New Joiners - Landscapes #875

It's a shame the photographer hasn't supplied the story or technique behind this image. It's a very simple, minimilistic shot with the noise/grain giving the trees and their reflection a textured and painterly look. It's arty and the type of shot you either like or loath. But, personally, I like it - it's different, tranquil, and calming.

This is a really grungy and interesting shot. I love the juxtaposition of natural and manmade - and the story of nature reclaiming this abandoned, derelict building. This is the type of scene that suits HDR (high dynamic range). Therefore, I might be tempted to lift the shadows further to reveal more detail and the colourful graffiti.

The warm sidelight, and mixture of light and shade, give this alpine shot wonderful depth and contrast. It is a well timed shot, with cloud casting shadow across parts of the mountain range, but - crucially - the nearest peaks remain sunlit.

This is one of a handful of flower close-ups entered into this contest. It's a nice enough image - sharply focused and well exposed - but it just doesn't fit the 'landscapes' theme unfortunately. Next time, look at the different New Joiners themes and select the most appropriate.

This is a really beautiful and dramatic image. The gap in the cloud revealing the sunlit mountains beyond creates wonderful depth and intrigue. I love the layers and tones within this telephoto landscape. It's a really well timed and captured shot. My only tiny criticism is that there are a couple of dust-spots that the photographer has failed to clone out - but thankfully, this is a quick and easy job.

I often preach about the necessity of 'border control' - basically, the importance of checking the edges of the frame for unwanted distractions. In this instance, the metal post in the bottom left corner should be cropped or cloned out of the photo, as it dilutes the quality of an otherwise well composed photo.

This is a really attractive vista, with lush rolling hills, nice mixed lighting, and plenty of interest. The scene looks slightly flat, though - I would be tempted to increase contrast to add some punch to this shot. Unfortunately, this photo lacks critical sharpness. This might be due to the small apertured selected - at f/22, an optical effect known as diffraction will soften overall image quality. Next time, shoot at a larger, 'sharper' aperture, like f/11.

Another big mountainous vista boasting lots of impact and drama. The vast number of snowy peaks, receding into the distance, provide texture and depth - and other than the ski slopes, this image conveys a genuine sense of wilderness and isolation.

The elevated view of a drone (or in this case a balloon flight!) creates a really striking perspective. It highlights shadows, lines, patterns, and textures within the landscape. In this instance, the network of fields creates engaging repetition and a really interesting shot. I might be tempted to increase contrast to add to the photo's punch and impact.

This is a nicely composed rural scene, with the farm building and tree acting as a key focal point within the view. The light is good and the tree is placed neatly between the distant peaks. There is a slight green hue to this image - I'd just increase the magenta slider very slightly to create a more natural, neutral hue.

Wow - what an amazing sky! The heavy cloud and colour add lots of drama to this image. The silhouetted cityscape provides interest and a focal point. However, I think a slightly tighter composition would have suited this scene better. Maybe switching to landscape orientation and excluding some of the foreground vegetation (and reducing the amount of grey cloud) would have created a more succinct frame.

This is a really nicely balanced composition. The narrower aspect ratio suits this cityscape and helps ensure the cloudless sky doesn't receive too much attention. The boats add interest, motion, and help direct the viewer's eye. The atmospheric haze helps lift the builders from their background.

Personally, I love blurry water - although I fully appreciate that it's not for everyone. I love the shapes and swirls the slow shutter speed and water motion has created - they add interest, energy and flow to the image. For me, the white water is a little too bright, though - I would re-edit the file and reduce the brightness of the highlights to create a more natural result.

This is a beautiful dawn view, with mist rising in the valley and creating lovely layers of interest within the landscape. Unfortunately, the photo just isn't sharp enough. I've looked at the high-res file supplied and sadly it doesn't appear to be sharp anywhere in the frame. Hopefully the photographer took other frames that are in focus as it is a lovely scene.