New Joiners - Landscapes #915

This is an intriguing location that must be difficult to capture well as there is a lot going on in the frame.

You've done well with your composition, trying to make sense of the chaos. The dead trees are the main element, standing in the water, pointing upwards to the sky. They are mirrored by the firs on the mountainside, also assuming the same position.

I like that you have excluded the sky, as that would immediately pull our attention away, and I like that you've gone for a light touch when it comes to processing.

An intriguing image of a fascinating place, thank you for sharing.

The trope of the 'lone tree' is one that continues to inspire landscape photographers and your image is a lovely example of why that is.

The lone oak stands stalwart against a cloudless sky. It brings to mind a narrative of survival and any single image that has the ability to tell a strong story deserves praise.

I like the monochrome conversion you've gone for, ensuring that the blue sky doesn't swallow the tree up in the frame, and instead allowing the different tones of the oak to stand out against the converted sky.

An impressive image of an impressive tree, thank you for sharing.

I see a lot of images from this viewpoint and it's always a compelling composition. Those trees in the foreground could easily become a little bit of a distraction from the lake, but in this case they aid the composition, almost pointing us towards the main part of the frame, and the green contrasts with the lovely blue hues of the water below.

Often us landscape photographers try to avoid shooting when the sun is high in the sky because the light can be harsh and unforgiving. However, here the clouds have offered a helping hand, tempering the light and allowing it to shaft downwards on to the scene below. This adds to the appeal of the image, bringing out the colour in the mountains and the water.

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

It's nice to see this location from a different perspective. Often we see it from above, looking down on the lake, but this is just as compelling.

It might have been better to have shot the image from where the bench is as the brown, snowless ground doesn't add much to the foreground and the blue water is much more interesting.

That aside, I really like the moody atmosphere that you've captured, with the low cloud swirling around the mountains and the trees covered in snow. I'd also be inclined to crop out the trees that are creeping into the left of the frame for a more balanced composition.

There's plenty to enjoy about this image, thank you for sharing.

I see lots of sunset images entered into these contests, but few are as impressive as this. Although a sunset is a universal experience, they are relatively difficult to photography well and your image is a wonderful example of how it's done.

Shooting into the sun can have its issues, particularly blown highlights that then become a distraction from the rest of the frame, but you've done a great job of managing them here.

I really like the composition that you've decided upon. Everything has its place in the frame, and the warm glow of the low sun on the water really elevates the whole scene. It's a stroke of genius to include a small bit of foliage at the top of the frame as it grounds the rest of the image, aided by the shallow depth of field.

A masterclass in how to shoot a compelling sunset image, thank you for sharing.

The best images are sometimes the most simple compositions, but done well. Here there are only three elements that make up the composition -- the mountain range, the sky and the low sun.

Your vantage point helps, allowing us to be on the same level as the subject matter. The time of day is also important, with the sun below the mountain range, but still high enough to create some magical conditions, sending rays from behind the summit. I love the effect of the haze, creating layers of the different mountains as they stack backwards through the frame.

The golden glow in the cloudless sky complements the cool, deep blue tones of the landscape in the foreground.

The panoramic aspect ratio works really well, as does placing the summit in the middle of the frame, with enough either side to balance out the composition.

One of those images that should be printed, framed and put on the wall. Thank you for sharing!

This image is all about layers. Layers in the landscape, layers in the water and layers in the sky.

In the water we have layers created by the water, creating different shades of blue. This leads to the layers in the landscape, textured mountains and snow-capped summits. This in turn leads to the most fascinating part of the image, the layers in the sky. Appearing almost like brush strokes, pinks and blues cover the sky in the most majestic fashion. This elevates the whole frame.

Well seen and captured, thank you for sharing!

This image has everything that a photographer looks for in a woodland image. There is the warm colours of fallen leaves on the ground contrasting with the occasional sprig of green. There are twisted trunks creating a de-facto tunnel disappearing into the distance and leading our eye from one part of the frame to another. Finally, there is the pathway which acts as a tool to lead us through the image, admiring the foliage as we go.

I like the small moments of dappled light that are finding a way through the thick woodland, and the panoramic aspect ratio works well, as it allows the path to be placed in the centre of the frame.

Well seen, captured and processed. The warm tones really help to make the image pop. Thank you for sharing.

I really like little vignettes like this one and I think it takes a certain kind of photographic eye to not only be able to spot them, but to capture them meaningfully. This is something that you've achieved with this image.

I like that we, the viewer, are able to tell that it is autumn from the leaves in the water. What makes this frame for me is the way you've captured that light catching on the leaves and the water. It is a little overexposed but that adds to the effect. It's be interested to see what this looks like with the exposure dialled down but also with an extended shutter speed to give the water some movement.

It's always nice to see someone willing to think outside the box, thanks for sharing.

This is one of those images that most people would immediately dismiss, but in my opinion that would be a mistake as there is so much to enjoy in this frame.

You're right when you say the water creates a visual illusion that is almost confusing and surreal and that's what I love about this image. The colours help with the coherency of the composition, with greens and yellows dominating, giving the frame a uniformity that is pleasing to the eye.

It's one of those images that makes me want to look closer, and the more I look, the more I see, from the foliage on the surface to the reflection of the landscape above, all emerging into one.

It takes a keen eye to spot and capture something as intricate as this. Well done and thank you for being brave enough to think outside the box.

This is the kind of morning that caused me to fall in love with landscape photography. There is something magical about autumn, especially when the temperature begins to fall overnight under clear skies and mist forms, leading to conditions like this.

This is a good example of when to place the horizon in the middle of the frame, as this composition is all about that reflection. I like that you've hid the sun behind some foliage which means the light is refracted, catching on the rising mist and creating some atmosphere.

A really good example of the best camera being the one you have on you, thank you for sharing.

I have absolute admiration for astrophotographers. Not only do you have to know your camera inside out, but you have to forego your bedtime to get 'the shot' and this image is testament to your perseverance.

The Milky Way appearing across the sky in all its glory would be enough to make this image sing, but you go above and beyond with your composition. Delicate Arch stands stalwart against the night sky, silhouetted against a backdrop of stars and far away galaxies. Your processing choice to make the foreground and arch as dark as possible works well. However, the element that really makes this image sing is the figure standing under the arch, offering scale and narrative to an already superb image.

A worthy winner, thank you for sharing.

This is a great example of the best camera being the one you have in your pocket - in this case your phone. It means that when you happen to be in the right place at the right time you have the means to capture the scene without having to lug up heavy and expensive camera kit.

I like that you have gone for a 1:1 square ratio;. It works well and demonstrates that you're thinking about how all the elements in the frame fit together. I particularly enjoy the diagonal of each mountain side that meet in the middle of the frame, leading the eye to the mist blanketing the valley below.

There is a lot of negative space created by the empty, cloudless blue sky and that unbalances the frame just a little. Also, the mist in the valley is a smidge overexposure, but that aside, there is plenty to enjoy here and it must have been fabulous to witness. Thank you for sharing.

A classic landscape image that uses all the elements in the frame to powerful effect.

I like the low angle you've gone with, allowing the top of the boat the drift above the horizon. This enhances the size of the boat and makes it the main object in the frame.

You've done well shooting directly into the sun, which can often result in blown highlights, but here it elevates the scene. The low sun is casting a lovely hue across the water, and turning what would be a mundane scene otherwise into something magical.

There is a little bit of cloud cover in the sky that adds something, and although I like the framing, I'd be interested to see how it looks as a 1:1, cropping out the trees on the left of the frame which pull my eye away from the the boat.

Well seen, captured and processed. One of those images that remind me why sunset can be such a special time to shoot.

Some image are all about composition and some are about capturing the conditions in that moment. If you're lucky, you get a shot at both elements. Here, we have the intriguing rock formations taking up the bottom half of the frame, vibrant and bright in colour. Greens and browns dominate, and the topography is really intriguing.

Above, the storm is moving through. Whereas the landscape is full of colour, the sky is monochrome in tone, with whites and grey dominating. This contrast really elevates the image. However, the part that makes it sing is the rain falling from the cloud on the left of the frame. You've composed it well, and overall this is an image of which to feel proud, thank you for sharing.