84,359 Ratings
While this is unarguably a spectacular scene, the photographer has tried to include a little too much in the frame. We can see why the tree has been used to lead the eye in, but there's rather too much going on for it to be effective. However, the light is stunning and the timing of the clouds and smoke floating across the scene is excellent.
We asked for images that gave a sense of place, and this one has it in spades. The shadows in the foreground folds retain just enough detail, and the hazy background speaks of a landscape rolling into the distance for miles. The tree is carefully placed on the thirds, and the diagonals that flow from bottom left to top right give the composition a subtle dynamism.
Ultra-wideangle lenses are notoriously tricky to use well. It's all too easy to end up with a picture that's all foreground and little else. By going in so close and almost filling the frame, our eyes are whisked around and up to the top of the structure. It's almost dizzying, but that's all part of the impact of this excellent shot.
Meet the expert judge
Brief
See more contest details
**NEW RULE: The same image, and altered versions of the same image file, can only be entered into one APOY round. <a href="https://www.photocrowd.com/photo-competitions/photography-awards/apoy-2019/help/#heading-1580">Find out more</a>.** If you like cityscapes or landscapes then this round is for you. The brief is purposefully loose, and we are happy to receive images featuring anything from contemporary architecture to grand, mountainous vistas. From the early morning sun throwing shadows onto a skyscraper, to the undulating form of hills receding into the distance, the possibilities are endless. Don’t be afraid to be abstract in your interpretation: architecture, for instance, is full of curves, lines and other interesting details. When it comes to shooting the landscape, light is everything – so pay attention to sunrise and sunset times, the weather forecast and tide timetables, where appropriate. Whether you go urban or rural, planning is a must.
It's a bold move to leave around 80 per cent of the frame empty, but on this occasion it has worked beautifully. The curve of the dune leads the eye from bottom left to top right, with the antelope providing a punctuation mark that works well. Hold your finger over it to see how the image is weaker without it. The tree at the bottom right anchors the scene strongly.
Stillness, atmosphere, restraint - this image has it all. It would have been easy to walk past this simple scene, so it's credit to the photographer that they stopped and saw its potential. The placement of the boats and buoy within the frame are spot on, and the muted colours with the pop of red in the left-hand boat create a sense of balance.
