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This image really stood out to me whilst I was making my initial selections for this month’s competition. It contains all the elements that for me, comprise a stunning seascape image. A beautiful cold, blue colour palette with stormy seas captured at just the right shutter speed so as to retain definition but also create a nice painterly effect. It really is an image that portrays the frantic energy and power of the ocean.

What I also like about the image is the positioning in the frame of the harbour wall which creates a nice leading line. It also helps to build a sense of scale in the image. It took me a while to notice, but I love the hut or structure that is just visible at the top of the image being engulfed by the wave.

The use of the Little Stopper was just right for this image. If the exposure time was any longer, the waves would lose the definition I mentioned earlier, and this would have reduced the impact of the shot.Mark Cornick

As an abstract photographer myself, it was going to be hard for me to ignore this rather lovely ICM from Philip, taken on one of my bucket list locations Luskentyre Beach.

What I particularly like about the image is the use of layers. There is interest in the foreground, with intricate patterns created by the retreating tide. Then in the mid-ground we have the movement of the waves and ocean with the lovely subtle rip-curl, and then the beautiful mountains and cloud movement in the top layer of the frame.

I also love the colour palette, with the various shades of blue from the sky, the aqua ocean, and the blues again present in the shallow pools of water on the sand.

I would really like to see how this scene would change with a longer shutter speed, maybe 2 or 3 seconds. I think that would create some even more abstract results, rendering the mountains and clouds to outlines.Mark Cornick

I have always been fascinated by images of shipwrecks, so this is a photo I have spent quite some time studying and enjoying.

A “straight” shot of this wreck would be interesting in its own right, but the choice to use the Big Stopper for a long exposure has transformed this from a documentation of a shipwreck to a really beautiful piece of art. There is a real atmosphere to the image, and it almost has an eerie feeling to it.

I love the effect the long exposure has had on the light, it really balances the image and helps to hold the attention of the viewer as it shines above the wrecked boat, like a beacon pointing towards its location.

This is an image that really suits a square crop. It means we are totally focused on examining the somber beauty of the shipwreck and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of the image.Mark Cornick

This is another image that really stood out for me during the selection process. A really beautiful, well balanced photo, and what a fitting title! Everything does seem, well, measured!

It is an image that really shows the power of using multiple filters. I particularly like the use of the Very Hard ND Grad to create that perfect horizontal cut between sky and ocean, it really is very effective, and I can’t get enough of the milky ocean created by this 366 second exposure.

The square format was certainly the best way to present this image, with the sea stacks drawing the eye through the image, all the way up to the subtle textures created from the movement of the clouds.

This may sound strange as I am a colour photographer, but I would be really intrigued to see how this looks converted to black and white.Mark Cornick

I love images that contain a sense of mystery and intrigue, and this is exactly what is provided with this photo. It has me asking questions - I want to know more about this abandoned location, and what we are looking out of the window towards. I really like the creeping vines sprawling across the frame as nature begins to reclaim this building. I also really love the colours and textures of the walls.

I notice the use of the Polariser which will have done a great job at reducing any unwanted reflections and glare from the glass.

I know it is always a personal choice, and photographers have the right to protect their images, but I find the inclusion of a watermark slightly distracting and prevents me from being fully absorbed into the great narrative of this image.Mark Cornick

Really impressive composition.

The colors, and silky clouds brings this photo to life. The use of the stairway is amazing and it takes my eyes from corner to corner. A complete image in my opinion.Vince Lim

This shot is incredibly dreamy, and bonus points for using a long lens.

I love the separation between the subject and the mountain peak. Well done all around.Vince Lim

I’m impressed by this unique take on the Forth Bridge. I’ve seen what this looks like in real life, but seeing this in black and white gives it an edge and grit.

Great job fully utilizing a foreground, mid ground, and background.Vince Lim

Beautiful macro shot. I'm a plant guy and have my own garden so this really speaks to me.

Theres so many intricacies in how plants grow, and seeing these two leaves touch warms the heart. You nailed the focus on this one.Vince Lim

What I love about this is how you were able to show water in its different elements. The movement of the water gives a sharp contrast to the details
of the ice.

I find my self just staring at each icicle because they are all so unique in shape and texture. Incredible detail in this image.Vince Lim

I was immediately drawn to this image because of its beautiful textures and use of light and tone.

Mark has skillfully repeated the wave of the rock leading the eye down towards the centre of the frame, with the soft wave in the bottom portion of the image that leads towards that central point as well. Although there is light at the top left section of the image and towards the top of the dark rock, that light is softer and less bright than the area of light in the centre of the frame, so the composition still holds the viewer towards the centre.

Darkening that top left corner a touch, may even add to the feeling of containment within the image and help bring concentration even more to those beautiful rock and water textures towards the centre.Viktoria Haack

Robert’s scene of Saint Peter's Pool in Malta is extremely eye catching.

The vibrant colour of the scene and gorgeous foreground textures combine to make this a very interesting image. The 101 second exposure smooths out the clouds and sky to really allow the rock textures and patterns to take centre stage.

The large rock is nicely positioned on one of the thirds in the frame and the brightest part of the sky is also central which helps prevent the eye from wandering out of the image.Viktoria Haack

This is a lovely image with beautiful light.

The focal point of the image is very clearly the white building with red roof on the rocks and all the elements within the scene emphasize that: The dark clouds rimming the scene with the slightly lighter section in the centre, help to keep the eye clearly within the frame. The rocks dotted throughout the image act as boundary points, helping to point the viewer back towards the building.

It would be interesting to see this image with a slightly higher tide and more ocean coming into the right-hand area of the frame, however the dark cloud on the top left balances well with this darker area of sand on the right-hand side.Viktoria Haack

Paulo has captured some beautiful light and water texture in this image. I love the movement in the water from the 4 second exposure and the light that is catching on the rocks.

My eye is pulled slightly to the left-hand side of the frame where the majority of the warm colour from the sun is. I'm not sure whether darkening this area or cropping in a little might help to combat this.

Overall, I really enjoy the dynamism and light captured here.Viktoria Haack

I really love the soft mood and tones in this woodland image.

The details in the heather in the foreground contrast nicely with the receding softness of the background, helping the viewer to understand the three dimensionality of the scene.

The eye naturally follows the path, however Ian has successfully kept the viewer's gaze within the frame by keeping the brightest part of the image towards the centre. The texture and brightness of the roots in the foreground do draw the eye somewhat, so I might be tempted to try darkening them down a little to see if that helps to retain the focus on the trees.

Lovely shot Ian! Congratulations!Viktoria Haack

Mark’s image of Godrevy Lighthouse instantly grabbed my attention. The use of a short-long exposure works perfectly to give the image a real energy. The deep shadows contrasting against the colourful sky helps to isolate the distant lighthouse.

Compositionally the image is flawless, the white wash of the sea nicely leads the eye up into the frame. Mark has taken great care to get the height of his camera spot on too, with each layer of rock never peaking higher than the rock behind.

Mark has used his shutter speed as the anchor for this exposure and pivoted both the aperture and ISO to help obtain the correct exposure. A wide aperture of 5.6 is perfectly acceptable in this situation as the bottom half of the composition is filled with motion.Owen Clarke

This image has all the ingredients required to make a special photograph; a beautiful sunrise, calm waters for a perfect reflection, mist and a clear focal point to help construct a strong composition around. Raoul has done a fantastic job at making the most of what must have been an incredible sunrise to experience.

Compositionally, this image is all about angles. It’s extremely difficult for your eye to wander out of frame and no matter where my eye starts within the composition, I always find myself back at the windmill.

The use of a 0.3 ND Hard Grad has balanced the exposure and also helped to silhouette the windmill against the brighter sky.Owen Clarke

I love the challenge of piecing together a complex scene to create a composition that has both balance and clarity. Petr has been able to achieve this admirably with his submission.

The seemingly giant tree in the foreground has beautiful textures and leads up and across to the second tree atop of the rocks where a subtle hint of mist has given it just enough separation from the background. I really like how Petr has approached the edit of this image with a soft colour palette and the use of a strong vignette. One minor recommendation that is purely subjective would be to remove the plane trail, eliminating any human element to the photograph.

The use of a 0.9 ND Soft Grad would have been essential to help subtly balance the extreme contrast between the deep shadows of the trees with the bright highlights of the sky.Owen Clarke

What a fantastic day to be out photographing along the coast. This image oozes drama.

Pedro’s use of the LEE Little Stopper to get the desired shutter speed was critical for making this composition work. Typically you would never place a strong foreground such as the walkway leading out of frame. However, Pedro’s idea to use the motion of the waves to immediately bring the viewer back into the frame works wonderfully.

More traditional compositional rules are followed for the placement of the Chapel and how the wooden rails are lined up on the right of the walkway. I think it is this mixture of both following and breaking these rules that have given this image its fantastic energy.

A 0.9 ND Soft Grad was used to balance the exposure. Pedro has taken great care to pull the filter down slighter further than would be required if using a Medium Grad to ensure there is a smooth gradation along the horizon.Owen Clarke

Miguel has managed to create a very calming image with this long exposure along the Portuguese coast.

Compositionally it is the little things that he has got spot on here. The most obvious place to fail would have been to overlap the stack in the distance against the far outcrop of rock but Miguel has handled that perfectly, everything has been given space to breathe.

Layers help to lead the eye up through the image and the soft light illuminating the first stack helps to emphasise it as a key point of interest within the composition.

The use of the LEE Big Stopper has helped to create the tranquil mood of the image and the 0.9 ND Medium Grad would have been essential to help balance the exposure.Owen Clarke

Alvaro’s stunning image of a relatively well-known location jumped right out at me. The light, texture and colours work perfectly with the strong composition, as does the boardwalk to lead you through the image and into the powerful orange tones of the sunset.

The use of ND Grads to control the exposure and retain the detail has been done perfectly. I am struggling to find anything to improve on with this image but if I had to, I would have maybe placed the foreground section of the boardwalk slightly to the left but I also appreciate this probably wasn’t really possible without getting wet.

Álvaro used two separate 0.6 (2 stop) ND Grads to achieve a total of four stops exposure compensation for this shot. I personally recommend using as few filters as possible, so would recommend using a 1.2 ND (4stop) Grad instead of the two 0.6 ND Grads combined to achieve the same result.Jordan Banks

I like shooting Peveril Point myself and really like Tim’s take on this spot. The sharp detail in the rocks contrast brilliantly with the smooth sea and sky whilst also acting as great lead in line to guide the viewer into the scene.

Good use of the Big Stopper to obtain a shutter speed of 1 minute and give that soft and dreamy effect to the clouds and sea along with a Polariser to add some punch to the colours.

The contrast between the sea and bright orange/red sky is a little distracting and I think the tendency is for the viewer to notice the sky and background before the rocks and foreground. My suggestion would have been to shoot a little earlier when the colours were a little less pronounced to achieve a more neutral tone to the image.Jordan Banks

Stefanos has done a great job with this image. The composition is strong and works really well with the contrasting colours from the houses as they reflect in what I assume is a canal. I think having lights coming from within the houses gives a real sense of place whilst adding a touch of warmth to the image.

Great use of the Little Stopper to slow down the shutter to 20s and get a nice reflection. I personally would have used a Big Stopper to add a little more movement to the clouds. The slower shutter speed would hopefully have given the water an even dreamier effect which in turn would have softened the motion lines on the water which detract slightly from the simplicity of the shot.Jordan Banks

Despite Arturs image breaking all the traditional rules of composition and framing I really like how he has approached the scene and produced a great fine art image photograph.

He has used the ProGlass 3.0 IRND (10 stop) to give the frame that dreamy effect and mute all the other elements from the scene apart from the primary focus of the shot, the lighthouse.

It was nice to see that this wasn’t shot with the most expensive camera and lens which goes to show that the common misconception of better cameras and lenses taking better pictures just isn’t true.Jordan Banks

This image makes me want to be there. The soft light, pastel colours and idyllic scene has been beautifully captured by Nils to give a great sense of simplicity whilst creating a powerful image.

The foreground adds a real sense of scale whilst the sweeping coastline draws your eye through the image towards the hills in the background in a very effective manner. Good use of a Polariser to give a nice contrast to the soft tones and allow for a slightly slower shutter speed in order to achieve some movement in the grass, water and clouds.

Nils use of 0.6 (2 stop) Soft ND Grad to achieve an even exposure to the scene was definitely the correct choice.Jordan Banks

Alberto’s powerful image jumped right out and immediately demanded attention! The composition is superb; the careful spacing to balance out the main elements and the empty spaces in the frame shows great attention to detail and allows the image to flow without interruption. The panoramic format is also a great choice.

The peak's reflection in the still waters gives the scene a strong sense of peace and quiet, which helps to communicate the isolation and remoteness of this location. The image is well balanced through the use of the soft grad and the stillness of the water, critical to the success of the image, is down to the use of a Big Stopper.

If I had one criticism it would be with the white balance. I feel that the warm tones are a touch too orange; perhaps this has been pushed too much in post, resulting in a slightly unnatural feel. Nevertheless, a cracking image… well done!Richard James Taylor

I was really drawn to the quietness of this scene. The stillness accentuates the idea of the mirrored image, which works particularly well here. Wolfgang has used the simplicity of the elements to good effect and the framing is well balanced.

The choice to present this scene in black and white is a good one, allowing the shapes and textures to speak for themselves, and the decision to use a 0.3 soft grad for the sky shows restraint and adds to the subtlety of the scene.

The crop along the top of the image is a little tight, some extra space would allow the trees to breathe a bit more, but otherwise good work!Richard James Taylor

What a corker Keith, a great scene! The rocks in the foreground lead the eye beautifully into the frame towards the stacks and the coastline marks a diagonal line straight across it, making for a very dynamic composition.

The use of a Big Stopper has resulted in an additional sense of movement in the clouds and given the foreground rocks that classic milky look without losing detail in the highlights.

The colour balance in this image is lovely, very natural, and the detail in the rocks in the foreground is spot on. The tips of the stacks look as if they have been dodged in post to draw attention to them, which has unfortunately spilled over into the sky. Perhaps use a mask to ensure you only affect the elements of the image you want to change. Other than that, a wonderful image!Richard James Taylor

I really like the simplicity of this scene. Azhar has found a location with very few natural elements to work with and through the use of filters has created a compelling image.

The composition is good, with the curved path created by the sea stones drawing the eye around and into the focal point of the shot, the Whyte Isle. What marks this image out though is the contrast created by the dynamic movement of the clouds with the stillness of the sea in the foreground.

Great use of the Big Stopper to control the scene and reverse the effects of nature! Good job Azhar!Richard James Taylor

I was drawn to this image for its subtle sense of quiet and mystery. It’s the kind of scene we all stumble out of bed in the middle of the night for and I think Justin really got his rewards here!

Framed by the darker trees on either side, the central tree makes for a fantastic subject. It is beautifully proportioned, and the graceful limbs look even more extraordinary reflected in the pond. The layer of mist has softened the landscape and added to the mysticism of the scene.

Justin has used a 0.6 Soft Grad to control the exposure and maintain the subtle nature of the scene despite shooting directly into the sun. He has also done well to avoid any unwanted lens flare! My only suggestion is that Justin could have employed a Reverse ND Grad on this shot, which would have allowed him to hold back the sunrise without darkening the sky at the top of frame, which I feel is a touch too heavy.

I can only imagine how Justin felt to be immersed in this location with the camera after making this shot!Richard James Taylor

I’m a big fan of these sort of urban images. Working in monochrome can simplify an image, but it can be rather tricky to balance the light in an appealing and competent manner. This image jumped out at me because it completes this balancing act well, and the use of long exposure adds to the overall effect.

There is a sense of size captured within the composition, and the angle of the shot only adds to the imposing nature of the structure. There is an ambiguity in the subject matter than allows the eye to linger, evoking an industrial narrative that is only enhanced by the movement of the clouds caused by the long exposure and the adept post-processing. An excellent example of the fine art, architectural genre.Verity Milligan

If the power of a photograph is through the viewer’s emotional response towards the image, then this ticks all the boxes. It’s a photo I have returned to again and again over the course of the judging process, and each time it provides something more.

I know and love this part of the world, and this image evokes so much of that Hebridean spirit. However, a sense of place does not always a good photo make, and this is a wonderful example of place, conditions and composition all working together in perfect harmony.

Compositionally, the panoramic crop works well, especially with the rocks on the right-hand side. The tonality of the image is sublime, with the sky and the sea complementing each other. Long exposures can be such a versatile medium, and the milky softness that this evokes demonstrates technical as well as artistic understanding. Overall, this is the kind of image that reminds me how wonderful the medium of photography can be.Verity Milligan

This image immediately jumped out at me as it had a different feel to many of the other submissions. The square formatting really works and demonstrates the photographer’s understanding of how the elements in the image work together to create an intriguing and subtle composition. It’s hard not to be drawn in by the zigzag of the coastal inflow which pulls the eye to the island in the sea.

This is also a wonderful example of how long exposures can be gentle and quiet in nature but still pack a punch. There’s no explosion of colour here, but all the elements work together to create a muted, yet very appealing, palette.

This is really a masterclass in how layers in the landscape can give meaning and status to an image. Each layer links neatly with the next, tied together by the movement in the sea and the sky. Overall, a marvellous seascape.Verity Milligan

Traditional landscapes have a universal appeal, but a well-done urban landscape is right up my creative alley.

What initially stood out about this image was the reflection and the colours. Although the rule of thirds exists for good reason, rules were definitely meant to be broken, and the lure of calm waters is certainly reason enough to place the horizon in the middle of the composition. This is helped by the complimentary blues of the sky and the water contrasting with the industrial reds of the harbourside.

The long exposure creates a sense of calmness that contrasts with the urgency of city living, the movements of the port. There is also a pleasant combination of horizontal and diagonal lines dissecting the sky which adds drama and symmetry of the image.Verity Milligan

Most of my other selections have been more traditional long exposures, but this image is indicative of the way I tend to use filters for a lot of my landscape images. There is a certain power in the creative possibilities that can be afforded by the simple use of an ND Grad and Circular Polariser.

There’s something wonderfully impressive about the heather when it’s in full bloom and this image does justice to that show of colour. It can be rather difficult to shoot into the sun and not fall victim to copious amounts of unsightly lens flare, especially when using filters, so it’s impressive that the photographer managed to control the exposure and still bring out the drama of the scene. A pleasing image, with much atmosphere and heart.Verity Milligan

This is a really well executed image. I say that for two reasons. Firstly, the choice of graduated filter to manage the brightness of the sky against the dark foreground, and secondly the post processing. The essence of light has been retained. Too often, sunrise and sunset images are processed to be brighter than they should be. This image has retained the subtlety of light present when it was taken.

The composition is very strong with the reflecting water’s edge leading the eye into the image and the cloud formation bringing dynamism to this lovely photograph.Michael Pilkington

A beautiful and simple image. Timing is everything in this image as the tide is receding revealing the walls of this old boating pond just sufficiently so that it doesn’t dominate. The breaking surf in the distance adds to the ‘zig-zag’ pattern the walls create.

Use of the Super Stopper has produced a very long exposure that has smoothed out every moving aspect of this image, helping to define its minimalist nature. Lastly, the cool toning brings all the elements together. An image to be proud of.Michael Pilkington

Taken at sunrise the photographer has used the Reverse Neutral Density filter to control the brightest part of the image - the horizon and the ascending sun. A Polariser has also been used that has increased the saturation of colours, controlled the foreground reflections and also acted as an ND to increase the exposure time just enough to smooth out any ripples that may have been present. Overall, a good combination and use of filters.

This is a very simple and pleasing composition enhanced by the blues and oranges and complemented by the colours of the traditional fishing boat. The position of the boat and anchor rope occupy the very heart of the image and beautifully interact with the light. I also love the way the colours of the boat emulate that of the warm sun and blue sky above.

A beautiful image with lovely colours and technically excellent.Michael Pilkington

This is a dark and moody image that is well composed and balanced with a good flow from the bottom right of the image across to the left and onwards to the distant mountains. A Big Stopper has been used to smooth out the water and give a ‘ghostly’ feel to the waves breaking around the rocks. I particularly like the compliment of cool icy blues and the warm skies.

A couple of small comments: I would lighten the shadows in the very dark rocks to reveal some detail and calm the highlights in the snow in the foreground.

Overall this is a strong and dynamic image that really captures the viewer’s attention.Michael Pilkington

The title of this image is very fitting. It is indeed very calming. The use of a Big Stopper is instrumental in creating the mood of this image by smoothing out the water and softening cloud forms. A Polariser has also been used creating a darker foreground and more importantly revealing some textures beneath the surface of the water. Lastly a Graduated Neutral Density filter has been used to manage the dynamic range of the image bringing down the bright sky.

From a post processing perspective, shadow detail has been retained and there is plenty of texture in the rocks. I would have darkened the very light rocks peaking in on the bottom right of the frame so that they don’t hold the eye as it makes its journey to the distant horizon. Lastly take care that halos that may appear around the edges of the rocks are dealt with if introduced during resizing or sharpening.

This is beautiful black and white image that has been well executed and is pleasing to the eye.Michael Pilkington

The first thing that struck me about this image was the colour, such a beautiful tone which balances beautifully with the simple, but strong composition.

The bridge leads the eye across the image, and it disappears into the strongest area of colour as the sun comes up. Good use of an ND filter to smooth the whole image and a Reverse Grad to balance out the bright sunrise which is low on the horizon.

The suspension cables take you on a journey up to the top of the bridge tower then down along the bridge and you glance down to the soft reflection. A very evocative and poignant image, the bridge leading us to a new dawn!Carmen Norman

These ornamental cabbages make such a striking image. The colours, the shapes, the light and the composition are all very compelling.

The portrait format suits the scene well and the sun burst is perfectly positioned in the mountains and leads the eye from the cabbages to the mountain line range.

The use of a Hard Grad has left a bit of an obvious filter line across the horizon, but that can be overlooked because of the strong foreground.Carmen Norman

The goal of minimalist photography is to convey a concept and provoke an emotional response or a unique visual experience.

And this image of Clevedon Marine Pools is a lovely example of minimalism and a perfect use of the big stopper, which completely smooths out the water leaving us with an evocative and powerful image. It has been stripped down to the bare essentials focusing on only a limited number of objects and elements.

The perfectly simple composition and the use of negative space makes for a very pleasing picture. The shapes along the fencing on the main jetty lead the eye through the image allowing your eye to just make out a distant jetty
in the fog.Carmen Norman

There is some lovely light and wonderful shapes in this image of a small cascade of water. The 30 seconds is perfectly timed to allow the viewer to see the route the water takes through the pool and the shapes created by the long exposure of the bubbles leads the water beautifully out of the frame finishing at the rock which catches the light.

The use of the Polariser means we can just see through the water enough to get a glimpse of the stones below the surface and it also gives a lovely warmth to the colour of the water and a glow to the mossy rocks.

It’s a very pleasing image that my eye is constantly moving around.Carmen Norman

Diagonal lines are important factors to add to images. They create tension and dynamics and lead the eyes in a particular direction. This image of the pier at Saltburn makes use of diagonals perfectly.

You have the diagonals in the sand leading the eye one way, then the pier leading the eye across the image, yet the diagonal of the sky leads us in another direction. Then your eye is drawn to the light in the middle of the image that is reflected in the pool, the eye finally landing on the foreground rocks with beautiful light catching the sand.

It’s a beautifully composed image with lovely tones and contrast.Carmen Norman

This image has so much going on within the frame, it’s incredibly complex but you cannot help but inspect all the various elements of the image, there are so many stories, interactions and wonderful colour all within one frame. You could easily crop into the image and create many more images from it.

For me one of the reasons this image is so pleasing is the wonderful sense of movement within the frame. The obvious ‘walkway’ through the market where people are just a blur of colour as they pass through really adds another element. Without it I doubt the image would be so pleasing.

Great image, colour, chaos and movement but it all works really well, superb job Gianni.Jon Gibbs

A wonderfully evocative image from Piet. I can imagine being there. The moody light and the rather restrained processing adds mystery, this image is not necessarily about accuracy of exposure or opening up the shadows, it’s more about an elemental feel.

The sweep of the inlet is very pleasing, coming in from the left of the frame leading us into the area where the reflected light from the beautiful clouds is at its most luminant. While I’m mentioning clouds I must just say that the length of exposure is perfect, there’s a sense of movement but there is still definition. Good use of the Big Stopper here.

Some viewers may have a problem with the footprints (?) that skirt the edge of the inlet, I think they work very well, though I would be inclined to clone out the rather large looking foot prints near the bottom left of the image.Jon Gibbs

This is a really nice autumnal image from Steve. A perfect choice of shutter speed has made the small waterfall look very effective and the wispy areas of white water just below the falls are lovely, they add a nice sense of movement. If they were not there, that area may have had too much dead space.

This is a perfect place to use a Polariser and by doing so Steve has reduced all the reflections that would have possibly been a problem. Instead we have lovely punchy autumnal colour, and in the stream the hints of beautiful rusty colour beneath the surface of the clear water.

Composition wise the trees, the stream and the banks are set up really nicely, my only criticism would be concerning the very bottom of the frame, I just feel it’s a little tight but aside from that, a fine autumnal image.Jon Gibbs

A nice layered image from Robert with punchy colour, it’s really effective. The use of a 10 stop ProGlass IRND has worked wonders on the sea, you get two separate areas of white water within that beautiful aquamarine colour which helps to accentuate that layered feel.

This layered feel continues into the sky, the varying tones here work really well with this long exposure, I especially like the brighter area of the sky to the right, they act like framing devices, keeping the eye in the picture.

You also get little splashes of colour in the image that help to add areas of interest, namely the telescope on the pier, the yellow flag and the figure in the very bright coat, these are probably not so obvious at smaller size but viewed larger they would be a welcome element.

My only criticism here would be that there is too much sand included in the image, I think a more panoramic crop starting just below the area of slightly darker sand would work really well.Jon Gibbs

A quiet and subtle image from David. By using a long exposure the image has become simplified, there is no doubt that the stunning tree is the subject, framed perfectly by the tree lined distant shoreline, nothing else is needed. Talking of the background I love the soft recession of the distant hills.

The calmness of the image is threatened by the rather moody sky, you can imagine what the conditions must have been like, probably quite challenging!

My only criticism of this image is that my eye does get drawn to the building on the shoreline on the right, I do believe you could crop just to the left of it and the image would work well. Alternatively the building could be cloned out. Aside from that minor quibble it’s a very pleasing image that sums up a certain type of day you get very often in Scotland.Jon Gibbs

What perfect conditions for minimal monochrome photography. The fog has helped to isolate the pier from any background distractions. The use of the Big Stopper was a great choice from Andy; the 62 second exposure has flattened the water out, giving the image a Zen like quality.

What I particularly like about this image is how Andy has managed some lovely separations in the bottom of the pier framework; this always leads to a successful pier image. The long exposure technique has also enhanced the subtle reflections of this beautiful structure.

Is there any way I could improve this image? NO. This is high quality long exposure mono work, which I would be proud to have in my own gallery of images.Neil Hulme

What a beautifully composed image by Kenny, I really like how the two corners lead in from both bottom edges.

I see you used the Little Stopper on this one with a 25 second exposure. This has added some great drama in the sky with some wonderful cloud movement. The long exposure has also enabled you to keep some lovely textures in that gorgeous coloured sea. The combination of colours and textures has made this a very successful image in my eyes.

Just a couple of little things that I would adjust. The horizon line appears to drop down to the left of the image, I think a slight adjustment in Lightroom or Photoshop would sort that out. And maybe I would have used a 0.6 ND Soft Grad on this one, which would have just lightened up those distant hills.

All in all a very fine looking image with textures, colours and composition all working in perfect harmony.Neil Hulme

Very striking image Paulo, it has a dream like feel to it. I really like the textures in the water and sky, they add so much to the image giving it a feel of mystery.

You’ve used the Big Stopper creating an exposure of 230 seconds at iso 400. I think under these conditions maybe a Little Stopper would have helped to keep the exposure time down a little as well as using a lower ISO.

I particularly like the lost horizon you’ve created in post-production, a technique I like to use on my own images. The lead in line from the left hand bottom corner works well, taking the eye through the image very nicely into the emptiness that lies beyond the jetty. Quality work.Neil Hulme

Great use of using the LEE Polariser here Jonathon, it’s been used to perfection here, helping to cut through the glare of the water. The rock works well as a focal point but it’s the waterfall for me that adds so much to the image. The exposure is spot on with excellent use of the Big Stopper to give the waterfall a dream like affect. Colour wise, the autumnal colours of the rustic browns and the bright greens work really well.

Editing wise, I really like the highlighted area of the green foliage above the waterfall; this is a masterstroke from Jonathon.

How would I improve this image, I am not sure I could in all honesty. A fine representation of a woodland waterfall scene.Neil Hulme

The beautiful Canadian Rockies in all its glory here. A fabulous scene beautifully captured by Reza.

The cool blues work perfectly; giving the image a cold feel and the backdrop of those mountains are just stunning. I also really like the way the 15 second exposure has kept the definition of the gorgeous reflections in the water. I see you’ve also used my favourite LEE Grad, for me the 0.6 ND Soft Grad is my go to filter, it works beautifully in the sky in this scene with its soft gradient adding a real natural feel.

The soft lower clouds nestling in with the woodland adds another component to this breathtaking scene, as does the texture of the snow-covered Rocky Mountains.

I would liked to have seen a little bit more definition in the shadow woodland areas, maybe lightening them using the brush tool in Lightroom could have helped with this. I am sure you enjoyed capturing this image Reza and it’s one that needs to be printed and framed in your home.Neil Hulme

Wow John, a real show stopper. The Super Stopper must have been involved. The rich colour palette is both striking and engaging, while the simplicity of the composition just allows the colours to make an even bigger impact. The combination works fantastically well. The processing tonally creates real depth to the image leading the eye smoothly through the transitions. The long exposure brings an even more abstract feel to the image and I feel your use of the Super Stopper is spot on here. Great job!

I find it difficult to provide a meaningful suggestion to improve this, I would probably like 5% less saturated but I’m being a real pain now. Not for the first time I might add. It could also look amazing in black and white but this works fantastically well as is.Peter Gordon

I’m a massive fan of this style of black and white architectural photography. I always feel that this type of work must venture from reality into the surreal to be truly successful. Neil has done just that. The abstract nature of the composition for a start, with interlocking triangles and futuristic shapes, transports the viewer to another dimension. Furthermore the image has been expertly toned, the eye locked firmly in position to those beautiful triangles. The final piece of the puzzle is of course the right choice of filter. The Super Stopper is spot on here with the 201 second exposure moving the viewer further toward the surreal. The sky is the perfect foil for the dramatic and abstract structure. Well done Neil.

The only critique I can add here is that I would like to see a little bit more space at the front of the image to allow that first corner to breath. The diverging lines of the background building look great but I would have been interested to see this image without perspective distortion. Keep the camera on a level plain then crop if necessary to keep all those lines straight. Did someone mention tilt shift?
A wee bit on the expensive side but fabulous lenses for architectural photography.Peter Gordon

Sometimes simplicity speaks volumes. There is nothing like a gentle misty morning for communicating calm and beautiful minimalism in the landscape. The black reflection of the rope extending right from the frame corners exhibits a developed and exact understanding of space and depth within your photography. Well done Cairn, you’ve nailed it.

The use of the Medium Grad is also spot on. The 0.6 Medium is my now my favourite Grad. Power and subtlety rolled into one amazing filter. Perfectly executed here.

The only minor critique I would make is it could be nice to lighten the bow of the boats a touch. Also it would have been nice if the boats we’re separated from the reflection of the trees, but this may have been impossible at the time.Peter Gordon

Rysard has done a stunning job bringing Dun Brieste on Down Patrick to life. The composition leads the eye beautifully through the frame culminating in that incredible Irish sky (OK I’m a little biased). The colour combinations are a joy to see as the ocean azures combine perfectly with the white water of the swell.

I think the filter choice is perfect here too. The grad has held in all sky details and the water texture is spot on. I love my Big Stopper but its not always my first choice. The choice of a Little Stopper here means the exposure is not too long, consequently the swell leads you energetically through the frame and the raw power of the ocean is exposed. I might add that I always carry a 3 stop ND for this purpose even though we see much fewer of these on our workshops.

I absolutely love this image but the only critique I might add is in the processing. The vibrant colours are great but I would probably reduce saturation by a few percent. The stack has been lightened in processing which shows that the author is clearly thinking about structural depth in his processing. This might have been lightened a touch too aggressively though. Try the new range mask feature in Lightroom and Camera Raw to get extra control of your selective adjustments.Peter Gordon

What a beautiful piece of art Gary. Bravo. This image for me is all about the simplicity and you’ve really nailed it. Simplicity doesn’t mean simple, and creating elegant images like this, is, well, not so simple.

The structural shape is placed perfectly in the vista and the use of the Big Stopper and 0.6 ND Grad have performed their tasks to perfection. With a more minimal image such as this the long exposure is key. Hence Gary’s choice of the Big Stopper and 2 minute plus exposure time has worked a treat. The processing is also spot on, the muted colours within the core structure gently surrounded by grey, and the use of a vignette is subtle and effective in equal measure.

No nits here, just pure viewing pleasure.Peter Gordon

This image appealed for many reasons, not least that the conditions are far from what many might term perfect. I can feel the dampness, the spray and can almost hear the photographer wiping filters in between each exposure. Working under such conditions requires skill and dedication. The composition works well, with the just visible fall in the background flowing eventually out of the frame in the bottom left. The use of a Polariser gives both the desired shutter speed and also allows for some of the rocks below the water to be more clearly visible.

Images like this are all about atmosphere and this succeeds enormously well, it places the viewer right in amongst that waterfall.Mike Prince

The old adage ‘less is more’ applies beautifully here. I can almost hear some judges saying that the foreground is too empty but for me the very emptiness of that foreground provides a delicate pillow upon which to place the delightful upper portion. This image is all about delicacy, subtlety and balance for me.

The graduated ND brings out just the right amount of the midground and background hills to balance the white clouds. The Big Stopper serves to soften the supporting parts so that they complement rather than distract from the hills. There is just enough of everything and not too much of anything here. Dawns can be vibrant and jump start a day or they can, like this one, creep in quietly and beautifully.Mike Prince

I’ve spent many hours at this beach in North West Scotland and despite the almost unbelievable beauty to the human eye, it can be a challenge to make pleasing images. This fine image goes well beyond the immediate and delves into the essential elements of the place; in this case the dunes and the distant mountains.

The combination of a Big Stopper to deliver a long shutter speed and the use of multiple exposures serve to capture not only the beauty but also a sense of the wind and elements. The sense of depth is enhanced by the warm foreground tones contrasting with the distant blues. I might be tempted to consider a 5:4 crop on the image to take a small slice of the bottom of the frame away; to my eye the image would then balance more comfortably.Mike Prince

Harris is a magical place and this image captures the essence of that magic. These places are all about the rocks, the water and the weather and we find all aspects contributing here.

The use of a Polariser and ND Grad both serve to give a desired shutter speed and attempt to balance the very bright sky against the foreground rocks. Opinions vary on the ideal shutter speed for coastal waters but for me this combines a pleasing amount of movement with enough detail and texture to define the sea water.

I’d have preferred to see an exposure more balanced between foreground and background with the sky a little more controlled and the rocks lightened to reveal more of their details. One must always remember however that the photographer represents how the scene looked and felt to them at that moment.Mike Prince

A superb image that demonstrates excellent technique. All the necessary ingredients are present: a fine location, great composition and delightful light. The light landing on the tops of the basalt columns is sublime.

The use of the Big Stopper allows the long shutter speed which creates the delightful contrast between the solidity of the basalt and the fluidity of all the other elements. An ND Grad holds the exposure in the sky allowing the details of the rocks to take centre stage. The aperture of f14 and careful choice of the point of focus ensures that there is front to back sharpness and every detail of the columns is preserved impeccably. The more you look the better this image becomes as each layer of details emerges from the standing water on the columns to the appearance of weed down the right hand side.

Purely subjectively, I tried this as a 16:9 crop so that the edge tailed off into the bottom right hand corner and felt the overall composition was improved. This is however subject hair splitting in the extreme, a really outstanding image.Mike Prince

I really like this shot for a number of different reasons and not just because Val Badia is one of my favourite parts of the Dolomites. Photographing mountains when the weather is poor and the light is flat can sometimes be challenging but the creative use of the Big Stopper and an over exposed image work really well in this case. In a lot of ways it reminds me of the work of mountain artist Tessa Lyons who uses paint, pencil and charcoal to achieve a similar effect.

Looking closer at the image I’m assuming the over exposure was created in post-production rather than on location, perhaps over exposing the image in camera might have made the image less noisy in the shadows. I’d also love to see this image as a much wider panorama.Chris Prescott

I find this image really striking and when I first glanced at it I thought it was shot at night with the colour in the sky coming from the northern (or in this case southern) lights. I really like the monochrome nature of the lower half of the image which contrasts really well with the richer blues and yellows of the sky, the single green leaf really draws the eye too.

The image might have benefited from an increase in exposure by a stop or two as it overall feels a little dark and an increase would have made the green leaf pop a little more, having said that the underexposure is understandable given the dark and brooding nature of the image. It would also have been nice to see what the image would have looked like by taking a step to the left and reframing with the curve of the tree potentially drawing the eye towards the leaf a little better.Chris Prescott

Having grown up by the sea but now living in the mountains I was instantly drawn to this image. I love the layers of waves leading out to the horizon and the colours created by the setting sun coming through the spray from the waves is sublime. Getting the exposure right can be challenging when shooting directly into the sun but the use of the 0.6 ND Grad to reduce the exposure in the upper half of the image works really well.

I would like to have seen what the image would have looked like with a sun star effect, this can sometimes be challenging to achieve when shooing directly into the sun where you need to maintain foreground exposure but the combination of an ND Grad and choosing a smaller aperture of f/16 - f/22 can really help.Chris Prescott

This image is really eye catching, not only because of the richness of the sunset colours but also the small details which take a while to notice and keep your eye drawn to the image. I particularly like the way the neon cross is reflected in the water as well as the people sat on the rocks to the left. I’m a big fan of seeing people in landscape images as it instantly makes me imagine what it must have felt like to have been in that situation.

Using a Big Stopper to create an even longer exposure would have resulted in a little more movement in the clouds which would have made the upper and lower halves of the image more uniform and made the church even more striking and ethereal looking. It would also have been nice to have the people standing up as they would have been a little more noticeable, although getting a group of people to stand still for 25 seconds can be challenging!Chris Prescott

Autumn is my favourite time of year and this image sums it up perfectly for me. My eye was instantly drawn to the waterfall and trees in the upper third of the image before slowly being drawn down to the single leaf at the bottom. I love the way the Little Stopper has created a silky smooth texture to the water and the use of a Polariser gives an extra level of richness and warmth to the autumn colours.

It would have been nice to bump up the exposure by a couple of stops in the upper third to give a little more richness to the colours of the trees, this could be easily achieved in post-production or through using an upside down ND Grad.Chris Prescott

Having visited Saunton Sands only last week whilst on holiday, this image appealed to me greatly. The motion and texture of the curving waves helps to make this a compositional success, and Emma’s use of the Little Stopper for a two second exposure was the right decision. Using a longer exposure would mean more “misting” of the ocean, therefore losing the leading lines of the waves that draws the viewer into the image.

I’m also a big fan of the colour palette, the colder colours of the sea and clouds, with the sun provid-ing a last burst of fiery red colour before setting completely.

The only thing I would consider changing about the image is to present it in a square crop just to confine the detail as there is a lot of open space, but this is a personal choice, and doesn’t detract from a very enjoyable seascape.Mark Cornick

It’s refreshing to see an image of San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge using a different compositional approach. It is hard to photograph such an iconic location and bring something new to the table, but I personally haven’t seen this viewpoint before, and that was why I was drawn into studying it further.

The mist is what makes this photograph a success and doubling up on filters with the Little and Big Stopper for a 152 second exposure has created a superb atmosphere in the image, with the mist floating through the frame. It has also created three distinct layers which I like a lot: the bridge in the foreground, the mist rolling through the centre of the frame, and then the city skyline in the background.

I also think that presenting the image in black and white was a great decision and really adds impact to the shot. From looking at Andrew’s Instagram page it is clear to see that he is a very talented architectural photographer, and this is another very successful image. Congratulations!Mark Cornick

Scrolling through the thumbnails, this was a 'must see larger' image! “Breathing Dragon” - an absolutely fitting title! I’ve not been to the Lake District but seeing this image has inspired me to do some research!

The colours and clouds are what drew me into this photograph - it really is like fire pouring out of the mountains and into the sky. The use of the ND Grad has meant that the details in the sky have been preserved and the Polariser has enhanced the colours beautifully.

A five-second exposure has flattened out the water and enabled some lovely colour and light to be reflected - a really nice touch.

The only thing I would change is not about the image itself, but of the use of the watermark. I do find them very distracting. I know that in this age of social media, image theft is a concern, but for me, it takes away from the final presentation, which is a beautiful landscape.Mark Cornick

There are a lot of elements in this image from David that I really like, and which help to make it a really successful seascape. Firstly, shooting from a very low angle makes me feel like I am almost in the scene myself and about to get my feet wet! I have made a few mistakes myself shooting this close to water, so I hope none of your kit got a soaking!

For me the Little Stopper is one of my most frequently used filters and is used in this image for a two-second exposure. I find the two to three-second range on moving waves creates a really pleasing result and looking through the comments you received on this image on Instagram, I agree - It looks like the water has been painted onto the scene.

I love the leading lines created by the sea defences, drawing my eye from right to left into the image, with the small stump on the left really completing the composition. The colour palette is also very pleasing, with subtle muted colours. I might perhaps have moved the camera slightly more to the left when framing, but that is nit-picking. A superb image from David.Mark Cornick

A beautiful and calming landscape image captured here by Victoria. Glencoe is another one of my bucket list destinations, and from looking at this image, I’m sure many of you will feel the same.

I am particularly drawn to the purple sunset colours and that crisp white frost and snow covering the ground and mountain tops. What I also enjoy about this image is the element of storytelling. What an incredible house located at the foot of the mountains - who are the people that live here, with this stunning landscape literally on their doorstep?

The use of the Little Stopper has given a four-second exposure here. Also, the use of the Soft ND Grad has controlled the light beautifully and balanced the scene. I would be very intrigued to see what the results of a longer exposure would have been using a Big or Super Stopper - it could have created some very ethereal effects with the clouds.

Compositionally, I don’t think I would change anything here. There is a great use
of the rule of thirds, with the frozen bank providing a nice leading line. This is an image I have really enjoyed taking in over a cup of tea. Fantastic work Victoria! Mark Cornick

Streetley Pier in Hartlepool is a great UK location for seascape photography, and yet for many photographers it remains unheard of. With its derelict buildings, and relics of the steel industry, there are many unique images just waiting.

Martyn has captured this huge wooden pier at sunset really well. He has used a depth of field at f/14, and a shutter speed of 0.5 seconds really effectively, keeping the shape and textures of the sea and receding waves. I also love the colours in this image and using the Soft Grad has given definition to the sky.

I would advise Martin to be careful and don’t get to tight in the frame. The submerged posts for me are too tight to the right hand side of the frame. I do love the receding tidal lines and the moody sky, with the dark clouds holding the viewers eye to the details. I would be happy to have got this one in the bag Martyn. Well Done.Helen Storer

This waterfall can be found in Ontario in Canada and, at a cracking 134 feet drop, it has to be on the list of many travel photographers. I have seen this image many times on social media, but never this view from the river.

Jose has captured some great highlights on the green, lush foliage. The Little Stopper gave Jose a 4 second exposure and, together with good use of a Polariser, the natural colours have been enhanced beautifully.

In my opinion, the image would be stronger with a squarer crop, thus losing some of the brightness and boldness of the foreground water. At the moment this pulls the eye away from the waterfall which I am assuming to be the main subject matter.

A very exciting and unique image, and a what great experience visiting this location! Thank you for sharing.Helen Storer

Ah, my home turf! Norfolk and Caister-on-Sea. Costas has made great use of the Big Stopper with a 67 sec exposure, any longer and the North Sea would have been featureless.

This image is all about shape and the "S" works really well for me, simplifying the elements. To improve the balance of this image, whilst I don’t advocate digital editing personally, you could add a couple of the wind turbines to fill in the gaps along the horizon. I have photographed this myself and it's always difficult to get that balance in the background. Now there’s a challenge for you Costas! Great work.Helen Storer

Let’s be upfront. I have never done cityscape photography myself, preferring the country life. The biggest challenge I would imagine is finding the right location/composition without compromising your own personal safety or that of other road users. I love that this image leaves me wondering whether it's actual or imaginary.

However, the more I look at this image, I am a little distracted and confused as to why the sky is such a pale daytime blue and not a night time dark blue? That said, there’s a lot going on this image and one can be drawn to the sparkle and glitter of city lights. I also wonder if a 16:10 ratio aspect would help reduce it to the essential elements such as the light trails of the cars and skyscraper horizon?

Isaac has used a very low ISO of 80 (Nikon) which has minimised image noise. The challenge of any long exposure is mitigating the risk of noise. Shooting in RAW makes it possible to reduce any noise when you convert to jpeg using processing software such as Lightroom.

Looking though Isaac's website, I can see he enjoys really long exposures, and as such, this aspiring creative photographer is pushing the boundaries of exposure times up to several hours. I recommend having a peek at his website at your next coffee break.Helen Storer

And just look what 25 seconds can get you! Wonderful lines, textures and feeling like you are on top of the world! This dreamy scene of fog in the Bay Area of Nicasio, USA is quite some phenomenon, creating abstract patterns as it "waves" over the top of Mount Tamapaisi.

I can appreciate that preparation is key with local knowledge of the area paramount. As for the image I love the colours and how the foreground tree line grounds the moving fog.

I would love to see this in a landscape orientation, in order to show more freedom and draw attention to the direction and movement of the fog. Another cracking image and one to be proud of Giancarlo so please do print it and display on the wall for all to enjoy.Helen Storer

A very lovely landscape image on first glance. Conventional composition techniques used here with the large sea stack sitting near to the top right third intersection. The overall scene is generally well balanced, and the bowl-shaped foreground together with the jut of land, does help to project the eye around and towards the sea stack.

If I was shooting this, I would have moved the camera position right a few feet and turned the lens back left ‘into’ the scene more, which would have not only positioned the sea stack more to the right (on the top right third intersection), but using the wide angle focal length together with shooting angle it would have exacerbated the directional qualities of the jut of land creating a bit more diagonal power to the image. Still though only a very minor observation.

Use of filters has been done well and the warm pastel colours of the sky and landscape contrast well with the blue tones of the sea, made calmer by use of a Big Stopper and a four-minute exposure to really flatten the sea.Drew Buckley

A very interesting image and goes to show that any image can benefit from the use of filters to help obtain the right result.

I love photographing in woodland in varying conditions, but rarely would you see something like this. Absolutely amazing conditions and I guess a mixture of heavy snow blizzards and rime ice on the bark of the trees.

Compositionally it works as the trees lead the eye to the left third of the scene providing depth and balance. The colours work nicely as the image from left to right goes from warm yellow to cool blues. I imagine the ND Grad used here was probably positioned with the grad on the left part of the scene fading to the right, perfect use to help keep the exposure constant across the frame. Then the Polariser helping to cut down any shiny reflections and boost the sky colour. A very unusual but well executed image.Drew Buckley

I’m always a big fan of simple coastal scenes and this is a great example. The uniform, yet differently shaped, wave cut platform as it recedes away into the frame is a nice touch. Coupled with the long exposure made possible by using the Big Stopper creates an almost seamless transition between landscape and sea.

The four-minute exposure has created lovely cloud motion, so the overall scene is very calming, made even more so by the cool blues tones of the sky, which in turn are reflected in the foreground rock pools. Composition is simple, with the horizon on the top third and the remaining two thirds filled with the interesting rocky foreground.

I’m in two minds about the strong highlight area in the sky. One thought is it’s slightly distracting compared with the rest of the exposure, however I think the sky looks uniform across the frame and the scene would be too ‘samey’ without it, so for that reason I think the highlight works.Drew Buckley

I love long exposures on the coast, having the ability to calm down raging oceans using filters and extending the shutter speed is a big win for me. Leading lines are another big plus in my book so there’s a double whammy in this shot. Another bonus of using a long exposure is blurring any other movement and here we’ve got cloud motion too, all adding to the energy of the scene. Finally, any coastal scene is boosted by using a polariser to cut down those surface reflections helping to keep the natural colours of the ocean.

The split-tone processing is an interesting affect and works with the limited colour palette of the scene. For me the vignette is a little heavy and I’d prefer the sky and foreground to be lighter to see more detail in there and balance the image more.Drew Buckley

This is a great example of if you get the right light and use it correctly. With side lit scenes generally, the overall exposure is pretty even, so just the simple use of a Soft Grad here to keep the sky in check has worked well.

The light and shade of the curved bank adds real depth to the scene and the use of a medium telephoto lens helps to compress the pinnacle with the surrounding and distant landscape. The pinnacle itself positioned on the right third balances nicely with the rocky cliffs to it’s left, while the letterbox crop works well keeping the scene concise yet spacious.Drew Buckley

I love this image, I’m a huge fan of the long exposure, the great composition and the complimentary colours. Good call on using a really long exposure of 140s. This worked perfectly to capture the drama in the sky and to smooth the water. I also really love how you placed the huts on a lower third for a more minimal feel, excellent work!Erik McRitchie

Great choice going with the black and white for this image, it works perfectly! I love how naturally the railing leads the viewer’s eye into the middle of the frame and creates a stark contrast in the image. I also really enjoy the mystery in the background with the fog, the railing captures my attention, draws me into the image and the fog stirs my imagination, well done!Erik McRitchie

I really love the composition on this frame using the rocks, and the pier as a leading line into the frame, the crop also suits this image perfectly! The use of negative space on the left side of the image really captivates me and adds a lot to the image overall. I really like your use of colours and cooler tones here as well, giving a natural but enticing feel to the viewer, great choice on the crop, this image would look stunning on someone’s wall!Erik McRitchie

I’m a huge fan of leading lines in photos and this image demonstrates that technique perfectly! The railings draw my attention into the frame and are so pleasing to look at!

I like that you didn’t go too long with the exposure to maintain some of the texture in the water. The water texture, combined with the texture of the cement and of the sky works perfectly to pull this image together for me.

I’d personally dial back the purples a bit in this, as well as compensate for a bit of the vignette in the top corners, great work!Erik McRitchie

I’m a sucker for a great reflection and this image certainly has that! I love the fact that you placed the rock where you did in your composition as an interesting foreground element.

The movement in the clouds, the haze in the background and the layers of the hills all add strength to the overall image. The texture of the rocks in the water are also quite interesting.

I’d be curious to see how a Polariser would have affected the overall result, well executed image!Erik McRitchie

This is a clever shot which makes me smile. Your choice of the Big Stopper is spot on. The 5-minute exposure works really well to create a smooth, milky look to the water. The image is bright and full of impact. I like the vignette which draws attention to the chair, which is well placed in the frame. It would be even better if the top of the black material was perfectly aligned with the horizon. Next time!

Normally, I try to avoid having 2 subjects next to each other because it can create a sense of duality. However, the position of the landscape in the distance balances the shot and means there are 3 components to the image.

The mute colour tone of the sea and the sky is soothing to the eye and adds to the tranquillity of the scene. Great stuff Emanuel. Tim Mannakee

What a beautiful scene. The soft morning light and thin layer of mist give this image an ethereal look. The 2 stop Soft Grad does a great job on the sky and was the perfect choice. The gentle hue of pink running through to blue in the sky is lovely and compliments the milky water.

The grass in the foreground spoils the simplicity of the image but I guess you didn’t have any choice. Standing in the water may have helped although this would change the perspective. More elevation is another possibility. Either way James, I think you did the best job possible given the terrain and available light. I wished I’d been there with you! Tim Mannakee

You absolutely nailed the light trails in this shot Dan. The S-curve is fantastic thanks to the Big Stopper, which allowed you to have a 15 second exposure. You’ve obviously done this before. The use of a 0.9 Soft Grad was a good choice. The dark sky above the power station balances the dark foreground and encourages the eye to focus on the main subject. The light trails also lead the eye to the chimneys. Clever stuff.

What I particularly like is the way the power station sits neatly within the pink sky. If the dark clouds had cut through the chimneys at any point, the image wouldn’t have worked. You’ve demonstrated a high level of skill with a strong composition, perfect exposure and interesting subject matter. I look forward to seeing more. Tim Mannakee

I was in this location last year when it was blowing a hoolie. By the look of the sea and the stormy sky, you had similar conditions. So, to come away with an image like this is impressive. It’s not the easiest place to find a good composition, especially when it’s very windy and the cliff edge is treacherous.

I like the way you managed to include the elevated lake as well as the cliffs. The Little Stopper was a good choice. 15 seconds allowed you to smooth out the water whilst exaggerating the waves crashing against the cliffs.

When I first looked at this shot Adam, I thought it was a bit dark but actually the strong contrast of the dark cliffs and stormy sky really works and is probably quite near to reality. Very Game of Thrones! Tim Mannakee

You’ve done a fantastic job of capturing the dramatic coastline of the Vendée. The composition is spot on, the light is wonderful, and the choice of exposure is perfect. F/11 has allowed you to have the whole scene in focus, which is essential for this image to work. If the foreground wasn’t sharp, the image wouldn’t have so much impact, so well done.

The Little Stopper gives you just enough length of exposure (1 second) to add interest to the waves which are smooth, but not too smooth. The detail in the moody sky is held in by the 3 stop soft grad and balances the image perfectly. I also like the colour tones throughout the image, which are harmonious and really add to the flow of the shot.

I’ve lived in France for nearly 30 years and the Atlantic coast is one of my favourite places for long exposure. I’m sure every photographer will want to go there once they see this image. Tim Mannakee

This image captured my attention and held it right away. It has so many elements that engage the viewer and help to retain their first glance. From interesting framing in the foreground, the perfect reflection that Alexander has captured in the mid-ground to the impressive mountain range which serves as a grand backdrop to the scene. I think the layers of texture and colour throughout this image creates interest and encourages the viewer to explore the scene.

There is a comforting balance to this image that is very calming that is matched by the stillness of the water and complements the general feel I think the photographer was trying to achieve. Andrew Marr

I would love to one day visit Yosemite, with its waterways, unique forests and majestic mountain ranges. This image has each of these elements, expertly composited to guide the viewer through the scene.

Snow can be difficult to expose correctly. However, Derick has captured detail in the bank of snow along the edge of the water, that helps guide the eye in the midground of the scene, and has also retained detail in the darker shadows amongst the trees.

The falling snow or mist drifting in front of the mountains adds to the mood. By using a shutter speed of 6 seconds, through the use of a Big Stopper filter, Derick has managed to capture more of the fog. This approach also provides separation between the trees and the mountains in the background.

The image leaves me in no doubt that Yosemite should stay high on my list and I think winter would be an excellent time to visit. Andrew Marr

This image stands out because Ian has made the main subject of the photo obvious to the viewer, placing the castle in the centre. He has then used a few techniques to emphasise the castle and ensured it has an impact. The texture of the grass in the foreground effectively draws the eye in, and it's balanced nicely with the branches at the top of the photo that cleverly frames the building.

Using a combination of filters he has managed to capture the shot with a 44-second exposure, flattening any ripples in the water and softening the clouds. This approach enhances the contrast in textures that further helps the castle command attention.

The choice to edit this image as a black and white intensifies the effect of these compositional techniques, resulting in a strong image. The only thing I would change, if it were possible, would be to move the camera slightly to ensure that blades of grass aren't overlapping the reflection and to avoid the small branches that can be distracting on the left-hand side. Andrew Marr

Paulo has managed to capture so many elements in this scene in a way that shares a beautiful narrative that has enticed me back to this image many times, that's a pretty good sign that a landscape, or in this case a seascape, works. The photo has texture in the sand, details in the rocks, strong composition and a scene that is bathed in gorgeous, warm light. He has pieced these elements together to convey the story of what looks like a stunning evening.

Getting the right exposure can be challenging when capturing seascapes. However, a shutter speed of 2 seconds has effectively picked up the colour but retained the detail in the clouds. The 4-stop Reverse ND has helped even the light out across the scene.

This image inspires me to go and visit my local beach, explore the rocks and water pools and enjoy the warmth of the sunset. Andrew Marr

Cliffs are always great locations to explore for landscape images, and Pointe du Van in France is clearly no exception. The details in the cliff walls and the power of the waves crashing up against the rocks all make for interesting elements to this narrative.

Jerome has included some of the grass and flowers in the foreground which adds context for the viewer. I think it's a nice touch that the patterns in the clouds provide some leading lines to the church, this emphasises it as a focal point of the image.

The church adds interest to the scene that attracts the eye. I get a sense that I'm sharing this view over the cliffs with the church, which helps to connect me with the scene and the experience of being there.

There is a strong gradient of colour and light in the sky that is a little distracting to my eye. This effect could have happened as a result of the hard grad filter not being positioned close enough to the horizon, or perhaps it was created during post-processing. Andrew Marr

Jose has made great use of the wooden groyne as foreground interest, as its roughness and materiality contrasts beautifully with the sleek metal and glass of New York City. I also particularly enjoy how the shape of the groyne is mirrored by the diagonal line in the clouds above.

It is well exposed and I’m glad to see that the saturation hasn’t been overdone. The use of a Big Stopper has smoothed out the detail in the water which could’ve been distracting. It has also blurred the movement of some, but not all, of the gulls, which I find adds further interest.

The horizon line is fairly central and whilst it doesn’t unbalance the photograph I do wonder if it could have been improved with a little more space below the nearest point of the groyne. I also would have raised the camera so that there was water between the posts at the end of the groyne and the distant shoreline. Matthew Cattell

This is a thoughtfully composed study of a small section of coast, which serves as a reminder that sometimes less is more. The use of a square crop allows the feature rocks to be located centrally without the composition becoming unbalanced. I also commend Purno’s use of the fractures in the rock, which lead in diagonally from the corners of the frame.

A Little Stopper has been used to lengthen the exposure to 3 seconds, which is about right in this instance as some detail has been retained in the sea. This contrasts nicely with the detailed texture recorded in the rock. The use of a hard graduated filter is also the right choice for photographing coastal scenes, however I do find the top right corner of the frame a little dark and wonder whether a 0.6 ND Hard Grad would’ve been a better choice in this instance. Matthew Cattell

The breakwater at Newhaven is popular with photographers so it’s nice to see that Dominic has tried to do something a little different with the location. The use of a Super Stopper has removed all texture from the water and has rendered the clouds as dynamic, diagonal streaks. This has worked particularly well because the clouds are moving towards the viewer. Had the clouds been moving perpendicular to the camera then the resulting photograph would’ve appeared far more static.

The simplicity of the composition works well, however perhaps next time be even more daring and locate the breakwater closer to the bottom of the frame to really maximise the impact of the cloudscape.

I find colour to be the main draw-back of this image and wonder whether converting it to black and white would remove this distraction and add to the abstract nature of the shot. Matthew Cattell

This is a beautiful example from a popular location being well composed and full of autumnal atmosphere. I particularly love how the road bends off to an unknown destination.

By using a telephoto lens, Pawel has compressed the scene to emphasise the rows of trees that line either side of the road. This recession has been further accentuated by the morning mist, so well done for setting an early alarm! Using a polarising filter was the right choice as it's given the colour saturation a real boost.

The inclusion of the leaves on the road works well to add interest to the foreground but I think it could’ve been improved by waiting for a shaft of light to spill across the road at this point. Matthew Cattell

Martin’s photograph immediately stood out when I saw it. It is flawlessly composed and a great example of what can be achieved in ‘poor light’.

The 0.6 ND Hard Grad has balanced the exposure between the sky and land, and the use of a Big Stopper to feather the clouds really adds to the sense of being ‘windswept’ - an appropriate title for the photograph.

Perhaps the nearest boat is a little dark so I would lift the exposure in this area but otherwise it is a photograph I’d be proud to have in my own portfolio. Matthew Cattell

A beautiful capture from the well-known Isle of Skye. This was the first image that caught my eye as I have it on my bucket list as a place to visit. The use of the Little Stopper with a 58 second exposure was a great choice from Darryl. I particulary like the mixture of textures and colours in the sky. The processing of the image is also really nice, giving it a gentle relaxed feel.

The only slight criticism is the mountain on the right side of the image. I find it a little distracting, but it’s something that could be easily changed with a slightly different crop. Apart form that, I really love with this image. Sarah Alsayegh

I do love long exposure fine art images. This 180 second exposure with a Big Stopper is very eye catching. I can see that Kenny shot the image at 16mm and then cropped it to get rid of the distortion, which was the right choice. I really like how the building aligns with the clouds moving above it, giving a dramatic feel.

I’d always recommend to people who shot this style of image, that they use a manual Tilt-Shift lens to avoid distortion and retain image sharpness. If this isn’t possible, a wide lens with a distortion fix in post processing can always workout! Sarah Alsayegh

A very simple composition. The light from the sun reflected on the grass and mist is gorgeous. Very often with conditions like this you have to be patient to capture just the right moment. Peter’s exposure of 1/15th second has captured the light on the mist beautifully. The use of the 0.9 ND Soft Grad has also helped get a nice highlight in the sky.

I would personally increase the light/exposure on the foreground grass and give it a little boost in Photoshop, but overall this is a really nice image. Sarah Alsayegh

Wow! I’m in love with everything about this image, from the wet rocks in the foreground to the silky long exposure of the sea and clouds. I believe Mark made the right choice in using a Polariser along with the 0.9 ND Medium Grad and Little Stopper. It’s helped remove the glare and reflections from the rocks, as well as giving the sky a little boost. I also really like the simple processing Mark has used on this image; it has a lovely feel.

My only issue is the low tide on the right hand side of the image, but as we all know, Mother Nature doesn’t always deliver the perfect mix of sky and tide! Sarah Alsayegh

I love the calm winter feel in this image that Matthew has taken. I particularly like the dynamic range, and the use of the Big Stopper has helped control the exposure so that the snow hasn’t burnt out. I also really like the way the buildings align, giving a real sense of depth to the scene.

It would be great to see how the image would look after a black and white conversion and a little contrast boost in post production. Sarah Alsayegh

A beautiful capture of this well-known landmark. The Little Stopper was well chosen as the 13 second exposure time has softened the clouds without sacrificing their texture. It has also captured a pleasing sense of movement in the water. Colin has very wisely used a 0.6 ND hard grad to lift the foreground without making it feel artificial. The lovely blue and pink colours are vivid without feeling unnatural.

There is only a small gap between the post and the horizon but at this location it is hard to get the camera high enough to expand the gap and Colin has done rather better than most! A central horizon can risk unbalancing an image but in this case the diagonals in sky and foreground are the dominant feature and create balance. The only change I might try is to remove the two sharp white areas in the cloud above the horizon on the right. Rachael Talibart

What a dramatic picture. Using a Big Stopper, Carl has kept the shutter open for a minute, creating bold stripes from the passage of clouds across the sky. The low point of view and wide-angle accentuate this effect, isolating Carlo’s lost farmhouse in all that space. The streaky clouds partially disguise the wires coming into the frame from the right. High contrast black and white accentuates the bleak atmosphere.

Just a couple of small things would polish the image. While the slightly converging verticals in the farmhouse are quite effective, the verticals nearer the edge of the frame start to slope distractingly. A global adjustment of verticals would risk straightening the farmhouse too but it is possible to do it selectively in Photoshop. If in process, he happened to push the tree on the far left out of the picture, all the better! Rachael Talibart

This is an effective, simple composition. Crucially, mist or drizzle has allowed Alan to separate the old well from the trees behind. He has carried that simplicity through in his choice of a Big Stopper. The 4-minute exposure has smoothed out the water and allowed the shadow of the well and trees to bleed down towards the bottom of the frame, adding depth. A 0.6 ND Medium Grad has held in the exposure of the sky, balancing the tone of the water. I like the way the frost on the roof carries that same tone into the middle of the picture. The blue tint adds to the wintry feel.

I just wonder whether it might have been possible to adjust the angle of the grad to allow the far trees, to the left of the well, to be lighter. Either way, it ought to be fairly straightforward to give them a lift in post-production. Rachael Talibart

A powerful mountainscape. Alberto has shown off the charismatic character of the Dolomites peaks very well. Using a Big Stopper has given Alberto a 13 second exposure, enough to capture some of the eccentric eddies and whirls of clouds that happen around mountains.

He’s chosen a rugged black and white conversion, making the blue sky almost black. This has allowed the lit peak to pop out. Colour could have been a distraction here. Removing it has accentuated the drama of the shapes and movement. There are some nice details to be explored too, like the little path pulling the viewer into the image on the bottom right and the small cloud drifting from the peak on the left.

If I have any criticism it is that perhaps the clouds feel a little flat – a hint of texture in the large areas of light grey top right would be nice, but not too much! Rachael Talibart

A thoughtfully composed photograph. I like the way Andriy has placed the bridge high in the frame, leaving lots of space for the water and the reflection. The 4-stop IRND together with a Polariser has given a shutter speed of 30 seconds and this has smoothed the water. I am actually surprised at the amount of texture still retained in the reflection - there are some nice ‘wiggly’ highlights.

Composing close to the bridge exaggerates perspective. This, with haze on the far bank, creates depth. I imagine this was taken during twilight, when the sun has set but the sky retains colour. It’s a good time for cityscapes as, later, the sky takes on an ugly brown from the artificial lights below. Arguably, this photo is a little more mauve than the scene would have been in reality but I like it. It’s an artistic photo rather than a documentary record. Rachael Talibart

Ismaël has created a beautiful image consisting of soft and hard lines that takes the viewer on a journey through the image. This is so important when composing a strong composition like this, the photographer should direct the viewer through the frame using line, light and shade. The Little Stopper was the perfect choice to achieve a slowish shutter speed to blur the water, yet fast enough not to blur the line of mist.

The soft line of mist has formed some interesting shapes in the upper left corner guiding the viewer down to the hard line of the base, which curves up to the top of the waterfall. This works so well in B&W as the subtle graduated tones in the bottom left corner and to the right of the waterfall maintains the interest in the falls.

I would have liked to have seen just a bit more on the right edge of the frame and at the top where the waterfall begins. All in all, a gorgeous, different perspective of an iconic landmark. Tom Mackie

Soma has made good use of 3 different LEE filters. The polarising filter achieves maximum polarisation because the sun is at a right angle to the subject. This really saturates the reds and blues which provide strong contrasting colours. The 2 stop 0.6 ND Graduated filter balances the sky with the foreground and the Little Stopper provides movement to the waves.

Compositionally, the lighthouse is well placed in the right third of the frame. Photographing this scene with a receding tide leaves the rocks wet and shiny giving more luminosity to the foreground.

There is one minor adjustment that I would make to the position of the camera and that is raise it slightly higher so the top of the rock on the left side of the frame isn’t sitting right on the horizon line. I use a Gitzo XLS tripod just for this reason as it will extend up to 2 metres high. By utilising a 24mm lens, Soma was able to add depth to the image by using the rocks as foreground, a little mid ground and finally the lighthouse in the background. Tom Mackie

I feel simplistic, graphic compositions are the strongest and Scott has created a dynamic symmetrical image. This works very well in monochrome as it relies solely on the strength of the lines and graphic shapes instead of any distraction of colour.

The use of the Big Stopper and 3 stop 0.9 ND graduated filter works very well here to add a contrast of the smooth water against the pier. The inclusion of the person at the end of the pier is well placed and provides something for the eye to stop on.

There are just a couple of improvements that I would suggest. First, as the line of the pier is entering the frame from the left corner, the right one should as well in order to make it perfectly symmetrical. Finally, the horizon line is placed in the middle of the frame. I feel the composition would be tighter if it were cropped down to just above where the dark gradation starts so there would be one third sky and two thirds subject. Tom Mackie

This is a stunning image full of drama, atmosphere and is well composed. The layering effect of the ridges work well as the mist separates them so they don’t merge together as one dark mass. The sun is perfectly nestled into the mountain in the third of the frame and the clouds add to the drama and interest of the image.

Johan made a good decision to use the Reverse Graduated filter instead of a normal 3 stop graduated filter, because the brightest tone is at the middle part of the frame where the sun is. Had he used a normal grad here, the top part of the frame would have been too dark losing the separation in the clouds and the area around the sun would have been too bright.

The only minor improvement I would make would be to dodge the area where the dark clouds merge too much with the mountain. This would better define the line of the mountain. Well done Johan on a beautiful image. Tom Mackie

This a great architectural image that is so clean, it looks more like an architects model. One very important aspect of architectural photography is to ensure the verticals are straight and Marco has accomplished this.

I suspect the weather conditions were overcast and dull which makes this image work so much better in B&W. It keeps the contrast of the scene to a minimum so all of the fine details in the buildings are clear.

Using a Big Stopper here improved the reflections by smoothing out any ripples in the water if it wasn’t perfectly still. I like the halo effect around the central building that I would say is a combination of the 2 stop 0.6 ND Soft Grad and some post production work. Congratulations Marco on a beautifully executed image. Tom Mackie

This image was the first to catch my attention, mainly due to the beautiful quality of light captured here. The whole scene has a wonderfully natural feel to it, one could almost walk straight on to the beach and smell the sea air. This natural feel has been very well executed with the application of the 2 stop Medium Grad and a Polariser. It’s often easy to over do the polarisation effect but here it’s just right in my opinion.

The composition is also excellent, with the geometric lines of the grasses and the edge of the sea leading us in to the image subtly, from the bottom left of the scene. The only thing I would perhaps suggest is a very slight crop, keeping the same ratio, my eye is distracted by the form of a small triangle, the encroaching hill about two thirds of the way up the right hand side of the image. I feel that a slight crop would balance the image a little more. Karl Holtby

I love a good seascape and this particular image I found to be a rather beautiful scene, with very rich but importantly, not over done colours. The sea has a lovely calming softness to it which has been achieved with a 4 second exposure. I feel that the choice of 3 stop hard grad is spot on for this scene, balancing the sea/sky very nicely.

With wide-angle lenses it’s important to use them to their full potential, perhaps this scene could be enhanced further and given more impact from a slightly lower perspective. I’d get right down with the tripod to get some of those foreground rocks popping out a little more, maybe even some of that texture of the sea coming right at the viewer. I have to say that some of my personal favourite shots involved wet feet, do not be afraid! That’s not to detract from what is a gorgeous view, well executed. Karl Holtby

This bold image draws the viewer straight in to the scene with no hesitation. Nature has also collaborated by lining up those colourful clouds directly above this derelict jetty, the kind of light and conditions that we often hope for as photographers. Great use of the Little Stopper and Polariser to achieve a rich long exposure, with a 2 stop Hard Grad nicely balancing the sky.

I’ll just say one thing, ‘mud’! It’s very difficult for us to find any beauty in mud, had I been composing this scene I would have probably left out the muddy foreground which for me spoils the serenity of the rest of the scene. This would also bring the wonderful texture of the wood directly in to the foreground, giving a more pleasing and simplified view, less is most definitely more. Karl Holtby

The simplicity of this image makes it instantly eye catching, a very beautiful long exposure which takes advantage of a scene which is perfect for the minimalist treatment. This an excellent use of the Big stopper with the foreground water fading nicely to the horizon.

The use of negative space is very important in an image such as this, the whole point of negative space is that it allows the eye to wander around the image in a pleasing way. With this scene however, my eye is not allowed to wander, it is simply drawn back to the hut every time. I suspect that if David were to have composed this hut slightly off centre, say to the right of the image, it would be easier for the viewer’s eye to negotiate the negative space. I call this process a ‘visual mantra’, where the eye is drawn in and around the scene. Karl Holtby

A very dramatic scene here with a fiery red sunset, rugged coastline and fantastic structure and texture to the sea. A brilliant composition too, with the foreground rocks leading us in nicely and I love the hazy lighthouse at the horizon. The whole image captures the dynamism of the coastline very well indeed!

It is however quite a tricky one when it comes to filtration choice. A two stop Hard Grad is a very versatile filter for many situations, in this scene however I feel that it has darkened those rocks a little too much where the grad has been lined up against the sea’s horizon. The grad has also had the effect of darkening the top of the sky a little too much. A Soft or Medium wouldn’t have worked here either as the sun is so bright at the horizon. So, the best filter for this scene would probably have been one of the Reverse ND filters, though I do appreciate that we don’t all own a full set of LEE filters and don’t want to detract from what is a very striking image. Karl Holtby

This was one of the first images to catch my eye, a great example of a Big Stopper image, its simplicity and the way the light catches the metal railings really sets this image off well. Without the light catching those railings this image would not be as powerful. I love the fact it draws you into the picture, pulls you into that warm light, helped by the splash of red in the middle of the picture. The Polariser and Big Stopper are working well together here.

The slight distraction for me is the brightness of the light in the middle on the horizon, I’d like the viewer to enjoy the main part of the image and not be distracted by the bright light above the horizon. Although Jay has used a hard ND Grad to try and control this, maybe a few less seconds of exposure was all that was needed. I would also take a little bit off the sky to bring the viewers attention back down towards the railings, all very minor adjustments of a fantastic image. Carla Regler

I have a deep fascination of lighthouse structures, how varied and isolated they often are. What I enjoy here is the moment of light which has been captured across the landscape, the rocks and the lighthouse itself. This light is enhanced by the use of the Big Stopper, freezing the water around the rock ledges creating that moment of calm, and allowing the clouds to soften draws your focus to where the light is, it has also enhanced the detail in the rocks.

Declan has used a Soft ND Grad to hold back the brighter element of the sky and possibly lengthen the time of the exposure. If I was looking to improve upon this, I’d be considering removing some of the sky especially as it is blank with little cloud movement and I would have angled for just a touch more foreground to make use of that lovely line of rocks in the bottom of the frame. A lovely image. Carla Regler

This image really caught my eye, it felt like I was stood exactly where Mason was when he took the picture. Using only a Big Stopper to freeze the waterfall it created that effect which freezes motion but to the mind creates an illusion of water movement, this is the fun we have whilst using a Big Stopper is it not? To transform an image from ordinary to interesting?

Would I do anything different? Not a lot. The light pulls you into the waterfall and it’s here that you notice the finer detail, the greens on the rocks and the leaves. In the bottom right of the picture there is another small waterfall, the question is do you enhance it more and lift up the shadow area, or darken it to prevent it from causing a distraction to the main event in the middle? For myself, I’d lift the bottom right and selectively lift the vegetation hanging down in the top left but not to brighten up the background. I’d be tempted to try with a Polariser rather than a Stopper in an area as dark as this to keep the detail. An intriguing image none the less which pulls you in for more each time you look at it. Carla Regler

For those that know me, waves and patterns I love, this image really captured my thoughts, not only for its uniqueness to waves with blues and silver tones but also to the sheer intensity of the fog even with a Big Stopper on. Keeping something real in the picture allows the viewer to lock onto and imagine being there, the lights from the house are just visible through the fog and this is a really lovely capture.

What could be changed? Again, not a lot. The placement of the trees and house in the image pulls the viewer in. Has Giancarlo intended for this image to be darker to reflect that it was taken in lower light levels, I think yes. I would however like to see it a little bit brighter, to lift up the shadows and the blacks in the bottom left area around the house and trees so the lighting that has been captured stands out, maybe just allowing the exposure with the Big Stopper to run for another 10 - 20 seconds would have been enough lift which is all this image needs. Carla Regler

What an amazing blue hour image, this image has a real mix of tones from the pink sky to the green light and lichens. A great scene which is perfect for the Little Stopper and Soft ND Grad that Kurt has used. You can see the tide was high around those interesting concrete shapes and the smooth water really exaggerates the edges of the rocks.

Would I change anything? I’d personally like to see this image with movement of water flowing over the rocks in the foreground and this could have been done with the use of a 2 or 3 stop ND and graduated filter to control the sky and capture some motion, I bet this location would be wonderful with stormy seas! Great control of lights around the front of the lighthouse it really makes you want to walk up to it and look inside. Just be careful to not over lighten patches on the rock areas as it draws your eye to the bottom right of the picture instead of the overall picture which is a stunning capture. Carla Regler

This image is all about colour. The opposing colours yellow and blue immediately draw our attention. I like the placement of the tree on the left, where the ridge with pine trees on the right creates balance in the image. The use of a Little Stopper resulted in an exposure time of 3 minutes, leaving some structure in the water. A longer exposure time would have flattened the water surface entirely, making it rather dead.

The image could have been further improved by using a Soft or Medium ND Grad over the sky. The very bright sky pulls the eye away from the scene itself, and out of the image. Wilco Dragt

What a shot! Simplicity is key, and it definitely proves less is more. The composition is very elegant, with all the elements very well placed. The black line in the sand draws you into the scene, to the sea and the mountain in the distance. The small triangle of sand on the left side adds a nice touch to the image.

I do like the dramatic sky, with lots of movement in it. With an exposure time of “only” 15 seconds the clouds are still visible. Both the ND and the ND Grad were very well used! Processing is excellent, with a nice balance between soft, light and dark tones. The dark mountain in the background is crucial: without it the tones would be rather flat.

A processing suggestion: a very subtle burning in of the lower part creates an entrance into the image, drawing you even more into the scene. Wilco Dragt

This is a rather daring composition, with lots of empty space, and it shows that a beautiful photo does not have to be about something beautiful in itself. It is the skill of the photographer that can create beauty out of something quite ordinary.

The blue of the tower and the yellow of the beach are nice contrasting colours. Adding more of the beach in the composition would not have made the image stronger. It is the large amount of sky that creates a specific mood and atmosphere, giving the viewer plenty of room for his own thoughts and feelings.

An overcast sky is ideal for an image like this: soft light and enough clouds for a visible structure. Without the horizontal line half way the composition of the image would be less interesting. With long exposure photography it is important to pay close attention to the direction of the movement of the clouds. Wilco Dragt

A gorgeous mountain range with gorgeous light! The Dolomites are amongst the finest mountain ranges of Europe, and very photogenic. The sheer cliffs and reddish rock walls just demand to be photographed. The challenge is to limit yourself, and the photographer succeeded in this very well here! The dramatic light accentuates the colour of the Dolomite rock.

The 16:9 panorama aspect ratio helps to bring down the composition to the essentials: cliffs and light. I do like the cliff on the right, it gives depth to the picture. Alas the patch of snow on the right bottom side is distracting, but this can easily be fixed with a little burning in Lightroom/Photoshop. Wilco Dragt

A very minimalistic image of San Francisco, where you can barely see the two towers of the Golden Gate Bridge above the sea of clouds. Black and white supports the graphic nature of the picture. A true fine art photo that would do very nicely as a large print!

In a graphic image the “styling” and design is very important: where to place the elements in the composition. There is room for improvement here in my opinion. On the right there is emptiness, while on the left side the bridge is rather tightly cropped. With the composition as it is now a 5:4 or 4:3 aspect ratio, with cropping of the right side, would make it stronger.

The clouds are blown out, especially around the bridge. Possibly this can be fixed in post processing, but it would have been better to use a (extra) Hard ND Grad upside down. Wilco Dragt

A truly wonderful and breathtakingly beautiful image displaying mastery of every stage of the photographic process including judicious use of the wonderful Reverse ND Grad. This image is all about colour: three texturally distinct bands stretch the visible spectrum of colours in a perfect juxtaposition. Red, orange and yellow set the sky ablaze, then green is separated down to occupy the lower third; and finally the rolling blue and indigo pastel cloud inversion harmonises with the foreground greens and provides a complementary juxtaposition to the inferno above. David has processed his image masterfully, unafraid to show off these colours as nature’s canvas intended.

If I had to provide critique, it would be that the triangle of distant background trees on the lower right of the image and the rocks in the middle of the lower edge are distracting. For me, cropping out the right hand 25% and the lower 10% would simplify the image further, and make it perfect. Pete Bridgwood

When we start creating black and white photographs, there is a gradual realisation that although seemingly so simple, it is enchantingly complex. A compelling image shot in colour, may not work at all in monochrome and vice versa. In order to create great black and white images, a different way of seeing is required; we need to look at the world with tone-tuned ‘black and white eyes’. This additional element in the process of visualisation can be incredibly demanding.

Neil is a master black and white photographer. I love this image for its simplicity, it’s gracefulness and it’s crafted perfection. The simplicity comes from the use of monochrome and the perfect blend of controlled textural content versus negative space. Its enchanting grace comes from the visual flow created by the curve of the paving and the understated resonance between the pool and the insinuated curve in the sky created by the contrasting light and dark elements of the cloudscape. Perfect. Pete Bridgwood

Incredibly, Chase is a high-school senior from California: his young years clearly belie his gifted vision. Here’s an image celebrating a rare twilight treat, this is what happens when the low lying sun up-lights a mackerel sky and Chase captured this beautiful colour palette in Malibu. Chase has captured and processed all one hundred and three seconds of this beautiful moment perfectly. The Big Stopper has stretched time by the perfect amount to blur the water and the cloudscape in a scene which probably hasn’t changed much for millions of years.

If I have one criticism, it’s that I don’t like 3:2 ratio images in portrait aspect ratio, if we were to crop the image to 4:5, it would lose too much detail from the sand and the upper clouds, but a 3:4 crop would be a compromise which looks more harmonious to my eyes. Pete Bridgwood

Brian’s image resonates with me at a guttural level, he’s translated the essence of how it feels to be standing there at the coast with an approaching storm perfectly. I love the way he’s emphasised the texture in the brooding cloudscape, helped by the judicious placement of the 2-stop ND Grad while on location and masterful processing in post-production. The colours are cooked to perfection and seasoned with just the right amount of saturation to delight the most critical palate. Colour is probably the single most important thing to get right in colour photography and Brian’s colour grading is fabulous.

It’s very hard to improve on this image, I wonder if it might benefit from a marginal reduction in saturation of the sand (bottom-left) and very subtle darkening of the right side, lateral to the lighthouse: but these are processing nuances that are very subjective. A wonderful image. Pete Bridgwood

Jose’s image is a blatant photographic celebration of an iconic location juxtaposed with a blazing crepuscular colour palette. This is an image that instantly grabs your attention, but also becomes increasingly engaging the longer you look at it. It has both ‘wow-factor’ and ‘staying-power’ and that is a rare combination. The composition is a powerful heady mix of teal and orange, and the exposure facilitated by the Big Stopper is the optimum length to dynamise both the water and the cloudscape to the perfect degree.

My personal preference for iconic images like this, is to process them to perfection. I would clone out the distracting tower to the upper right and clone out the building in the snow at the right edge. I would also tighten the frame by cropping off some of the left and lower edges, to focus our attention more on the main subject. Pete Bridgwood

Iceland has become incredibly popular over the last few years and taking original images is now very difficult indeed. The photographer here, however, has achieved just that. Beautiful light and subtle processing has enabled this to stand out from the crowd. The more you look at the image the more detail you can see, including the faint wisp of mist on the hillside.

My only ‘issue’ is the small patch of snow at the top of the mountain which grabs my eye away from the stack. Depending upon how you feel about cloning, consider removing this as I think you will find it markedly improves the photograph. To start with, place your finger over it and you will see what I mean. Always keep in mind that our eye moves to the lightest part of the scene. Robert Canis

A very dramatic image that has bags of atmosphere. Patterns created by the water, brooding sky and a solitary tree make this a very powerful photograph.

Upon looking through the image data I noticed an aperture of f/5 was used at ISO 200. I wonder if using ISO 100 at f/10 would have been preferable as not only would you have achieved greater depth of field, but through using a lower ISO the image would exhibit even greater rendition. If you were concerned about the length of the shutter speed, I have found when photographing fast flowing streams and rivers there is barely any noticeable difference beyond 5 seconds, so this would not have been an issue.

I also feel that the photograph would benefit from a severe crop taking out, completely, the left-hand cascades, part of the bush and lower rocks, thereby eliminating large areas which are not contributing to the composition. Most importantly, I can see what the photographer was aiming for but as is so often the case, tweaks are all that is required for improvement. Robert Canis

This photograph illustrates the kind of conditions us landscape photographers yearn for. And, when they occur, all we can hope is that we are in the right place when it happens. Rahul has achieved this! I very much like the strong foreground and use of the ND filter to create softness in the water which helps accentuate the texture in the rocks.

In order to create a more balanced composition I feel it would benefit from a slight crop on the right side and top of the image. The whole photograph looks a little over-processed, especially the sky, and so it’s worth holding back a little in order to produce a more realistic representation of the scene. Subtlety, in my opinion, is very much the key when it comes to the digital–darkroom stage. Less contrast would have revealed more detail, and if you find you have used the incorrect strength of ND Grad then you can reduce its effect (or strengthen), easily, in image editing software. Robert Canis

If ever there was an example of when and how to use a Super Stopper, this is it! The subject lends itself, perfectly, to this kind of imagery where simplicity is key. The curve of the pier concluding with the lighthouse make for a very effective and strong composition. If an ND hadn’t been used I fear the texture in the water would have conflicted with the lines and details of the structures. As it is the water has been reduced to ‘silky-smooth’ and the clouds, although blurred, still exhibit enough texture to provide interest.

The processing has been very well executed. Often the tendency, by some, when producing a monochrome image is to make it very contrasty whereas this, you might say, is rather understated. And that’s what I like about it. There is sufficient contrast without going over the top and the darkening of the sky forces the viewer’s eye down to the pier. A beautiful image, Azzam. Robert Canis

For some time the use of ND filters has been very much in vogue with, occasionally, very little forethought as to the how it will affect the mood of the resulting image. The Big Stopper invariably seems to be the first port of call while, of course, there are several others we can reach for. Colin has used my personal favourite (the Little Stopper) which has produced just the right amount of movement in the clouds and although the water is smooth it has still retained definition. The foreground is strong with the rocks leading to the sun.

There are a just a couple of adjustments I would make. First, I would crop a little off the top (to just above the clouds) and off the right to reduce the amount of dark rocks in the frame and finally, running a grad filter, diagonally, across the right side of the image and increasing exposure a touch would give the photograph overall tonal balance. Robert Canis

This is a location I know very well from running workshops in Northumberland, and it’s one of my favourite with these fabulous large pebbles in the foreground. Having made a few attempts at this type of image at sunrise myself, I know how difficult it is to achieve – not only because the rocks are super slippery but also to capture the water in the right place at the right time! Colin has done well with his timing as wet pebbles are key here and I love the light on them and the overall contrast of the warm and blue tones throughout the image.

There is a delicate balance when using Big and Little Stoppers between creating movement and losing all sense of texture in the water and it’s also very much a personal view. In this case, whilst I generally prefer to see more movement rather than ‘mist’ around rocks, I do like the fact the viewer can see through the water to the pebbles beneath. All in all a lovely image, well composed and very well executed. Sarah Howard

This is a simple yet highly effective image that caught my eye. I am not a fan of extreme movement in clouds, but I think Craig has got this just right with his 10 second exposure. Had the clouds been more defined they might have proved to be a distraction.

With a strong subject and composition, this image works very well in black and white as does the central placement of the hands and overall composition. A simple yet effective and thought-provoking image. Well done for seeing the potential in this Craig, as I suspect myself and no doubt many others, would simply have passed this by. Sarah Howard

Another simple yet highly effective image which is excellently composed and clearly well thought out. Although I feel that this could also work well in monochrome, the combination of warm and cool tones is lovely and gives a softer feel, especially with consideration to the hardness of the urban structure.

The use of the Big Stopper has really helped to bring out the reflection of the posts, which would otherwise be lost, and in this context, I feel the exposure time is just about perfect. An image to be proud of Chris. Sarah Howard

Wow – look at those mountains! The fantastic foreground interest along with that wonderful red glow on the side of the mountain really make this image for me. The use of the ND Graduated Filter has helped to control the exposure on the sky and darken it down just enough to help contain the eye within the main body of the photograph.

There are a couple of distractions which I feel weaken the image; firstly the inclusion of part of a branch on the right, which I suspect couldn’t be avoided due to its proximity to the main branch. Although I tend to avoid too much cloning in favour of getting it right in camera, in this case I’d look to clone this out. Secondly there is a very bright patch of water on the right hand side to which draws the eye – perhaps the use of a soft ND Grad at an angle might have helped to reduce this. In addition, it looks as if Chris was shooting downwards and I do wonder if a lower viewpoint might have worked better? The horizon also is not completely straight, although with lakes this is deceiving. Suffice to say this image has made me want to visit Patagonia! Sarah Howard

This image has, not only great subject matter, but a wonderful sky which has been successfully enhanced by the use of the 0.9ND Grad to reveal the wonderful texture of the clouds. The result is a dramatic, moody feel with fabulous light on the water and foreground boulder. I also particularly like the movement in the water around the boulder although I wonder if a little could be cropped off the bottom of the photograph, without destroying too much of that lovely wave movement.

The rock on the right hand side at the edge of the frame I find distracting, so I would have looked to avoid this if possible when composing the image. That may not have been possible but it would be relatively simple to clone this out. Sarah Howard

I had a few long exposure shots to choose from this month, some better than others and whilst some can be very cliché, others, despite maybe also being a little cliché, just work! So, Jeremy's offering here caught my eye, but there's good reason too. Yes, there's lovely colour. Yes, there's movement. But both these compliment the other subjects in the frame. He hasn't chosen to use the long exposure technique just simply because nothing else would work and that's key. The lines and movement in the sky add drama, add impact and yet also draw the eye to the main subjects. Those wonderful rocks echo these motion-led lines in their static form. They all lead to a single main subject in the background, the mountain.

The image could do with a slight crop, just to remove some of the peripheral vision, as well as emptiness off to the right. All the movement is coming in from a bottom left direction, so Jeremy needs to emphasise that with the framing. You may be bored of these type of images, you may see this as too obvious, but if you hadn't seen hundreds of bad examples, then I'm sure you would agree that this is how it should be done. Craig Roberts

Well, here's an example that illustrates that not all long exposure shots HAVE to be taken at the coast with the sea as the main subject! A combination of Big and Little Stopper filters has given 15 stops ND effect, giving the River Thames a surreal softness. The diagonal of the Millennium Bridge could have been enhanced by a slight crop to the left hand side of the frame and the image looks like it is a black and white conversion, but with some colour pop on certain areas. Not required in my eyes.

This view has been done a million times before, but a simple long exposure gives St Paul's more focus, more impact. The Thames is usually grey, choppy and uninteresting. However, in this result, it has mood, it has tone and along with the sky, it allows this view to become even more iconic for its simplicity. Craig Roberts

Whilst there are many images and views that benefit from a long exposure to add blur and movement to a scene, this isn't one of them! What this image does have however, is great foreground and lots of it. This is emphasised by the high position of the horizon. Perfect. What Brent has done here however, is try to enhance the landscape of Death Valley by blurring the clouds in the sky. So, instead of complimenting the landscape below, it's now competing with it.

I feel Brent should have used those 6 minutes to enjoy the landscape, watch the sun set and then take the picture. There's too much contrast here and a little flare (no doubt caused by the two grads). You've got a great eye for a composition Brent, but you perhaps need to have more patience too. Craig Roberts

The most effective landscape images consist of shape, form and light. Capture this with just the right filter to enhance or balance what you have and you have a winning result.

Iain has used just a Polariser here to enhance his scene and it's the shape within the frame that has caught his eye. The warm light on the dunes is wonderful, but the little S-shape being created is even better. The water gently snakes its way up the frame, leading the eye to the mountains beyond. A side step to the right, would have cropped out some of the main dune top right, where the composition does feel a bit 'loose' and this would have also probably allowed the main mountain range a bit more 'breathing space' to its left.

I love Iain's vision here however. He's using the landscape to his benefit. He's spotted a feature that was naturally there, that many others may well have missed and captured a view with lovely light and wonderful textures. Craig Roberts

What intrigued me about this shot by Andy, was not only the impressive subject, but also the filter choice for the image. For this picture he used a warm up filter as well as an ND filter (grad I'm presuming). In the digital age, the warm up filter has almost become obsolete by the White Balance control, allowing us to warm up (or cool down) our images to our hearts content, either in-camera or during post. That's not to say you can't still use the 81 series filters over the lens and whilst Andy's may just happen to be an all-in-one warm-up/grad filter, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that it was a calculated choice to warm this scene up.

The best silhouettes are the simplest ones. Strong shapes, bold subjects and minimal distractions. You couldn't ask for more here and the outline of the subjects provides all the narration necessary. As the grad filter hasn't allowed enough light to capture the flowers or streaks of light and shade on them either, I think a lower horizon would have been better, placing the plane and four figures at the bottom of the frame instead. I do love the low angle however. Craig Roberts

An objective for any landscape photographer should be the evocation of mood. This picture achieves that through a combination of good timing, and a super wide angle lens that adds greatly to the feeling of space. The symmetrical composition creates a feeling of stillness, and the proportions of the composition allow the fog to breathe, avoiding anything physically recognisable in the foreground.

Since there is so little to look at in the composition it is tempting to label this image as “minimal”, which might be true, but it’s probably more useful to ask why such an image is evocative. The viewer brings their own interpretation; mine includes the thought there is something slightly unsettling about this picture in spite of the apparently settled weather. There is a mystery in the limited visibility; what might be concealed just beyond the island? Is there land? A far lake shore? Is it a flooded landscape? We can’t know. It may be the ambiguities and unanswered questions that make a photograph worthy of prolonged study. Joe Cornish

Depth is such a fundamental consideration in landscape image making, and good composition and viewpoint make a huge difference to the evocation of depth. One might think that with all the raw materials - stormy and dramatic lighting, the sinuous receding lines of a braided river bed, and an outstanding viewpoint - that a good photograph would be guaranteed. But to bear witness to a moment like this requires effort and endeavour; it rarely happens by accident. And there are still judgments to be made in composition, exposure and post-production rendering.

The golden sunlight beams in this composition are critical, enhancing the aerial perspective of the hills and providing an uplifting mood counterpoint to the darkness of the sky. A minor irritant is the rather abrupt starting point of the river in the foreground; this could be mitigated by darkening the highlights of the river slightly where it meets the bottom edge of the frame. Overall though, the quality of light and shade looks really natural and is very well-judged. Joe Cornish

The rendering of this image has a lovely softness to it that ushers the viewer forward into the picture space. The colours seem slightly desaturated; hard to know if that is ‘how it was’, or the photographer’s personal vision, but it certainly enhances the tones and mood of this coastal landscape. It is wise to make creative decisions that reflect the qualities inherent in the weather of the moment, to go with the flow, and not only to follow one’s own personal agenda (important though that is).

It might seem obvious to say that the sky matters in landscape photography, but clearly this is one image where it matters more than most. Emanating from the centrally placed lighthouse, the textures of the clouds give the picture movement and energy. However, this is one detail where I would also suggest to Karin there could be some extra work to do. While the filter has done a good job of balancing the sky to the foreground, the upper reaches of the sky have become somewhat muddy. A little subtle lightening and contrast enhancement in this area would probably help. Joe Cornish

I’ll admit to having mixed feelings about including this image in the selection as it is such an awe-inspiring location… and such spectacular locations are often inclined to produce disappointing results. Still, it would be uncharitable to deny that this is a wonderful moment, and the lighting in particular really does justice to the landscape. The picture has a softness to it slightly at odds with the raw and rugged physicality of the shore. Was this was caused by a lens slightly affected by sea spray, or a post-production decision? Who knows… Roberto presumably! What is certain is that the lighting balance, managed in camera by two filters, is extremely fine.

Regarding composition I do have some mixed feelings as the open sea on the right fails to balance the interesting rocks with the flowing water patterns on the left. It also seems that the opportunity to create an even more positive connection and perhaps convergence between the rocks and the mountains has been missed. However, not being present at the time and so not knowing just how risky/dangerous/impossible the context was means that this might be an irrelevant point. Just as it is the image still offers so much to enjoy and admire. Joe Cornish

It is particularly difficult to make some sense of English heathland, a habitat which is usually lacking in significant features and focal points. Yet if this is where you live and enjoy being outdoors close to home it will mean a lot to you, and so finding ways of interpreting its charm and beauty is a worthwhile challenge.

What intrigues and mystifies me about this image is, it seems to be a frosty winter morning, yet the ling heather in the foreground appears to be in flower, a state normally associated with August! Whatever the event, the delicacy of colour from the light is wonderfully evocative and works perfectly for the heathery landscape. The sunrise illuminating the mist gives a contrasting colour note and depth to the landscape.

A debatable element is the old tree recumbent on the right. Pointing towards the pine, the movement it gives is consistent with the way the space works, but it does feel a little cut off by the edge of the frame. On balance I think it is acceptable as in no sense does it dominate the picture. Joe Cornish

This is the kind of picture that makes me want to put my boots on and hike over the hills and far away. It also makes we want to load up and head north for Scotland. And surely that says it all; pictures that evoke those kind of reactions have surely succeeded, haven’t they?

I love the depth to this picture, and the balance between the foreground interest of wonderfully textured rocks and the distant sweeping landscape. I also like the muted, subtle colours and the bright, high key feel; I see far too many dark moody landscapes which look fine on a glowing monitor in a dark room but just dingy and sombre as prints on the wall.

I think the distant detail is a little too washed though, as is the detail in the clouds top left. Claudio has chosen the right ND Grad filter to use; all the detail is there, I just feel a few highlights could be pulled back with a few subtle adjustments in post-production. But that shouldn’t cloud the fact this is an accomplished image, and full marks Claudio for hiking up there to capture it. David Noton

I love minimal colour images like this. Sweep your eye from corner to corner; the only colour present is the blue of the boat contrasting with the yellowy/brown of its rotting timbers. The subtle use of colour is one of the hardest things to learn in photography I believe, maybe its intuitive, but Jean-Yves has managed it with this powerfully observed image. The best images are always the simplest, a point this picture illustrates well; there’s nothing in the frame that doesn’t deserve to be there.

The use of a Polariser has given a pleasing gradation to the surface of the water and saturated the few colours present, but I would observe the use of a 0.9 ND grad filter is a touch heavy-handed; when the sky looks darker than its reflection alarm bells ring. I would accept that all rules are made to be broken though, and it’s a subjective call, but I think a 0.6 ND grad would have been the way to go. But what a perceptive image Jean-Yves; well done! David Noton

I know from long experience of judging pictures and competitions that the eye quickly becomes weary of formulaic photography, so when something different crops up it immediately attracts attention. This picture jumped out at me. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want it on my wall; I’m not sure I like it at all, but it certainly says something about the bleak environments that we’ve created for ourselves on the fringes of city centres.

The use of the Big Stopper ND has blurred the traffic trails nicely, they’re compositionally key to the image after all. The motion blur in the clouds is not too much; any longer and they’d become a mess. With texture in a sky like that why loose it with too long an exposure?

But technically this image has a glaring weakness; there’s insufficient depth of field to render the parapet and chain-link fence sharp. So who says they have to be sharp? Not me; but if they’re not going to be sharp they need to be really soft, not somewhere inbetween. I’ll forgive Tiernan for that though because this picture is different, and it works. I can think of other places I’d rather be hanging around as dusk falls though! David Noton

Dappled light on the landscape is so much more dramatic then blanket illumination, isn’t it? This is a wonderfully atmospheric picture. OK, Yosemite is epic, we all know that, but the most dramatic landscapes are often the hardest to shoot. To capture something special in such well known and overly photographed locations we really have to dig deep.

Derick has captured an image full of dark mood here. Too dark? Those shadows on the left are awfully dense, but then again there’s beauty in a rich black. I may have teased out a bit more detail there, but I applaud Derick’s courage in embracing the darkness.

He’s used his filters subtly too, with no obvious grad line darkening down the top of the mountain and good detail in the heavy threatening sky. I’m not quite sure what the use of a Big Stopper achieved though; an exposure just a few seconds long would blur the water fall nicely. But who am I to question? It’s worked, and by the way; it’s another minimal colour image! Don’t you just love them? David Noton

Time to confess; I am tired of long exposure pictures of breaking waves. Maybe that’s heresy to admit here, but I think they’ve become a boring cliché. That’s hypocrisy on my part of course, because I have been making such pictures for decades. No longer though; I now like to capture the texture and energy of the waves, not seas of milk.

What then of William’s long exposure study? Producing such images is fun, and I have to admit this is a fine example of the genre. It’s also yet another brilliant illustration of the power of minimal colour; just look at the refined use of muted blues and greys. Compositionally it’s a clean, graphic, elegant and well observed image. I love the triangular section of beach in the foreground.

The use of both Big and Little Stoppers together allowed a glacially long 24 minute exposure; did you go off for a cold one whilst the shutter was open William? In a nutshell this is a finely crafted picture with impact that as a print on a wall could look wonderful, but still; for me the novelty has long worn off. David Noton

What an usual and abstract vision of one of London’s most recognisable attractions. It is always heart-warming to see something done differently, and that is certainly the case here. This is not a perfect photograph. The sky is a little heavy and perhaps detracts from the strong arc of the Eye; the centre of the wheel is a little out of balance. But forgetting the detail and concentrating on ‘the big picture’ and we see that this is actually a wonderful photograph.

I love the geometric quality of the curve of the wheel meeting the diagonal sky. I love the sense of motion generated by the use of a 6-stop Little Stopper to slow down the shutter speed, I love the use of black and white that simplifies the composition and draws attention to the lines and curves, and most of all I love the creativity and artist’s eye of the photographer that put it all together. Jonathan Chritchley

I have to admit to not normally being a fan of the oranges and pinks of sunrise and sunset, but I find the serenity and grace of this lovely photograph extraordinary.

The composition is strong, the post processing discreet and the mood magical. Some might remark on the fact that the boat is pointing out of the frame, but in this case that doesn’t bother me at all. I love the space and tranquility of this very lovely scene.

My only criticism is the slight lack of balance of the vignette in the right hand top and bottom corners which are considerably darker than those on the left. That sort of thing does make a difference in a photograph as minimalist as this one, but certainly doesn’t detract from its beauty. Jonathan Chritchley

This photograph immediately stood out to me for its strong composition and dreamlike quality. I love the fact that at first glance it seems almost abstract, and it is only when one has been studying it for a few seconds that one realises that the trees are trees and the mist is mist.

Technically this is also a very competent image; the tones are very well controlled, and the detail is perfectly held in the shadows and highlights. My only criticism, and it is a small one, is that the patch of mist towards very the top of the photograph is a little bright and perhaps leads the eye too quickly towards the top edge. But that aside, a very fine piece of work which I can imagine looks wonderful as a print. Jonathan Chritchley

Every minimalist photographer loves a bit of sea mist and the photographer behind this well-executed capture makes very good use of it here.

I very much like the thought behind the diagonal composition of the rocks, creating a well-balanced, geometrically strong image. The colours and tones are also beautifully handled; enough blue in the sea yet enough red in the rocks – actually not an easy thing to get right.

One might argue that perhaps the photographer could have been a little braver with the negative space, shooting wider and creating more of a feeling of isolation and emotion, but of course that may not have been possible here. All in all, a very lovely seascape. Jonathan Chritchley

This photograph has a strong minimalist feel, and the photographer has shown great control of the black and white tones. The choice to go low key proved to be a fantastic one, as it adds to the drama and atmosphere; any other approach may have seemed a little bland, but this treatment lifts the mood considerably.

The inclusion of the twigs in the bottom left hand corner add just a touch of reality and tension in the otherwise flawless glass like water created by the use of a Big Stopper. In an ideal world I would have like to have seen a little more space around the structure, particularly to its left and right, to let the eye roam more freely around the image, but this may well not have been possible. All in all, a lovely photograph. Jonathan Chritchley

This is an example of one of those images we see and think, ‘wow, I wish I had been there’. Beautifully captured by James, it exudes power and scale in a photograph that simply begs you to look at it.

The lead in line of the falls takes you to the sun as it peers through the spray and cloud. Although there is a soft and blurry feel to large parts of the photograph, it remains powerful. The Little Stopper coupled with a 0.6ND Soft Grad are just enough to create the effect, and you are in no doubt as to the majesty of Niagara Falls.

Could I suggest an improvement? Maybe just a bit more sky, but honestly I would be extremely proud of that shot as it is. Mark Gilligan

Nature at its finest and well captured by Steve. The natural lead in lines to the tree have been carefully selected to create the ‘V’ that takes you there. Once you have been pulled into it, the level of detail has your eye scanning the frame. You want to see more and are not disappointed with what you see. Monochrome is a good choice and the way I would present this photograph. The portrait format works very well too.

Of course, we all view scenes that we come across differently and whilst I really like this photograph, I would have considered getting down just a bit lower so that the tree trunk broke through above the horizon of pavement, thus standing out more against the sky. That way, it may have been possible to utilise a 0.6ND Grad just as effectively as the stark branches would still stand out. Minor points for a cracking shot. Mark Gilligan

I was immediately pulled into the photograph by the imposing granite rock in the foreground and the strong lead in line of the channel. Rob has reinforced the power in the image by ensuring that the imposing shapes and detail in the rocks are not lost and the way the gash in the boulder follows through onto the right hand channel is excellent. The use of the 1.8 ProGlass IRND filter has rendered it true to its natural colour. I like its overall mood and purpose.

Could it be improved? The islands in the distance do conflict with the slanting boulder that cuts across them and I would have considered either coming back slightly so that the boulder ‘kissed’ the islands on the horizon or slightly elevated my tripod to ensure it didn’t ‘jar’ by leaving a gap between them. Great image though. Mark Gilligan

David has created an image where there is just enough here to grab your attention and I say that in an appreciative way. Minimal but with enough detail to ‘hook’ you in.

The mist diffuses the stronger element in the foreground then invites you to peer deeper within where the network of trees becomes obvious. Nothing is sharp here and you would expect that on such a day. It does not detract from the atmosphere. An almost monochromatic look is lifted by the barest of colour on the tree bark adding to the cold stark feel. A polariser was used to minimise sun glare on the day.

Would I ‘do it’ differently? Always easy after the event and not being in the actual location never helps but I would have taken the extending tree branch that forks up to the top right-hand corner of the frame rather than below it. A minor tweak to an atmospheric image. Mark Gilligan

Jaromir has produced a golden hour photograph of ‘that tree’ by Lake Padarn at Llanberis, North Wales. I like the way its branches mimic the mountain's natural line on the left-hand side of the frame. Uncluttered and with everything pulling you towards the head of the pass way in the distance.

The polariser has enhanced the reflections and the addition of the Big Stopper has ‘dragged’ the clouds into frame adding more interest. It is a lovely image but maybe a slightly longer exposure would have created more of the sky feature by slowing the trail of the clouds down further thus allowing them to point more emphatically towards the top right-hand corner of the image. I would also have liked to have changed the crop and seen the tree reflection in full. I know the location, so am aware that this can be done. A couple of minor tweaks to a cracking shot. Mark Gilligan

I had to pick this shot. First and foremost, it is a lovely image, but secondly it is a location I know and recognise, being just a short drive from where I live. As you may already know, I love simplicity – clean, uncomplicated compositions. Therefore, it is unsurprising that this photograph appeals to me.

The use of a Little Stopper to prolong exposure to 5-seconds works perfectly in this instance, proving just long enough to creatively soften the water in order to highlight the shape and edges of the jagged rocks. However, importantly, Andrew has retained interesting detail within the water and waves – something he risked losing had he opted for a stronger ND. I like the water’s coolness, combined with the gorgeous warm tones in the sky. I also love the subtle implication of motion within the distant waves. Overall, a lovely capture. Ross Hoddinott

I’ve long evangelised about the importance and effect of using filters, but confine myself to a Polariser, ND Grads and Stoppers. I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but I’ve always considered other filter types unessential, or even gimmicky. However, Frederico’s image is a good example of how a Mist Stripe can enhance certain scenes.

You might disagree, but I don’t think it is immediately obvious that the filter was used in this instance. Frederico has used it appropriately and the filter has added atmosphere to the image. Although I would consider applying some negative clarity (in Lightroom) to the foreground to help blend in the filter’s effect. The composition is simple, but compelling. The track drags the viewer’s eye into the image, implying depth and vanishing into that lovely negative space. Ross Hoddinott

Jökulsarlon in Iceland must now be one of the most photographed places in the World – and it is not hard to understand why. Chunks of sculptured ice lie on black, volcanic sand – for landscape photographers, it is like being a kid in a sweet shop. Just because it is a well-photographed location, doesn’t mean it is an easy place to take good shots. In fact, as a photographer, you have to work even harder to capture a standout image. I think Reinhard has done just that, though.

The length of exposure – generated by the use of a Little Stopper – has created lovely motion. Timing was key in this instance – Reinhard triggered the shutter at just the right moment, as the backwash rushed around the cool blue ice.

I do find the ice in the bottom right corner slightly distracting, but I doubt there was any way to exclude it without compromising the shot’s overall balance. However, I think I would tighten up the composition slightly in order to exclude the piece of ice jutting into the left side of the image (half way up) and also the two fragments of ice on the upper right hand side of the frame. Doing so would strengthen the overall composition I feel. Do you agree? Ross Hoddinott

Just like Adam (Burton) last month, I’m not known for being a black and white fan – I much prefer colour. I rarely convert my own images, but it is a powerful, timeless medium and this shot really caught my eye while judging.

I doubt many photographers – myself included – would have seen the picture potential of this particular scene. Credit to Roger for having the ability to pre-visualise this graphic and striking result. His imaginative use of a Big Stopper has enabled him to blur the train’s motion and convey interest, motion and energy. This image owes is success to strong lines, shapes and flow. It is simple, yet effective. The timing is excellent, as is the post-production. Admittedly, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I do think Roger has produced a very classy shot here. Ross Hoddinott

This is a lovely seasonal image. The warm autumnal colours, mirror-like reflections, and wisps of mist collaborate to produce the type of conditions that make landscape photographers go weak at the knees. The tight composition is effective and I like the way David has framed the main, central trees with the river bank either side. The use of a polarising filter has really brought those seasonal colours alive, while enhancing the reflections.

It is a shame that the reflection of the central trees is clipped – I would prefer to see the entire reflection. Processing – very much like composition – is a highly subjective and personal thing and there is no right or wrong. If this were my shot, I’d reduce the level of contrast slightly to produce a softer, lower contrast result. As it is, I find the mist just a little too bright. Ross Hoddinott

Anyone that knows me, knows that black and white isn’t my thing. However, when I see a good black and white photograph I can appreciate it, and this is certainly one of those images. The old pier boasts some strong, simple shapes, which are well suited to a B&W conversion, so I think Les has definitely made the right choice here. This simplicity is emphasized really well by a long exposure, so it was a great decision to fit the Super Stopper to give such a long shutter speed.

There is only one suggestion that I could offer to improve this composition, and it’s only a tiny thing. This kind of picture is all about symmetry, and time taken composing a completely symmetrical image pays dividends. I’m slightly bothered by the spacing between the two posts on the left of the picture, and the gap just beyond them, when compared to the posts and gap on the opposite side. A small step to the left would hopefully have corrected this, and provided the finishing touch to a beautiful image. Adam Burton

Tomasz has captured a fine photograph of a very beautiful building here. The warmth of the tangerine sunrise is incredibly appealing as is the softness thanks to the misty conditions. The soft ND Grad has done a fine job in subtly retaining those warm colours in the sky, leaving the viewer to admire the picture without noticing any filtration, just as it should be.

The composition is simple, yet effective. The smallest hint of a footpath leads the eye towards the church, and attention is naturally drawn up to the windows in the tower, where that irresistible glow completes the picture.

I don’t mind the central placement of the church; yet with the bush on the right hand side I feel a more balanced composition could be achieved by offsetting the building with a slight crop off the left and top of the picture. Adam Burton

Another black and white makes my shortlist! And this is another example of an image working really well without colour. I absolutely adore the wet mosaic tiles in the foreground; their shapes are incredibly appealing in B&W. In fact there is strong interest throughout the whole picture, yet the composition remains very balanced and uncluttered. You can tell Gianluca has considered this composition very carefully, it simply works.

This is another example of how a long exposure can be very effective in a coastal photograph, however; personally I think a 5 minute exposure was maybe a bit longer than was necessary to achieve this effect. I’m surprised to see a Little Stopper was used to achieve this shutter speed. Even with a polarizer, I wouldn’t have thought such a long exposure could be achieved at this time, so perhaps Gianluca used a Big Stopper instead?

With such strong interest in the bottom half of the picture, I suggest a crop to a 16 x 9 aspect ratio, losing half the sky to strengthen the composition and focus more attention on the key elements of the image. Adam Burton

I’m often telling people that colourful sunrises and sunsets aren’t the be all and end all to landscape photography, especially at the coast, and this image shows that really well. I’m sure Emanuel would have happily accepted a colourful sunset sky, but the muted colours he has captured on this cloudy day work excellently.

The sea defences make wonderful subject matter for a seascape, and especially a long exposure, which Emanuel has achieved with a Big Stopper. I’m not sure I would have used such a strong graduated filter here; the 0.9 hard edge has made the sky very dark, which is appealing but possibly unnatural. I think a 0.6 hard edge grad would have done the job perfectly well here.

Composition wise, there is strong interest throughout the centre of the image, but I find the sand and rocks to the right distract from the overall appeal. I think a square crop would give the picture more balance and appeal. Adam Burton

As soon as I first saw this photograph it grabbed my attention. It’s such a simple composition, which also breaks some compositional rules, and yet it works magnificently. You could argue that the mountains are placed centrally in the frame and there isn’t any obvious foreground interest, but rules were made to be broken.

I simply love the black brooding mountains, broken up by the shards of light piercing the dark slopes. That green water captivates me, the colour is incredibly appealing, and despite using a Big Stopper to achieve a 20 second exposure the water remains nicely textured.

Well done to Nils for spotting, and capturing such a special moment. With such a simple composition, I do find the rocks creeping in on the right a distraction. You could easily clone those out, although personally I would feel uncomfortable about this so would crop the image right and left to remove the rocks and retain a balanced composition. Adam Burton

This one was first on my list, there’s just so much to enjoy in this calm image. From the contrasting textures in the rocks and grasses in the foreground to the softly lit, mist shrouded castle reflected in the water, all against the backdrop of those hills.

The 0.6ND Medium Grad is one of my favourite filters and it has been used to great effect here to balance the sky and foreground without unduly darkening the mountains, keeping everything looking natural.

The composition works well but I think it would benefit from a tighter crop. Keeping the ratio the same I’d try cropping down from the top right to just above the mountains on the left to focus the attention on the castle more while also moving it off centre. Justin Minns

This is a fascinating image with so much more going for it than the unusual conditions. The composition is excellent with the grass providing foreground interest while the patterns made by the water lead you gently into the frame towards the trees and of course the fogbow.

The combination of a Hard ND graduated filter and a Circular Polariser have worked well, the grad retaining contrast in the sky while the polariser has emphasized the effect of the fogbow as well as boosting saturation throughout.

The soft lighting and the contrast between the warm light on the grasses and cool blues of the sky is very appealing, in fact here’s really not much I’d change here but (and I know I’m repeating myself) I think it would benefit from a slight crop from the right hand side to centre the fogbow in the frame. Justin Minns

I love the power in this shot, you can almost feel the spray and hear the roar from the Dynjandi waterfall cascading down the rockface. The inclusion of a lone figure on the rocks gives us a sense of scale and they’ve been positioned perfectly to stand out against the background of the white water in the bottom right third of the picture.

A Little Stopper has been used to slow the shutter speed, giving the water a soft silky appearance which contrasts nicely with the hard jagged rocks and the high contrast between those dark rocks and bright water has been handled well, with no blown highlights in the white water, but I’d like to see a bit more detail in the foreground rock.

I also find the bright area of sky in the top left corner distracting and I’d be inclined to crop that out leaving just the waterfall and the figure, which I think would add further impact. Justin Minns

I love dramatic seascapes and this one is superb. It has been well composed using the streams of water coming in from the bottom corners to lead the eye into the image and the wide angle lens puts the emphasis right where it needs to be, on the swirling water in the foreground. It’s the choice of shutter speed that makes the image for me though, with just the right amount of blur to capture the motion of the water without losing too much detail.

The moody sky nicely compliments the drama going on below, but while the 0.9ND Medium Grad has kept most of the detail in the sky I can’t help thinking that with a nice clear horizon like that, perhaps a Hard or Very Hard Grad might have retained a little more detail in the brighter areas. Justin Minns

Another fantastic seascape. I love the quality of light and the contrasts between the soft textures of the sea and sky against the harshness of the rocks, the subdued cool tones against the watery warm light.

The slow shutter speed, courtesy of a Little Stopper is just right, softening the water but crucially leaving some texture to hint at the power in the waves while a 0.6ND Hard Grad similarly, balances the exposure without going too far.

The composition has been well thought out, those foreground rocks full of detail and texture, pull you into the image towards the jagged rocks beyond, which look (to me anyway) like a sleeping dragon. My only pause is that I feel it ends a bit abruptly on the right, I realise it might not have been possible but I’d like to have seen a little more of the foreground rocks and sea on that side. Justin Minns

I love the simplicity and minimalism of this image – it’s a great example of the reductionist approach to composition that I advocate i.e. taking out everything that doesn’t contribute to the core message of the photograph.

A Big Stopper combined with a 3 Stop ND filter have been used to good effect. The long exposure has emphasised the graphic composition and the movement & texture in the clouds gives a feeling of energy and dynamism. There’s also a lovely range of tones (important in a B&W image like this).

The only change I’d make would be to crop out the industrial structures on the right side of the horizon line – they detract from the otherwise clean lines of the image. Overall, it's lovely and a photograph I would have been pleased to have taken myself. Steve Gosling

Again, this striking photograph demonstrates less is more – it’s the simplicity that gives this image its strength. The light quality, tones and colours are superb – I particularly like the cool and warm colour contrasts – and the textures on the sand give a real strength to the foreground.

One question I have is over the choice of a Big Stopper to extend the exposure to 243 seconds. This has given a sense of energy to the sky that I find at odds with the calm & peaceful feel of the rest of the image. In situations like this it's important to experiment if time allows – so as well as the Big Stopper try a shot without any ND, use a Little Stopper (which would have given a 15 second exposure here and may have been the choice I would have made). Steve Gosling

The use of a 17mm focal length has emphasised the foreground and shooting at f/11 has given great optical quality making the most of the textures on the structure. The use of a Big Stopper to extend the exposure has smoothed the water ensuring that it doesn’t distract from those textures. Importantly the 480 second exposure has also allowed the hint of the rails under the surface to appear.

The blue cast (common with the Big Stopper) has not been corrected and I think that adds a great mood to the image as well as giving a colour contrast to the warm light in the distance and the green in the foreground. My only concern with this photo is that the sky looks like it’s been over filtered – a 3 stop ND Grad with a Real Blue 2 Hard Grad may just have been too much. Steve Gosling

A beautiful photograph that is well composed with the tree placed close to the centre of the image towards the top of the frame and the lines in the field leading up to it. The warm colours of the crop (a vital factor in the success of this photograph) have been enhanced by the use of a Polarising filter and an ND Grad has held detail in the sky.

I like the colour ‘stripes’ in the image – the warm foreground topped by the grey sky, itself topped by a layer of warm clouds. I would crop out the top band in the sky – its lightness is drawing my eye out of the frame. The foreground also looks a little soft (for me this needs to be razor sharp) and I wonder if an aperture of f/11 or f/16 would have been better than f8 to give more depth of field. Steve Gosling

I love the flowing, curving lines in this composition that sweep the viewer through the image. The attention to compositional detail has been good e.g. the separation of the top of the foreground on the right from the line of the river beyond is important.

The exposure has been well handled to prevent the distant headland from recording as a featureless silhouette, helped by a 3 stop ND graduated filter to darken the sky and bring down the contrast range. This was also aided by the timing – taking the photograph just as the sun starts to sink into the cloud below has reduced its intensity. A Little Stopper has given a 50 second exposure, just enough to record some cloud movement and provide some interest in the sky.

Unfortunately, the close foreground is not razor sharp – more precise attention should have been given to securing adequate depth of field. Steve Gosling

This is a lovely image in the traditional landscape format. The composition is well balanced, and the eye is led from the leading rocks, with that lovely soft light, through to the dramatic clouds in the distance. The use of the more forgiving 0.9 ND Soft Grad has really balanced the exposure whilst not affecting the tower of the lighthouse.

One aspect I particularly like is the area of flowing water in the foreground. The use of the LEE Polariser has cut through the UV light, allowing the foamy areas to stand out. The Little Stopper has worked well here also, leaving just enough detail in the rushing waters to add impact.

If I was to change anything, I might be tempted to crop a little from the sky, moving the horizon closer to a third, and perhaps a little from the right side, shifting the lighthouse slightly away from centre. Chris Ceaser

I was drawn to the subtlety of the light in this rather mystical image. The Little Stopper has worked a treat here, creating enough of a sensation of movement without losing areas of detail in the water, detail which may have been lost with a longer exposure. Cropping out the sky has eliminated the need for filters in that area.

There is a nice flow to this composition with the viewer being led through the image, past the cascading waterfalls to the bridge and beyond. The light on the bridge is what gives a little magic to this image, though I think those greens may need to be 'cooled down' just a little. Also, a slight crop from the left side would lose a little of that distracting rock wall, and make for a more powerful composition. Chris Ceaser

This image really caught my eye. The composition is stunning. There is a natural flow to everything, starting with the curved rocks at bottom of the image. From here the eye follows the curvature of the cliff edge to the lighthouse itself. Deciding to frame the image at the bottom with the rocks themselves is very effective and provides a clean starting point for the viewer.

This is a composite of 4 shots, the sky shot separately from the land. The land and sea were shot over a couple of frames and the Big Stopper has done its job well here, calming the water underneath the lighthouse, and helping the foreground to stand out with no distracting waves to draw our attention from the lovely colour and texture of those incredible rocks. The image has a wonderful warmth throughout and is one of my favourites this month. Chris Ceaser

A striking image of Lofoten in Norway. The letterbox composition works well here, with the image seemingly divided into a lighter and a darker half. A 0.6 ND Soft Grad has helped balance the exposure, though there are a couple of overexposed areas on the mountains. Maybe a 0.9 ND Medium Grad might have been better in this case.

A Big Stopper and a 0.6 ND Standard filter give around 12 stops of filtration and this has resulted in a beautiful sky and calm waters that allow the mountains to 'jump out' at the viewer, their sharpness contrasted starkly against the calmer waters. I like the inclusion of the rocks bottom left as they help to 'ground' the area around the old huts, which are positioned diagonally opposite the large mountain, giving balance to the image. I also like the slight blueish cast to this, presumably coming from the Stopper and the long exposure. Chris Ceaser

This is an extremely vibrant image with lush colours throughout. The inclusion of the foreground rocks give the perfect opportunity to use the Big Stopper, as well as adding interest and balance in the lower left corner. The calm waters allow the rocks and the grasses on the right to achieve prominence within the foreground, whilst the 117 second exposure has captured some lovely movement in those clouds.

I like the flow in this image. The eye is led from the rocks, through the grassy mound and the heart of the woodland, and then back along the lines of the clouds to finish off. Vibrant images like this can sometimes polarise opinion but it certainly works for me. Beautifully balanced, it is hard to find fault. Chris Ceaser

I love the diagonals in Mathew’s composition, which lead the eye into the far distance where the sun is setting. The Big Stopper has helped to simplify the photograph by calming the texture of the water. The warm colour tones in the photograph are also very special.

My feeling is that the photograph is printed too dark. The light on the foreground boulders is wonderful and to reveal more of this would be hugely beneficial. Also a slightly paler sky would reveal more of the beautiful cloud structures, again leading the eye into the distance. Paul Gallagher

Having been to this location many times I can see that Feliksas has made a wonderful photograph of the place and captured its grandeur and drama perfectly. The use of the Super Stopper and 0.9ND Soft Grad are perfect, the foreground rocks are superbly contrasted with the body of silky water and the grad has achieved lovely transitions of tones in the sky.

Using the Super Stopper can make an image that is slightly blue and I would recommend warming the image up a little to bring out the foreground rock colours. Paul Gallagher

The moment I saw the low contrast and soft tones in this image I was drawn in and fascinated. The portrait format in Tevfik’s photograph is very important and works perfectly with the subject matter as the eye is guided along the rocky shoreline to the distant headland beyond.

The use of the Polariser and Big Stopper together were essential to the photograph, the Polariser enhancing the colours and the Big Stopper creating the white waterline against the foreshore. The one thing I would alter is the strong greens, I feel they need warming a little as they look too vibrant and unnatural. Paul Gallagher

Having worked most of my professional career in black and white I was drawn to Brian’s beautifully simple coastal scene. I think the wooden posts are positioned superbly in the square frame and I love the subtle suggestion of something beneath the foreground water surface which can be seen which has been made possible by the use of the Big Stopper cutting out water textures.

My recommendation would be to burn the sky evenly as opposed to a vignette effect that has been used. I feel an even sky would lead the eye into infinity beyond the posts. Paul Gallagher

I think Iain’s photograph of Bamburgh Castle is staggering in every way! The combination of the Big Stopper to capture the subtle cloud reflections with the Polariser saturating the colours and allowing the viewer to see beneath the water surface is perfect. This photograph has everything from subtle calming colours to staggering detail throughout. The plateau of rock gently lit by the evening sun serves perfectly to guide the eye to the castle.

The one thing I think would strengthen this composition even more, is to crop a little of the left edge of the image to lose the protruding rock and dark shadow that seem to be vying for attention. Paul Gallagher

A beautifully crafted image – the composition is balanced, the edges are very well placed and it has a wonderfully inviting, warm glow about it – it really makes you want to be there.

Use of a Big Stopper and polarising filter has allowed a long exposure of 60 seconds. Not so long as to lose all texture in the water, but enough to smooth out both sea and sky, so emphasising the gritty textures of the mountainous backdrop. The time of day is also well chosen, with warm light on both the wooden cabins and the ridges beyond, drawing you into the scene.

The only thing I might try would be to lighten very slightly the top section of sky – it feels just a little too dark to me. This can sometimes happen with the softer ND grad filters, given the strongest filtration is at the top of the frame. Lizzie Shepherd

A delightful and graphic image, minimalist in many respects but with a little twist. These are the kind of scenes for which the Super Stopper is made but the success of the end result depends upon a really good composition. This feels just right to me – the relative heights of horizon and top of the lighthouse sit very comfortably and the very long exposure of 244 seconds has produced the silky smooth tones that work so well here. I also feel a square crop was an excellent choice.

The twist? The fact that the reflection of the lighthouse is slightly off centre just lends a little bit of tension to the image – one that adds to my enjoyment of it. Lizzie Shepherd

Another well-framed image – the elements are well balanced and, overall, there’s a good flow to the composition. The light reflecting off the boulders is wonderful. The 13 second exposure, courtesy of a 2 stop ND filter, has retained the lovely texture in the sea, though possibly a few seconds less might have been even better.

I’d have liked to see a bit more detail in the shadows of the distant cliffs and, likewise, I find the very dark boulder in the centre foreground a little dominant.

The sweep of the shoreline takes you out to sea and that warm horizon, although the hole in the cliff does also fight for your attention. Again, I think this could be addressed with a bit more detail in the surrounding cliffs, so giving less emphasis to the hole. Lizzie Shepherd

The way in which we respond to a picture is a very personal thing but this immediately took me back to a visit to a shadow puppet play in Indonesia, many years ago. The hazy and pareidolic form of the clouds on the horizon is the key here – providing intrigue and a sense of mystery. They are perfectly positioned in relation to the rotunda on the pier and I also really like the use of negative space across the image.

A mist filter has been used to create the hazy effect but, without such careful positioning of all the different elements here, the end result would not have been so compelling. A 4 second exposure (courtesy of a Little Stopper) has rendered the water reasonably smooth but, crucially, has not allowed the clouds to lose their wonderful shape. Lizzie Shepherd

This is a very bold and complex composition and I enjoy it for that very reason. By using an ultra wide-angle lens and getting so close, the photographer has given great emphasis to the foreground plant. A polarising filter can really help enhance the colour of wet leaves, although I’d be inclined to try reducing the saturation of the greens here to make the leaves a little less dominant. The mirroring of the fallen branch below and above the waterfall is a really nice touch.

I’d be tempted to crop the very top of the image, from just above the leaning tree, just to lose the brightest patch of white sky, which rather takes the eye out of the frame. I’d also have liked to see a little more detail in the brightest areas of the waterfall – although I can imagine this was not an easy scene in which to achieve an even exposure. Lizzie Shepherd

The delicate tones in this image, along with a strong composition make it stand out. The fact that the ice covered wooden stumps lead the eye in to the old structure in the background, whilst retaining separation between the two elements is an excellent use of composition.

I’m in two minds whether I like the sand at the bottom right hand corner of not. Normally I would prefer the simplicity of the image without the sand, but in this case, I think it may even add to the image.

The only thing I would have done differently would be to take this as a portrait format shot, thereby giving me more sky and height to the image. So often photographers only think of the landscape format for landscape subjects, yet the portrait format, along with cropping of the image is part of the compositional decisions. John Miskelly

This image has a lovely quality of light, which gives a sense of atmosphere. The author has resisted the urge that many fall for, in that he hasn’t over processed the image. The use of the Big Stopper has given the sky a quality of tone and the radiating cloud effect balances the image nicely, particularly with the lighter part of the sky behind the mountain. The detail in the ice in the foreground contrasts with the majesty of the mountain in the background.

In terms of improving the image, I would have liked to see a stronger lead into the image in terms of foreground. Ideally, I would have found a stronger and more obvious curve or diagonal line in the ice that would have led my eye to the mountain in the background. Maybe moving to the left would have given this opportunity? John Miskelly

An image from my own part of the world, so I know it well! I love the tones and textures in the image. The fact that the image was taken with a foreboding sky means the tones are well matched between the sky and the dark rocks of the Giants Causeway.

The long exposure gives the breaking waves the white line that separates the rocks from the sea. The curve of the rocks is compositionally strong and the image is what I would call, well balanced.

In terms of improvements, I would just lift the shadows a little, particularly in the bottom left corner and also increase overall exposure by say, 0.25 stops. I would do this without losing the moodiness of the image. John Miskelly

This image just exudes mood and atmosphere. The author has used a polarizing filter, a Little Stopper and a Chocolate Hard Grad, a great example of how one can combine filters to create a super image. It’s the combination of light, composition and subject that come together to give any image ‘emotion’. In this case, the foreground stones at the edge of the lake give enough interest to draw the viewer’s eye into the reflections in the lake and then up to the mountains and the sky.

I can see where the author has worked on the image on the mountains on both the right and left hand sides in post production and has lightened parts of the mountains that look unnatural, which takes away from the image. Great care should be taken with any post production to ensure that the viewer can’t see the work that’s been done. Fix this problem and then it’ll be one to put up on the wall. John Miskelly

Another very strong composition and use of light. The wooden stumps starting from the bottom left hand side lead to the horizontal stumps further out from the shore. These stumps are well below the horizon, so don’t spoil the ‘balance’ of the image.

The use of a hard graduated filer was a perfect choice for this image along with the Big Stopper. The smoothing of the water and the sky means that there are no distractions and the stumps stand out much more than if the Stopper hadn’t been used.

One thing that would improve the image in my opinion is a square or tighter crop. The main focus of the image is the wooden stumps, so losing some of the unnecessary space would ‘focus’ the viewers eye into the main part of the image. John Miskelly

What an absolute ripper of a scene! This one really caught my eye for many reasons: beautifully balanced scene, perfect tones, crisp foreground and a little hint of milky way to top things off.

I do not have many things to suggest to improve such a powerful scene; the only thing I would adjust is removing the power poles from the background scene, and tidying up the minor imperfections in the foreground. Sarah Hatton

This is a super clean image, simple and well balanced with a beautiful symmetrical composition. It really conveys a sense of peace and calm to me though its simplicity and pastel tones.

Improvements to compliment such a scene would be ensuring the horizon is horizontal, it appears to be dipped a little on the left of frame. The highlights are also substantially clipped in the middle of the frame, using a 0.9 ND graduated filter would have helped to combat this small issue. Sarah Hatton

Love the rocks in this shot. Excellent scene with such movement and power conveyed from the breaking waves and rocks.

Suggestions for improvements: this is quite a busy scene, though powerful, it could use some simplifying… more direct foreground with the rocks in the water as secondary with some beautiful white-wash water movement tying the entire scene together. Sarah Hatton

Absolutely love the dynamic foreground in this scene, the streaks in the sand create such drama. The mix of steely tones complimented by such interesting textures makes for a powerful image.

Suggestions for improvements would be attempting to focus more on the composition, I find myself second guessing what the subject is within the scene. Foreground textures, mountains or the leading line to the human element on the left of frame? Sarah Hatton

Waterfalls don’t get much more impressive than Skogafoss. Grandness of scale and a well-balanced scene… and showcased in black and white to add to the overall hard-hitting impact of such a scene.

The only minimal suggestions for improvement to such a powerful image would be to take more time with the dodge and burning of the scene. On the direct left and right of the waterfall I notice some intense dodging, that doesn’t balance out. Coupled with the rather dark edges in the upper corners of the frame, it puts a little too much drama into an already punchy scene. Sarah Hatton

We see a great deal of long exposure photographs now and more often than not the photograph doesn't benefit from the use of dark ND filters. Here though, the dragging clouds enhance the depth and compliment the line of the meandering track through the foreground.

The balance of light and tones between the sky and the foreground is very believable and the colours created by the low sun angle have been captured beautifully.

The composition looks very good to me although I feel that a slight crop in from the side would make this composition stronger and focus more attention on the areas of interest within the frame. Antony Spencer

This a view I know very well and what an amazing one it is too! This is a very challenging image to pull off, the light has to be balanced perfectly with the lights from the village and this has achieved that.

The snow-covered mountains coupled with the cold tones of blue and white make the warm street lighting and the warm coloured houses feel very safe and inviting.

It is very easy to lose control of the highlights in an image like this but this has been executed perfectly. Antony Spencer

The emotions captured in this photograph are stunning. The drama of the light and passing storm is very subtle and very believable. I really like the processing and how this photographer has pulled out the details of the storm clouds without going too far.

The choice of filters here was perfect, quite often in a situation like this the sky is rendered a great deal darker than the foreground, something that rarely happens in reality and is a major give away that too strong a graduated filter has been used. Here, the tones are perfectly balanced producing this beautiful image. Antony Spencer

This is a lovely composition. The sense of depth created by the photographer here is perfect. I love how the composition makes my eye meander gently through the rocks, picking up the river or road in the distance and all the way through where I'm held in the sky with the gentle glow of the diffused sun.

The processing is very delicate and the gentle colours are really beautiful. My only very slight criticism is that the frosty/snowy foreground looks brighter than the sky and the source of light it is reflecting. This would suggest that the choice of graduated filter was perhaps one stop too strong. This is only a very slight niggle though and something that is easily remedied in post. Antony Spencer

Wow! What a sky! I really enjoy the depth created by the converging lines into a central point towards the horizon. Those lines really pull the viewer into the distance of the image and that incredible thunderstorm which is of course, the star of show.

The balance of light here is perfect, as is the mood, absolutely nothing to pick fault with here in any way at all. Antony Spencer

This image caught my eye, because by coincidence, I lived in Aveiro (where it was shot) in the early 90s. It was here that I first became seriously interested in photography and used to shoot scenes like this.

To be honest, Paulo has done a much better job than I did back then. The composition is strong and the shot very striking, with the boat looking as if it’s being slowly reclaimed by nature - I love the reflections on the water inside the boat.

Being picky, there are a couple of little niggles. First, I think the sky is slightly over-gradded - it is darker than the reflection - so I don’t think the 0.3ND Very Hard Grad was necessary.

Secondly, I find the swirling reeds/weed to the left of the boat slightly distracting. A faster shutter speed could have frozen the movement. Losing the Polariser would help - it’s not necessary if you don’t want to remove the reflections - as would opening the aperture a bit. With careful focusing, it would still be possible to get enough depth of field.

Finally, and this is easily addressed, I’d pull back on the saturation slightly.

But overall, a great image. Mark Bauer

This is a very moody shot, which shows how important it is to shoot in light that suits your subject; imagine this same scene under a blue sky on a summer’s day.

Results can be dramatic, but it’s not easy shooting into the sun. Exposure and flare can be a problem, so Dave has done a good job of getting the former right and avoiding the latter. For the most part, there’s good detail throughout the tonal range from shadows to highlights - using a 0.9ND Hard Grad has helped here.

With the sun low on the horizon, a Hard Grad was probably the best option to control the bright tones there, but there is evidence of the filter’s transition line darkening the top of the barn. Some careful digital dodging might help.

This isn’t a criticism, but an alternative - a smaller aperture might have resulted in a ‘sunstar’, which could provide a very distinctive background focal point - maybe Dave shot an alternative version like this?

Finally, a word about composition. It looks simple, but all the elements are perfectly positioned in the frame, creating a strong line taking the eye through to the background and the setting sun. Mark Bauer

This is a really interesting shot and the contrast of warm tones in the sky and cool tones in the foreground works really well. The textural contrast between the soft, smooth textures in the foreground and the rugged, jagged peaks of the mountains complement this. Florian has filtered the scene well - the 0.9ND Soft Grad blends in with the mountain range and is completely unobtrusive - as graduated filters should be if used correctly.

The image is nicely processed, too, with vibrant but believable colour.

Compositionally, I’m not so keen on the empty space in the bottom left corner - the eye tends to drift out of the frame there, so I’d tighten things up a little with a slight crop, so the hut on the far left is closer to the frame edge and the nearest hut a little closer to the bottom. In the ideal world, Florian would have been able to shoot this from a slightly higher viewpoint, too, which would open up the middle distance slightly - but I imagine this wasn’t possible. Mark Bauer

This is a lovely Big Stopper image, with a bold, minimalist composition. I love the smooth texture in the water and sky and the splash of light on the end of the row of wind turbines. The image has the characteristic cool cast of the Big Stopper and I think this really adds to the atmosphere. Some people might feel that the sky is slightly over-gradded and that the use of the 3-stop grad was not necessary, but I like the stormy, moody effect it’s created.

I like the negative space in the composition, but I wonder about the crop; for me, a squarer aspect ratio - 4:3 or even 1:1 might suit the image better, as the main subject doesn’t stretch far enough across the frame to make the panoramic crop work. I’d also have placed the turbines lower in the frame; it’s hard to rationalise, but I feel the overall balance would be better. These cropping options are very likely possible from the original frame.

Finally, to be picky, the horizon isn’t quite level and there are a number of dust spots visible in the sky - both easily correctible issues. Mark Bauer

This is a nicely seen image and it caught my eye because it’s something I probably wouldn’t have spotted. With landscape, the usual approach is to try to show the whole vista, perhaps including the boat as foreground interest for the wider view. The tight crop might have been from necessity - perhaps the rest of the scene was cluttered or ugly - or it might have been simply that the photographer chose this crop for pictorial effect. Either way, it works really well.

The elements are arranged really well in the frame. The rock is perfectly placed and I love the strong diagonal of the oar coming into the frame from the right; this contrasts really well with the horizontal lines of the boat.

The Little Stopper has been put to excellent use here; with moving water, the temptation is often to blur it until completely smooth, but the shutter speed of 0.3 second, as a wave washes around the boat and the rock is perfect for keeping the texture in the moving water, which adds a lot more interest to the composition. Finally, the mono conversion has been very well executed. Mark Bauer