Woods and Forests in Winter

Understandably for a theme of forests and woodlands in winter, the contest was dominated by scenes of snow and frost. This image however gives something completely different, but still conveys the essence of winter in the woods. I love the sombre mood the image conveys, and I can almost feel the cold damp air, offering no temptation to linger on the bench in the foreground. There are plenty of textural details for the eye to enjoy, from the sharp details of the low vegetation and twiggy foreground, to the softer misty branches in the background. Moody and full of atmosphere. Congratulations on your third place finish.

A simple scene, but one that has been beautifully captured, to convey the essence of winter woodlands, with the remnants of the past season still littering the ground, bringing a touch of colour. The tree trunks and branches are softly set against the misty backdrop, giving a chilly feel to the scene. I like the toches of brightness in the undergrowth which prevent the scene being too oppressive. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

In a contest such as this, it can be difficult to capture an image that stands out from others, but for me, it was about a subtle combination of composition, lighting, colour/tones, mood and the overall "feel" the shot conveyed. This image scored highly in all these aspects, so takes my number one spot. The icy bluey tones convey a real sense of winter chill, and the forest here looks to be in a state of suspended animation, waiting for the return of spring so it can once again burst into life. The simple uprights of the trunks give a strength and structure to the image, and they are dark enough to draw the eye, but not so dark as to overwhelm. Congratulations on your winning image.

The way the light has been captured on the pale bark of these leafless birch trees, standing out against the dark mirky backdrop, brings a lovely abstract to the image. The little patches of snow on the woodland floor complement the lighter tones on the trees, bring great overall balance. Colouring of the image is great, understated but creating a fabulous mood of a place that may not be as welcoming to tread as maybe in the sunny greener summer months. Well done on your top ten placing.

A great abstract shot, focusing on the patterns and textures of these tree trunks in the snowy woodland. Whilst the subject is obvious, by isolating just a few trees, and focusing in close to the lower part only, brings an added dimension and the more abstract look to the image. It works especially well in black and white, bringing more focus to the shapes and patterns. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

What really attracted me to this image is the wonderful contrast between the chilly blue tones, and the touches of golden sunlight penetrating the forest. I love how the light catches the trunks of the trees, bringing the scene to life, but maybe not settling in one place long enough to melt the heavy frost, which has brought a sense of magic to the woods. Beautiful capture, well done on your top ten placing.

I love the atmosphere this image conveys, and be being presented as a black and white shot, we are immediately drawn to the dark uprights of the tree trunks, which get softer into the distance as they become enveloped by the mist. A simple scene, but beautifully captured, well done on your top ten placing.

It may be cold, damp and foggy, but you have captured the beauty of nature in the chill of winter. Lighting is lovely, with great tones throughout. The golden colours showing remnants of autumn bring a touch of warmth to the chill. It is an image I could sit and enjoy for an age, with so many details and shapes for the eye to enjoy. Congratulations on your second place finish.

Many images in this contest presented a scene with a sense of foreboding, but I love the difference we have here, with the track inviting us to "come on in". Composition is great, with the curved track well placed in the frame, to draw the viewers eye from the foreground to the distance, and in doing so asks us to explore this beautiful snowy forest. The conversion to black and white has been well handled, with a good range of tones and contrasts. Well done on your top ten placing.

The three different elements to the composition somehow drew me to this image, with the little pool in the foreground, the tufty vegetation in the mid-distance and the tall trees beyond. I like that some of the background has been brought forwards through the reflections of the trees in the patch of water. The image works well in black and white and also in the vertical format, which allows the composition to take a slightly more abstract look. Well done on your top ten placing.