New Joiners - Landscapes #892

This is a lovely sunset - great colour and a great sky. When you have conditions like this, being close to water is certainly preferable, as you benefit from reflected colour and light. I like silhouetted subjects, but ideally you want to be able to isolate them against clear sky or water so that they don't merge with other elements. In this instance, the boats outline are unfortunately disguised by the landscape behind. However, there would have been little the photographer could do to avoid this. The reflection of the boats masts needs more space at the bottom of the frame.

This is an impressive landscape, but it lacks a key focal point - a compositional anchor for the viewer's eye. In this instance, some element of foreground interest would have really strengthened this view. The light is also quite harsh - more dramatic, golden morning or evening light would have enhanced this shot.

The soft, warm morning light is really attractive in this drone image. The viewer's eye follows the medieval stone wall from the bottom right corner into the frame - the road then directs you around the corner toward the town beyond. A well composed shot that wouldn't look out of place in a Greek holiday guide.

This is a really attractive shot - almost uplifting or spiritual. The wisps of cloud sit almost perfectly above Mount Hood. The reflections and ripples are attractive and the light - although not golden - is soft and flattering. A nicely constructed photo.

Great sky and a really nice composition, with the lone tree providing a strong focal point. The low, golden sunlight is warm and dramatic, but - in my view - the amount of flare is just a bit too much. While a degree of flare can reduce contrast and provide atmosphere, it is too defined and dominant in this instance.

This is a nice, moody image which really captures a great sense of the Scottish landscape. The open moorland, grey skies, loch and winding road create a feeling of wildness and isolation. I wonder if the rock in the foreground is needed, though? Arguably, it is an unnecessary (and distracting) extra layer of interest. I might have been tempted to take a few steps forward to exclude the immediate foreground and make the most of the twisting road as a 'lead-in'.

This is not a classically beautiful coastal shot, but there is something about it that appeals to me. Maybe it's the subdued, washed-out tones - or the telephoto compression, that really highlights the size, isolation, and location of the buildings. This would be a great shot for highlighting coastal erosion - it certainly tells a story.

I do like the layers and contrast found within this scene. The rolling hills, light and shade are very enticing. I'm sure this shot works well in colour also, but I like the conversion to mono and tone of this image. The bottom right of the frame is a little empty maybe - a tree, livestock, or focal point within this space would have elevated this composition further.

Durdle Door must be one of the most photographed landmarks in the UK. This famous rock arch is hugely photogenic and the lengthy 5-second exposure has softened the water and generated some nice movement and patterns. In my opinion, the composition feels a bit tight, though - I'd like to see more breathing space around the arch.

I always like to see photos captured with a bit of creativity or innovation. Not everyone will like this image, but using a 'frame-within a frame' pulls the viewer's eye toward the waterfall and also helps convey a greater sense of depth.

This is a beautiful, pastel sky, but on its own, it's not enough to create an engaging shot. The photographer really needed to identify a key subject or object (for example, a tree, building, or recognisable landmark) to silhouette against the sky to provide interest and a focal point.

What a beautiful, tranquil photo. The calm conditions and pink sky are wonderful, and placing the horizon centrally has highlighted the sense of symmetry. While there are never any guarantees that you will be rewarded with great conditions when you set your alarm and get up early, you certainly maximise your chances of special conditions. And on this occasion, the photographer got their rewards. Well done!

I do like how the curves and lines within the rock formation help direct the viewer's eye into the frame and toward the waterfall. It's an effective composition. Depth of field and focusing are good, with the frame sharp throughout. The long exposure creates a dreamy looking result.

This shot has lots of immediate impact. The combination of warm, iron-rich rock and cool blue water is attractive - and the extreme exposure has created an ethereal looking result. I would have selected a smaller aperture to generate a larger depth of field to ensure the leaves (clinging to the foreground rock) were bitingly sharp. But overall, a well captured and processed image.

I love the recession in tones within this landscape, from the dark green vegetation at the bottom of the frame to the white, snowy peaks at the very top. This is a shot you could easily flick past, but when you stop and explore the composition you discover lovely detail, contrast, texture and interest. It is a shot best viewed big. I would crop the image slightly to exclude the out of focus vegetation in the bottom left corner.