New Joiners - Landscapes #956

Sometimes you just have to grab a shot of a sunset, especially when it is one as good as this. One of the things I learned when I got into landscape photography is just how rare it is to witness a really good sunset. They are special and deserve to be enjoyed as well as photographed.

Sunsets and sunrises are universal experiences. As humans we have a connection to them, and it helps us find common ground together. I like that you've caught this from a drone so it gives a different perspective than usual. I like the way the colour in the cloud is catching on the waves below.

This seems as if it is a very special image to you so I hope you have it printed and framed somewhere? Thanks for sharing.

I'm a big fan of using creative techniques when it comes to landscape photography. I make no assertions that my own dalliances into such techniques have ever resulted in anything good, but art is subjective and that is half the fun of it.

I like that you've captured this on your iPhone. I often say that the best camera is the one you have on you, and often that is going to be something like an iPhone. The fact that you're attempting to do something creative through this medium is also impressive as you have less control.

Without adopting an ICM approach, the picture of the tree might well have just felt like another holiday snap, but because of ICM it feels more coherent and interesting. I love the layering in the background, from the grass to the hills, the pink the sky and the moody cloud.

Nicely seen and captured, thank you for sharing!

When I saw that the location of this image is listed as Sydney I had to zoom out the map to make sure it was in Australia because I've never seen this side of Sydney as I've only ever experienced the city part of it.

I love it when photographers are able to capture urban spaces in a different way, showing off less popular parts and making the viewer stop and look.

That aside, the image itself works really well, with the coastline creating an s-curve where it interacts with the sea. The blue tones of the water complement the warmer tones of the headland and I love the sidelight coming in from the left of the frame, highlighting all the urban dwellings.

Because the sky is devoid of clouds, it's less interesting, but it balances out the water below nicely. Overall, an interesting image, thank you for sharing.

The lone tree trope is an enduring one amongst landscape photographers and for good reason. It speaks to notions of solitude and resilience, narrative elements that would otherwise be hard to convey without that symbolism. It means that we're drawn to such compositions as demonstrated through your image.

The trope is one thing, but the composition is a whole other thing, one that you are in control of. In this case, your composition elevates the image. Instead of staying back and showing the tree in the context of a wider landscape, you focus in on the tree and let it fill the frame. I like that the branches seem to be reaching out towards us, beckoning us in.

The cloudscape behind the tree is dramatic, and I like that you've caught the first moments of light on the horizon. An intriguing scene, thank you for sharing.

I'm a huge fan of rainbows and I always will be. There are some who are cynical enough to suggest that rainbows are cliched and trite, but not me. I think they are one of nature's wonders and I'll always do a little dance whenever I see one in real life. Life is hard enough, and rainbows have just enough whimsy to make my day.

Because of that, you can imagine that I love to see rainbows depicted in other people's images, such as this one,. What I love about rainbows is that they can take something otherwise a little barren and elevate it with the splash of colour. Here, the landscape is brown and grey, but because of the rainbow, there is enough colour and interest to turn the composition into something magical.

Rainbow aside, I like your composition, particularly the rocks in the foreground and the sense of scale we get from the valley. The low cloud adds some atmosphere and overall this is an image of which you can feel proud. Thank you for sharing.

There is something almost unreal about this image. There is so much going on in the frame, and the elements combine to make something rather dramatic.

Firstly there is your decision to shoot directly into the sun, which is a bold choice because the highlights can so easily be blown out. That has happened to a small extent here, but in my opinion it adds to the atmosphere of the image.

Secondly, there is the landscape that is shrouded in mist and fog, and this helps to separate out the foreground from the background, making the trees on the left of the frame more prominent.

Finally there is the horse, grazing on the right of the frame, balancing out the trees. The presence of the horse makes the image for me. It elevates the landscape around it and provides both context and scale.

Your decision warm everything up gives the image a surreal feeling like it is almost a dreamscape, aided by the conditions.

An intriguing image, thank you for sharing.

There have been a few examples in this cohort of images that demonstrate how the inclusion of a human element can really elevate an image.

Here we have a mountain range reflecting in the flood waters, creating a transient scene. The reflection itself is pretty interesting, but it is the inclusion of the person and the child in the distance that really makes the composition. I like their height difference and they add scale as well as interest to the frame.

The horizon is a little wonky which throws off the composition, but this could easily be rectified in post.

An interesting shot, thank you for sharing.

There are several images in this particular contest that feature horses and I've always felt like horses and dramatic landscapes work really well together. Perhaps it evokes some symbolism pertaining to old westerns and the idea of manifest destiny.

In this image, the horses make the composition. Without them, the rock formation would certainly have held attention and been a worthy main component, but the horses bring something else to the frame.

By capturing them in motion you manage to add movement to a static landscape and this in turn creates a narrative. I love that some of them are not pin sharp, adding to that sense of being in the moment..

The framing works well, looking up at the cliff, and giving room for the horses to move through the frame. I like the romantic feel of the description you've provided. I can tell you have a deep connection with the landscape.

The decision to convert to monochrome works really well too., eliminating any distracting colours and giving prominence to the high cirrus clouds in the sky.

A fabulous image, full of heart, thank you for sharing.

I think this is one of those images that could easily be overlooked by the casual observer. Ostensibly it seems that there isn't much happening in the frame, but that assumption would be incorrect. The way I see it, there is lots of movement in the frame and it makes the image work.

From your elevated position, we're looking down on the hikers making their way up the mountain. The path has been carved out for hundreds of years by walkers just like them, all coming to conquer the peak. There is something really special about capturing this ritual and this is what makes the image works.

That aside, the composition works well too. I'm glad you've positioned the path towards the side of the frame so the eye has space to move into the image, and I like that you have excluded the sky which would have only served as a distraction.

An intriguing image that is full of narrative, demonstrating to ability to think outside of the box on a creative level, thank you for sharing.

El Capitan is one of those mountains that has mythical status. For me it's one of the first peaks to spring to mind when I think about examples of how beautiful and grand this world can be, alongside Everest and Mt Fuji.

As you can imagine, because it that status, I've seen many images of El Capitan over the years I have been judging for Photocrowd, but I can honestly say that I have rarely seen this angle, nor these conditions.

I really like how you have composed this shot with the peak flanked by the two snow covered trees that act like guardians to the mountain. Your timing is impeccable, with the light catching on the top after finding a way through the thick cloud. This really brings the image to life, particularly because of the wisps of cloud drifting across the peak.

All in all, this is a dramatic image that demonstrates your ability to seize the moment and get the shot, thank you for sharing and congrats on making the top 3.

This is a classic sunset image that uses all the elements in the frame to powerful effect.

Firstly there is the beach with the waves moving in and out, leaving trails of water that lead the eye from the beach to the sea.. The elongated shutter is enough to create a little bit of movement which adds some narrative to the image.

You've chosen not to recover the shadows on the rock formations in the sea and instead keep them in silhouette against the impressive sunset sky. This makes them feel incredibly imposing, like dark sentinels watching over the beach.

An impressive scene that must have been delightful to witness. Thank you for sharing.

This is one of those photos that immediately caught my attention. It has all the elements that make up a good image; lots of drama, a considered composition and some really interesting subject matter. That trifecta combines to make something rather special in this instance.

I like that you've positioned yourself to get the reflection of the mountain completed in the water, using the gap in the reeds strategically. The 8x10 ratio works well, allowing for room at the top and bottom of the image. Your decision to convert to black and white is an intriguing one, but it works really well, especially because of the snow at the top of the peak adding some contrast.

The low hanging cloud adds some atmosphere and overall this is a considered composition that works well and is a worthy winner in a strong contest, thank you for sharing.

This one of those places that I would love to visit one day. There is something romantic about these gnarled trees against the backdrop of the sand dunes.

You captured the scale of the place really well in this photograph. The trees look tiny in comparison to the dunes behind. I love the light that is catching on one side of the sand dune creating this colour contrast between the oranges and the blues.

The portrait orientation works well as it means you can fit in the entire dune but I would have loved you to get closer to those trees and explore the relationship between the trees and the dunes. That aside there is plenty to enjoy here, thank you for sharing.

I think that a lot of people would skip over this image, and some might not consider it a landscape image at all. For me, however, landscape photography is a broad church and that includes images that have a human element.

When it comes to these kind of images, I ask myself if the landscape would be more or less interesting without the person in the frame and if the answer is 'less' then that is justification enough for their inclusion.

In this image, the person is the main focal point, but there would have no context without the surrounding landscape. The headland in the distance and the beach in the foreground are both required for the composition to make sense.

I like the processing you've gone for, leaning into the cooler tones. It has a cinematic feel and overall the image works well, thank you for sharing.

I'm a bit fan of using creative techniques when ti comes to landscape photography. I'm an even bigger fan when such creative techniques are used on an iPhone. I often say that the best camera is the one you have on you and in more people's case that is going to be their phone. This means that you've got a camera with you at all times, so why not experiment.

Here, you've captured some multiple exposures that help to highlight the trees that emerge from the centre of the frame. The black and white conversion works well as it removes any distracting colours so we can concentrate on the textures.

An interesting image that has many layers and invites the viewer to take a second, and closer, look. Thank you for sharing and keep on experimenting!