab's-eye' perspective helps give this shot impact and interest. The shells and pebbles, embedded into the sand, provide interest. Meanwhile, the shallow depth of field helps direct the eye to the sharply focused scallop shell, which anchors the composition. The black and white conversion helps place emphasis on shapes, contrast, and tone.

The long, steep walk was clearly worth it - this is a wonderful view. The golden light and wisps of mist, floating above the wooded hills, create atmosphere and mood. But, personally, I'm not a fan of the branches creeping into frame (top and right). The photographer either needed to include more foliage to create a proper frame - or have none so that the shot is cleaner. As it is, I find the branches a slight distraction.

While there is no guarantee that, if you set your alarm early, you will be rewarded with great conditions, you certainly maximise your chances of great light and atmospheric conditions. In this instance, the photographer has been rewarded with superb misty conditions. I like the idea of using the trees and foliage as a frame for the misty mountain peaks beyond. Parts of the foreground are not critically sharp, though - possibly due to insufficient depth of field, or focusing too far into the scene. A lovely photo nonetheless, though.

I think this is a fun and well seen shot. While the photo would be stronger and cleaner without the sign and bins (just beyond the deckchairs), this shot is bold and punchy. The deckchairs provide colour impact and produce a neat juxtaposition with the grey weather. The sky, sea and sand provide strong, graphic lines, and the shallow depth of field helps direct attention to the chairs. There are a handful of dust spots (and out of focus gulls) that I would remove using a cloning tool.

This shot demonstrates a good, creative use of depth of field, using a shallow zone of focus to channel the viewer's eye toward the sharply focused tree in the distance. Placing the tree centrally is bold and effective. I might be tempted to crop this shot into a squarer aspect ratio to lose a slice of sky and the out of focus branches in the top left of the frame.

These are lovely stormy conditions and the double rainbow really adds interest and a focal point to this coastal scene. The vegetation on the beach provides a little foreground interest in this wide-angle shot. The horizon is sloping, but this is quick and easy to correct.

Although the daytime light is a little flat, this is a nicely constructed landscape. The stony footpath directs the eye into the scene and toward the distant mountain peaks. The walkers add scale and a focal point. A nicely balanced and captured photo.

This might not be your 'classic' landscape, but it's a well captured shot with a lovely bygone feel. The train tracks act as an effective lead-in line, and the plume of steam adds interest to an otherwise empty sky. The conversion to black and white helps simplify the image, while also feeding the retro vibe.

I haven't rejected this image due to the quality of the photograph - it's a nice enough snail close-up. However, the subject matter just doesn't suit the landscape theme. Don't forget to match your shots to the correct theme or category. Remember, we also have an Animal's New Joiners contest, which this photo would be much better suited to.