September Photo Challenge: Landscape

[Zuiko]

I've been asked to write a few words about each entry, which will be a pleasure but I might have to do it a few at a time, so please bear with me. Anyhow, here goes!

Barr1e was first to enter with a splendid field of sunflowers adding a huge swathe of colour to the scene. It would be nice if the sunflowers were lifting their heads but they were probably getting very heavy by this stage and sometimes you can't have everything. Nevertheless this field was a great find!

Next to break cover was hruissen with a rather artistic, impressionist submission. I really like the sense of movement, which suggests a dynamic ever-changing landscape and it's nice to see someone taking a risk to produce something different.

pdk42 has built a reputation here as an excellent and prolific landscape photographer, but this shot truly excels to claim a well deserved 2nd place. I love the soft dawn light, the thin band of mist beneath the castle and the dynamic patterns in the clouds, which seem to be radiating from the iconic building. But what I most admire is the clever use of the foreground bunch of seaweed, it's shape echoing the distant castle, to which it is perfectly placed to achieve a strong link and really draw the eye into the scene.

[Zuiko]

Continuing with the summary, blu-by-u entered a fascinating and colourful panorama of riverside life in Malaysia. The soft light from an overcast sky was perfect for capturing the intricate detail, with no harsh shadows to block up the windows and doors and very wisely the uninteresting sky has been cropped to a minimum.

Phill D submitted a fine study of the spectacular autumn colours in the Longshaw Estate in Derbyshire. The curving rim of the lake has been used as a powerful device to lead into this tranquil scene.

Dave in Wales treated us to a quintessential pastoral scene of rolling hills and patchwork quilt fields, with an isolated farm adding further interest to this quiet corner of a green and pleasant land. A restful view, very pleasing to the eye.

[Zuiko]

To continue:-

MJ224 presented a lovely calm view of reflections on a lake in mid Wales, with a nice symmetry and balance to the composition.

Then we come to the most popular entry, by Stoats, a jaw dropping vista of one of the big three Torridon hills, made all the more imposing by a dusting of snow. A well-placed boat and hut provide vital foreground interest (imagine the scene without these elements) and Steve even managed to include an unusual lenticular cloud for good measure!

Next was Chris with one of my personal favourites, a stunning seascape with the water smoothed by a long exposure, lending it an unworldly, ethereal quality as it curls around the old wooden piles like a ghostly mist. A nice touch to the composition is the way this old structure runs out to sea parallel to the newer and larger pier in the background.

[stoates]

My apologies for not posting sooner but have just returned to UK from a couple of weeks in Malaysia/Singapore celebrating our 30th Anniversary with the good lady wife.

Really pleased to have received so many likes for my image; there were some excellent contenders and very stiff competition in the challenge. My thanks then to all who viewed and 'liked' my entry and to Zuiko/John for his excellent, in-depth summary of all the entries.

[Zuiko]

I am sorry, but I cannot do any more commentary at the moment.

[MJ224]

No problem John, just many thanks for writing as much you have....