New Joiners - Landscapes #906

This is one of those images that could easily be dismissed as 'not a landscape' because the landscape is not the only element in the frame. I try not to be so prescriptive with my idea of what a landscape is or isn't and honestly, I find it refreshing when people think outside the box and try different things.

What struck me instantly about this image was the light. Light makes everything, and here it has taken something mundane and made it magical. It's impressive that this was shot on an iPhone, as it looks almost cinematic. The silhouettes of the people in the foreground add a sense of narrative to the scene, their outlines catching the low light.

The framing is really nice, from the positions of the people, to the three columns separating the windows. Of course, along with the light, what really makes this image sing is the landscape in the distance. The city sprawling out and the river running through it, with a bank of fog off in the distance adding some atmosphere.

An impressive scene that has been well captured and processed. Thank you for sharing.

An impressive image that demonstrates the power of nature through the forked lightning crashing down on the temple in the distance. I like that you've captured two bolts in the 30 second exposure. They seem to be mirroring each other. It's also nice that the temple is lit up as the orange tones of the artificial lighting complement the purple hue of the stormy sky.

Nicely captured, thank you for sharing.

To me, landscape photography is a broad church. It is not only those big, impressive vistas that we know and love, but also smaller vignettes. Little windows into the world that demonstrate that landscapes exist everywhere, from the mountain vistas to the smallest tableau.

This is an intriguing example of that concept. Ostensibly this is just a picture of a drain, but it's also so much more than that. The way the water has created shapes in the mud that appear almost like branches, reaching out, makes for an unusual and compelling image.

It takes an interesting and creative eye to notice something like this, and for me that means it deserves to be highly commended..

Well seen and captured. A real demonstration that landscapes are everywhere, as long as we know what we're looking for. Thanks for sharing.

It's nice to see a different angle of a bridge I have crossed many times.

The foreground works well, with the seaweed covered rocks acting as lead into the image. You've allowed for a little bit of the water to be visible, and then the eye lands on the bridge, standing proud in the distance.

The landscape orientation works well, but I wonder if it might have been more effective as a portrait, getting closer in the rocks and creating a definitive foreground/mid ground/background structure so as to lose the space on either side of the image that doesn't add much to the composition?

That aside, there is plenty to enjoy here, and you've done a good job of using the elements in the frame to provide context, making sure the bridge is where the eye always eventually ends up. Thank you for sharing.

This image demonstrates how you can use depth of field effectively in a landscape image.

Those who think prescriptively about landscapes likely only imagine capturing images at f/11 or similar, but landscape photography is a broad church and it's always nice to see photographers approaching their work with an expanded sense of creativity.

Here you've gone for a shallow depth of field, so the focal point is the cactus, and everything else in the image is a supporting actor. If this was shot at f/11, and everything else was in focus, the cactus would fade into the rest of the image, so it's nice that you've singled it out and changed up the narrative.

I like that the elements behind the cactus, from the flowers, to the mountains and that impressive setting sun, are all visible, and all play their part in setting the scene.

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

This is a a compelling sunset image. I like that you've composed lower to the ground so it enhances the size of the puddling created by the incoming tide. The swirls in the water really make the image pop, as does the impressive colour in the sky.

There is some unfortunate banding on the image, showing up as green and purple artefacts in the water with the swirls, and this could be a sign that the image has been over edited, or exported at the wrong settings. It distracts a little but the overall image and concept is still strong, just might be something you want to consider for future images.

Well seen and composed, thank you for sharing.

This is an intriguing image with an interesting backstory (thank you for providing a detailed breakdown to explaining what it is the image is depicting).

This is a really nice example of something that could be considered a nature image integrating into a wider landscape and therefore combining the two to create something impactful.

Here we have the moutainscape, the tops snowcapped, and then the vulture, catching the light. I like that you've silhouetted the nearest mountain so the vulture will stand out and not just blend in. This gives the image an almost graphical feel with the image split into three distinct sections; the vulture, the silhouetted mountain and the distant mountain that mirrors the colour way of the vulture.

A really intriguing image and narrative, thank you for sharing.

I love sunflowers. They are so vibrant and bright, and they instantly make any image cheerful with their yellow flowers.

In this image there are sunflowers as far as the eye can see, and I like that their yellow heads contrast with the bleu sky above, and the green of the stalks below. I like the ratio of sunflowers to sky, but the sunflowers look a little dull in comparison to the bright blue sky. That might because the sun wasn't out at that particular moment, but the blue sky steals the attention away from the flowers in a way that wouldn't have been possible if the flowers were lit.

That aside, plenty to enjoy about this image. Nicely seen and captured, thank you for sharing.

This is one of those images that demonstrates why some rules are made to be broken (in certain circumstances). In this example it's the rule of thirds, and the idea that the horizon should never be in the middle of the frame. However, when you have a reflection this good, it would be a travesty if you didn't place the horizon in the middle.

This means we can see the whole of the reflection and it presents an opportunity for patterns to repeat in a satisfying manner. In this example, the cloud at the top of the image, reflected again at the bottom of the frame, really makes the whole composition work. It frames what is happening in the middle, with the light catching on the distant fell side.

The 8x10 ratio works well, ensuring that all the elements sit nicely in the frame, and all in all this is a splendid composition that uses the elements in the frame effectively.

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

This is a classic waterscape that uses all the elements in the frame to create a pleasing image.

I like that you've taken this after sunset rather than during, so the colour palette is different, as is the mood. The last embers of the day are visible in the form of a weak band of yellow in the sky, complementing the blue tones in the water.

The composition works well, with the submerged fence leading the eye into the scene, flanked by the tree on the left. The long exposure smooths out the water to create a compelling reflection.

All in all, a well composed image that works nicely. Thank you for sharing.

A fabulous shot of an iconic skyline. You've captured this at one of my favourite times of the day to shoot cityscapes - civil twilight. During this small, yet effective, window of time, the ambient light of the day and the artificial light of the city balance each other out perfectly, showing off the best of both.

I'm assuming this is two different images composted together as the movement in the sky is not matched by the movement in the water and your EXIF suggests that it was 1/125 which is the exposure for the foreground rather than the sky. I like the effect of the long exposure in the sky as it adds some narrative to the image.

Your processing is really nice, leaning into the cool tones and matching them with the warmth of the city lights and the last embers of the day in the sky. This could be improved further by correcting the parallax caused by the wide angle lens and straightening up the buildings.

Other than that, this is a splendid image that demonstrates why I enjoy urban landscapes, especially when they are shot at this time of the evening. Thanks for sharing.

This is a good example of focusing on one element in the photo to be the main driver of the narrative, and using the rest of the elements in the frame to support that concept.

Here the main event is the moon, full and bright, low in the night sky. Because of its brightness, you have had to expose for the highlights, thus everything else in the frame is darker and more opaque. I rather like the effect of that. The snowy mountains are just about visible, as is the inky blue night sky, but they both pale in comparison to the moon.

An intriguing image, thank you for sharing.

This is a classic seascape that uses all the elements available to powerful effect.

In the foreground we have the pebbled beach, the stones damp and glistening from the tide, leading the eye to the house that sits atop the dunes, right on the shoreline. From there, the sun on the far left of the frame, low to the horizon and tempered by some low cloud but still strong enough to provide some light on the stones and the house. Above, a textured cloudscape, revealing only hints of the sky.

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

To me, landscapes are not only big vistas that take the concept literally, they are also smaller vignettes that still contain the spirit of the landscape. This can be true of topdown drone shots that show off the abstract nature of a scene, or like this image, a tableau taken out of context that leaves much to the imagination.

There is something just so satisfying about this image. From the harsh light that covers the whole of the frame, to the straight line of yellow that cuts down the middle and contrasts with the chaotic cracks. It's almost as if I'm looking at a topdown shot of cracked earth or a desert somewhere, bleached by the unforgiving sun. This is dispelled by the inclusion of the snail, a small detail that grounds the rest of the scene.

I often exclude nature pictures in this competition because people fail to provide context. This is a perfect example of a landscape that contains nature as one of the elements.

One of those images that will likely be overlooked in the crowd element of this contest, but one that demonstrates your ability to think creatively. An image that sparked my imagination and deserves a spot in the top ten. Thank you for sharing.

This is an interesting perspective of Yellowstone Falls. I like that we're peeking through the foliage to get a glimpse at the falls. The way the water is framed on both sides by the trees works well, and I like that you've gone for a landscape orientation as it allows for the natural undulation of the landscape, which improves the composition.

You've done well to ensure the highlights in the water haven't been blown, but the highlights in the sky have been blown out which creates a big blank space above the treeline and distracts a little from the effectiveness of the image.

That aside, there is plenty to enjoy here, from the waterfall itself to the light that is falling on the trees and the side of the canyon. Thank you for sharing.