Winter landscapes

This moody monochrome winter landscape takes first place on the podium, and for good reason. The cold atmosphere sends chills down the spine, and the harshness of the inhospitable environment appears striking.

From a technical standpoint, all the boxes have been ticked. The movement of the waterfall has been captured using a slow shutter speed, and this contrasts nicely with the stillness of the rocks in the foreground. The finish is excellent, and the contrast of the harsh blacks and strong whites in the scene works well. The photographer has made excellent use of a vignette, so the eye is drawn into the scene and sits on the waterfall.

The photographer of this image has demonstrated how to use layers in a landscape setting. The bleakness of the white strip at the top of the image gradually bleeds down to the earthy greens and browns in the bottom, creating a pleasing mix. The photographer has done well to capture the texture in the mountains – and when you look closer, you notice things like the small trickling waterfalls and carved-out paths. You definitely feel the coldness and isolation of this wild setting!

Using people to indicate perspective works really well in the landscape genre, as the photographer who shot this stunning entry shows us. The composition is spot-on, with the leading line of the pathway carved in the snow leading our eye through the scene. This image is full of atmosphere and adventure, and as the viewers we feel as if we are almost there! The black-and-white finish removes any distractions from the scene, and lets us focus on the people who lead us through to the mountain in the background.