New Joiners - Landscapes #953

I think a lot of people might dismiss this image as 'just a snap' but to me it is apparent that thought and consideration has gone into the composition and because of that I feel it deserved a place in the top 10.

I think many people who were faced with this scene would concentrate wholly on the church to the exclusion of all other elements, but you didn't do that and the image is all the better for it. Instead, you've balanced the church out with the two palm trees that are growing next to it.

The two elements, the trees and the church, work well together against that clear blue sky. The blue complements the green of the grass and the brown of the architecture. I wonder how this image would look with the monochrome conversion because the bold colours and strong lighting work together well.

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

I think this is one of those images that a lot of people would skip over because it's not exactly what you might describe as 'epic', but landscape photography is a broad church and quieter images such as this one definitely have their place.

For me, there is merit in looking down and I love exploring water and the shapes created when the light reflects off the surface. For me that is the most fascinating bit of this image -- the glass-like effect of the light reflecting on the surface.

My instinct is to crop out the left of the frame with the large rock as it pulls my attention away from the middle part which is where all the interest is.

That aside, this is deserved of a spot in the top ten, thank you for sharing!

This is an image that is all about contrast. In the foreground we have the lushness of summer, with the tall green grass full of different flowers and vegetation. It speaks to abundance and I imagine it was teeming with insect life.

The lushness and promise of summer gives way to a sky that is anything but. The clouds are full with rain, and the deep blues and greys hang threateningly above the idyllic scenery.

One of those moments that happen frequently in summer, but I love that you caught that narrative in a single frame. Thanks for sharing.

This image all about framing. In the foreground there is an archway made from some rotten wood. A fascinating product of nature full of a myriad of colour, from deep reds to cobalt blue.

The archway leads the eye to the trees and foliage in the distance , sat against a blue sky full of textured cloud.

I'm not sure what camera you used to shoot this, but it's a shame that the archway isn't as sharp as the trees it frames.

That aside, this is an intriguing image that works well.

Shooting directly into the sun can sometimes be tricky because the sun is so bright and can blow out the highlights in the rest of the frame. However, in this shot the sun has been tempered by some haze on the horizon which allows it to be in shot but no overwhelm the composition.

The sky is wam with variations on peach and orange. This contrasts nicely with the granite and grey colours of the foreground. I like that you took this shot on your phone as it demonstrates something I like to say often which is that the best camera is the one you have on you.

Well seen and captured, thanks for sharing.

I'm a big fan of architectural photography as it allows the photographer to work with order rather than the usual chaos that is found in the natural world. It's even more fun when that architecture is set in a natural environment so you get the juxtaposition between the natural world and the man made.

The angle you've chosen here works well, I like that we're looking up through the structure and the lines are all converging towards the middle of the frame. This is helped by the cloudless blue sky above and the greenery of the trees on the outside of the structure.

I'd be interested to see if this image worked in black and white as the elements are all there. I love the shapes, and overall this is an intriguing image that works well, thanks for sharing.

This is an impressive panoramic image that demonstrates your ability to think creatively about composition and processing.

I like the panoramic framing as it allows for the rock to take centre frame without having to give too much space over to the sky behind. There is just enough sky to add context to the rock and include the moon but not too much that the composition feels unbalanced.

I like the cross-processing effect you've employed in post-production. It gives the image a sort of surreal edge and pops the reds and blue colours.

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

For me, this image was the clear winner this week. It's one of those photos that immediately makes the viewer want to stop and take a second look.

Not only is the composition spot on, with the portrait orientation helping to contain your vision and keep our attention focused on the main elements, but there is a thematic thread to the frame. The lone skier moves in from the left side of the composition, facing towards the vast expanse of snow. This speaks to ideas of endurance and adventure. We identify with the skier, so small against the vastness, standing out against the whiteness of the snow.

The blue sky makes the image pop, as does the wisps of cloud that are visible just above the peak. An impressive image that has a compelling narrative. Thank you for sharing.

This image all about contrast. The biggest contrast is between the foreground (with the red rock and the people walking across the surface) and the background (cooler, grey rock that is devoid of life).

I like that you've gone for a tight crop with ensures our attention isn't wasted on the sky and instead we can take in the different surfaces. The inclusion of the people really helps to demonstrate the scale of the landscape and I like that some of the curves of the rock in the foreground are repeated in the distance.

The sense of isolation prevails and where these people are going or where they've come from is left to the imagination.

An intriguing scene, thank you for sharing!

This is one of those images that is more than the sum of its parts. You give a heartfelt description of the time period in which you captured this shot and what you associate it with. Because of this insight it becomes more than just a landscape, it is symbolic of something that is more powerful; hope.

That sentiment is echoed by the trees, silhouetted against the sky, with the hint of mist visible. The sun is burning away all that might obscure the landscape, just as you are finding a way to communicate with your mum. Art mirroring life. Thank you for sharing.

Waterfalls can be tricky to photograph well as ostensibly they are just bodies of water and you really need to capture their power to make the frame work.

Some people do that by slowing down the shutter and captured the water in motion, but here you've frozen the water with the shutter speed, capturing the ferocity in a different way. I like that you ca see the spray from the waterfall rising up the from river below. It adds to the effect and shows the power of the water.

The framing works well, with the tree at the top of the frame balancing out the trees on the right and the cliff top at the bottom of the image.

An image that does exactly what it sets out to do, thank you for sharing.

I really like this image. It has all the elements needed to make an impressive seascape.

There is the man made object, in this case the pier, jutting out into the surf. There is the tide that is making its way to the beach. There is the wet sand left behind as the waves have retreated and there is the impressive sky that is full of intrigue and the threat of rain.

I love the colour combination of the warm tones of the sun trying to break through the cooler tones of the cloud and the water.

Unfortunately the horizon is wonky which means I couldn't place it any higher. Straightening the horizon would make the image even more compelling.

That aside, plenty to enjoy here, thank you for sharing.

The is a compelling monochrome image that uses all the elements in the frame effectively. I like that you have positioned yourself, and by proxy, the viewer, into the broken down house so we are looking out through empty window frames towards the trees. This provides the context the viewer needs to make sense of the frame, with the broken down interior contrasting with the outside world.

I like the choice to convert to monochrome. This pairs the frame down to the relationship between the highlights and the shadows but also helps to bring out the textures in the wood and brickwork.

Your choice of portrait orientation helps to keep all the elements tight in the frame, and ensures we can visualise the full floor to ceiling view out of the windows.

Nicely captured and processed, thank you for sharing.

I'm a big fan of infrared photography, particularly in certain seasons, as it can open up a new perspective and allows us photographers to become even more creative.

This is one of those images that made me stop and look closer. At first I wondered if this was just a particular kind of tree that turns a distinctive red during autumn, but it was a pleasant surprise to find this was taken on an infrared camera.

The interesting colours aside, the composition also works well, helped by your decision to exclude the sky and focus in on the trees that are covering the slopes of the mountain. The red trees against the white landscape makes the image feel rather surreal, grabbing my attention.

It is always good to see photographers enjoying their creativity and trying new things. Thank you for sharing.

Images like this can often be more about the feeling they evoke rather than any one element of the composition.

Shooting directly into the sun can be tricky as it is a struggle to control the lighting and the highlights can be easily blown. However, the upside is that everything glows, backlit by the sun. Here, some lens flare is visible, but to a certain extent that adds to the vibe of the image.

You've leaned into the warm tones, bringing out the yellows and using the shallow depth of field to focus on the vegetation in the foreground.

A warm, intriguing frame that reminds me of those long summer evenings, thank you for sharing.