New Joiners - Landscapes #891

Crummock Water is one of my favourite bodies of water in the Lake District. It can be easily overlooked in favour of its more popular sibling, Buttermere, but there is a ruggedness to Crummock that I enjoy, especially in the winter months.

Another benefit of shooting in winter is the warm light that is evident through much of the day, that's if you're lucky enough to see the sun through any weather front that is passing through. The way the hills are illuminated in this image demonstrates just how delightful it can be in winter.

I'm a big fan of breaking the rule of thirds when there is the prospect of a reflection, so I'm glad you've followed that instinct here, especially as it's not often you find Crummock this still. There is a little bit of movement in the water towards the far shoreline, but not enough to ruin the reflection thankfully, and the island in the middle works well as a focal point.

The panoramic framing works and all in all, this is a lovely image of a fabulous location, thank you for sharing.

There is something inherently cinematic about this shot, as if it could be the opening frame of some epic western before the camera pulls up to reveal the wider context.

It's always tricky shooting into the sun, because the highlights can get so easily blown out, and if you account for the highlights the rest of the image may well be too dark. Thankfully that isn't an issue here. You've managed to control the highlights and keep the details visible in the rest of the image.

The panoramic aspect ratio feeds into the cinematic feel and I love the way the low cloud is drifting through the image catching colour from the low sun.

Nicely seen and captured, thank you for sharing.

This is one of those images that demonstrates the power of light and shadow in making an intriguing composition.

The main focal point of the frame is the big piece of driftwood that is settled on the shoreline, silhouetted against the morning sky as the sun begins to rise. It interrupts the neat horizon and gives us something to explore in the frame.

I like that you've provided the context as well, from the blue water that has some much needed movement, to the warm colours in the cloudless sky, contrasting with the cooler tones below.

You've done well to control the bright sun, ensuring that it's not too high in the sky, but just poking above the horizon and illuminating the image.

Well seen, composed and processed. Just a really lovely image to look at, thanks for sharing.

These are some of my favourite conditions. When the morning mist is dispersed by the morning sun, but before it leaves the light streams through the trees, making for an atmospheric image.

You've done well to hide the sun behind the branches and capture so much of the foreground.

For me the image is a little bit over processed, but processing is very much a personal endeavour and each to their own.

This must have been a fabulous morning to witness, let alone photograph, so thank you for sharing your experience.

This image depicts the kind of conditions that most landscape photographers dream of shooting in. They're rare, especially in summer, and it takes a certain combination of luck and talent to be work with the conditions and the time constraints that come with them, especially as the sun rises.

You've done a fabulous job here, and manage not to fall into the trap of relying only on the conditions and neglecting the composition. Your framing enhances the image, with the tree acting as the main element in the image, backlit by the sun. It also serves to demonstrate the misty conditions as the light stream through the outstretched branches.

The portrait orientation works well to hold our attention, although I would crop out the little bit of foliage that's snuck into the bottom right of the frame as its a slight distraction from an otherwise wonderful photo.

Congrats and thank you for sharing as photos like this remind me why I love photography so much.

This is a good example of when to include humans in a landscape shot. Although the landscape here absolutely holds up on its own, with the undulating dunes moving diagonally through the desert, as far as the eye can see, there is something added by including the people. Not only does this help lead the eye into the frame, it also ensures we understand the scale of the landscape. Dunes can be deceptive, and it's difficult to know if we're looking at a macro image or something much bigger, so the inclusion of the people provides that context.

In addition, I like the way the strong lighting is falling on some of the dunes, and the texture in the sand is visible. I also like the way the warm tones of the sand complements the blue sky above, with the cirrus clouds adding texture.

Nicely done, thank you for sharing.

I'm presuming this is shot on a drone, and it is a shame that you haven't provided more context through your description because I would be intrigued to know your thought process behind this shot and what caught your attention.

I'm also assuming that this is something that occurs naturally in Australia, as opposed to something manmade, but I could be mistaken.

Either way, the pinks and rose colours in the landscape make for a really dramatic image. I like your framing, using the road as a diagonal line that moves through the centre of the frame, the salt creating a white line and complementing the car driving down, which also adds some scale.

The bold lighting works well, bringing out the unusual colours and the portrait orientation ensures all the elements sit nicely in the frame. Thanks for sharing.

Sometimes you're just in the right place at the right time to be able to witness something magical, and this image is the result. Good sunsets are rare, but great sunsets are just not something that happens often, so well done on being in the right place to capture it so well.

The sky is ablaze with warm tones, reflecting in the water below, the trees on the far shore silhouetted against the orange sky. I really like the detail of the three ducks/swans in the water. They add scale and context to the scene.

There is a little bit of noise in the sky at the top of the frame, and some noise reduction in post could rid you of that and make the image even more impressive.

That aside, plenty to enjoy here and it must have wonderful to witness. Thank you for sharing.

Although nature images don't always have a place in a landscape contest, when those images contextualise nature amongst the wider landscape, then it becomes much more acceptable and the results can be really interesting.

This image is a good example of this. If you had focused in on the Zebras and made them the whole image, then that would have been excluded from this contest, but because we have the wider landscape surrounding them, it just becomes something much more intriguing. There's the road that leads up to the Zebras, and the dusty landscape either side. I also like that you've framed them with a huge amount of cloudless blue sky above, creating negative space in contrast to the busy scene below.

The framing works well, and the image asks more questions than it provides answers. An intriguing shot, thank you for sharing.

This is an impressive image that benefits from the panoramic framing and the atmospheric conditions.

I love how the last of the light is catching on the rocks, highlighting the textures and patterns created over millennia. They are complemented by the gorgeous sky in the background, the hues switching from yellow to pink and a thin line of cooler tone near the horizon.

The landscape appears arid, but also inviting, and I like how the two structures on either side of the frame help to balance one another in the composition.

An intriguing landscape that must have been impressive to witness. Thank you for sharing.

Some images are all about the moment, whether that is dramatic weather, or perhaps a fabulous sunset like we see in this image. That doesn't mean the composition is weak, it just means that the conditions tend the carry the image rather than the overall framing. In this case, the composition works well too, and complements the colours of sunset.

I like that the mountains on the right of the frame are catching some of the last light and are balanced out by the clouds of the left of the frame., rose in colour. I think it's wise to include some of the water for context, but giving over half the frame adds very little to the composition and I would consider a more panoramic crop that keeps our attention on those mountains and that sky.

That aside, there is plenty to enjoy here. Nature putting on a fabulous dis[play, thank you for sharing.

Misty mornings are my favourite, and your image is a wonderful example of why I love shooting in these kind of conditions. Mist and fog is inherently atmospheric and a little bit cinematic, rendering everything magical, especially in the low morning light. It's almost exclusively something that happens at sunrise too, which means there is a stillness to it, and often the lone photographer is the only person around. For me, this makes the experience meditative and fulfilling.

I like your composition here, with the manmade structure on one side and the mist drifting across the water on the other side. The panoramic framing leans into the cinematic feel and the warm tones really give the image an inviting feel.

Nicely seen and captured, thank you for sharing.

Even before I clicked through to this image, I knew that it was shot in the Lake District. The shape of the fells in the distance is unmistakable and the Lakes has this distinctive feel that you've managed to capture in this image.

As is often the case when in the Lake District, the weather isn't the most forgiving, but that can lead to some spectacular photography conditions like the ones in this image. I love that you've managed to capture a rare moment of light breaking through and illuminating the streaks of rain as they fall onto the trees below.

The dynamic range of such a scene can be tricky to handle, which means that the highlights above are a little blown out, but it's worth it for that backlit rain.

Although I like that you've left in some of the surrounding landscape to add context, my instinct would be to crop in a little tighter in an attempt to focus the viewers full attention on the main focal point of the frame.

That aside, there is plenty to enjoy here, thank you for sharing!

This is one of those images that makes the most of a monochrome conversion. The dramatic contrast between the shadows and highlights makes it seem as though this was shot infrared, emphasising the bright highlights and darker parts of the image.

Your composition works well, with the line of trees in the foreground standing out against the foreboding shape of the hillside that sits in shadow. This in turn contrasts with the sunlit mountain in the distance, the summit shrouded in cloud against the sky.

The natural diagonals in the landscape lead the eye through the frame from one element to another, and the use of black and white helps the viewer to focus on the detail and admire the full dynamic range on display.

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