New Joiners - Landscapes #942

I can definitely see what you're going for with this photo. The beautiful curves of the dunes and the soft texture the shadows bestow upon them. This is one of those cases that I can see a great photo within a good photo. While the continuation of the dune ridgeline is interesting and shows the size of the location, The main sense of scale comes from the tiny figure climbing the main curve. Try cropping the image by keeping the same aspect ratio and dragging the top left corner down until you just remove the dark shadow in the bottom left. You'll keep the essence of the photo while drawing more attention to the figure, as well as the sinuous curves at the crest.

I love the variety of colour in this image, from the blues and pinks in the sunset gradient sky, to the vivid green and sea of turned away yellow sunflowers. The multitude of repeating details of the lower half contrasts well with the vast empty sky. The human figure that appears to be taking a selfie is just hidden enough to not be a distraction, and more of an interesting find for the exploring viewer.

A visually captivating location with a good composition and splendid light. I love the way the sunlight illuminates the wind brushed tendrils dangling from the branches. I do find that the highlights have been brought down a bit too much as the small blown out highlights of the sun and sparkling water should be completely white. An easy thing to boost in any imaging software.

A beautifully composed photo with strong, dynamic light. The bright sunlight creates striking contrast throughout the scene and provides a glowing mist that adds depth across the mirror finish surface of the lake. Although the highlights in the sky are blown out, it does add an intensity to the scene. Well done!

A wonderful display of light combined with a visual description of isolation. The lone island anchors the scene, drawing the viewers eye back to the centre of the frame after giving it a chance to explore its surroundings. A landscape that is vast and empty, but also filled with dynamic light and clouds, and expansive seas. A beautifully taken photo!

An expansive image of the Grand Canyon loads of bright details and colour. The view shows off the many layers throughout the depths of the canyon, right down the meandering river below. Further exploration reveals the lookout on the right with tiny figures standing on the precipice. These figures help to display the enormous scale of the landscape before them.

A calming lake-side scene in the early morning. The mist on the surface of the water catches and scatters the light wonderfully while the large tree that takes up most of the frame remains in quiet shadow. The exposure level is spot on, allowing the details of the shadowy tree to be visible, as well as the sunlit trees in the background. A great capture with a relaxing sense of place.

The frame within a frame shot here works well. The older style of the window frame matches the subject matter while telling a story. The glass itself acts like a filter, giving texture and colour to the scene. My only suggestion would be a slightly tighter crop to remove some of the negative space around the frame. Not all of it, but about half of what is there on each side. It would still maintain the essence of the shot while providing more focus on the main view. Well done!

A fantastic shot of a distant storm looming over the sea. The detail in the clouds and rain pull the eyes into the frame. It takes a moment to notice the contrast between the imposing chaos in the sky and the relative calm of the water gently lapping at the shore. Composition and exposure are spot on too.

Such a great photo that works well as both a landscape photo and a wildlife photo. The penguin stands out just enough from the chaotic background to easily draw the attention of the viewer, while also allowing it to fit in with its surroundings. The use of an open aperture combined with the long focal length gives the background mountain an imposing nature, and the wind swept snowy surface a closeness that brings us into the scene. Well done!

A gorgeous shot of the snowy town nestled at the base of an iconic peak. The composition works well to describe the location and the relative sizes of the buildings and mountains. The bright lights in the centre of the village draw the attention, but the looming peak of the Matterhorn keeps dragging the viewers eye back to its majesty.

A beautiful abstract style landscape photo. The closer trees are well spaced and positioned in the frame, with a slight blur from the open aperture. This pushes the eye deeper into the image to discover the human figure on the edge of the water and their reflection. A subtle inclusion that elevates this image beyond the amazing lines, details and colour. Great work!

I wouldn't normally provide feedback on a photo I haven't given at least a merit for, but in this case I wanted to point out that this is a good photo with great light and texture. The only problem is it isn't in the right category of contests. Unfortunately if it doesn't meet the brief, landscape photography in this case, then it cannot be rated. I strongly encourage you to enter it in a contest for animals or pets though. Good work!

It's great to see a photo that gives the mind a sense of well weighted visual distribution. The centred horizon works perfectly with the subtle reflections in the water, while the slope of the trees on the right mirror that of the mountain on the left. The rocks in the foreground almost appear to be placed exactly as a person would try to randomly fill the space without over crowding. The colour of the water is sublime and the whole image gives a refreshing vibe.

It's hard to turn away from a mountain and forest scene reflecting in a crystal clear, mirror finish lake without taking a photo. This composition feels well balanced with the sunlit portion on the right almost mirrored again in the shadowed region on the right. The larger rock closer to the viewer adds a little more depth to the scene as well.