I went though 26 photos are there more I am missing? All the shots are clear and crisp and many have breathtaking scenery. It's mainly the composition and areas of interest that feel lacking. Honestly I'm not trying to neg you just help you win and that requires constructive criticism
. Also it's just my opinions I know nothing about photography just art and composition so don't take it hard. Mainly from my painting practice and reading Jack Hamm's Drawing Scenery: Landscapes and Seascapes (Jack Hamm, Christian and a master artist FTW).
My opinions on all your photos. I've made the ones I would not use red (not necessarily bad just not as good as other choices) and the others which I would choose between green. Not sure on any specific one being the "best".
IMG_2844-1 I find the shot personally compelling for those unreal blue mountains but the person is in the center of the shot. If he was placed on the left you would look at him and then to the right (as that is the direction he heading towards). This would create better eye flow.
IMG_2821-1 This one is probably the best photo composition wise of all of them and you probably know it because it's the one you posted on CGA
. The areas of interest are the large rock on the left, the people and the large rock in the distance. My eye wants to travel between these and the path to those blue mountains and conversely the whole length of the photo. Having the same thing rocks and people at different distances gives perspective to the picture and draws the eye in further. Also many of your shots have long stretches of all rocks, grass or trees but shots with a mixed variety, like this one, seem best. Mainly the sky and shadows could be slightly more interesting adding color and value to the shot. The clarity of the sky is somewhat interesting though.
IMG_2734-1 If there was a vibrant piece of cloth blowing in the wind under those rocks I'd think of it as some kind of Tibetan marker, like those things in Skyrim
. As it is the shot feels "lonely", which is good if you want that, but it's still not compelling. I think you are going for a strong overexposed sun effect but it seems a little washed out. Probably needs some darker values to make it seem brighter.
IMG_2718-1 That's a lot of nothing. It's certainly lonely but there is not much to draw the eye in.
IMG_2658-1 Not much for extreme close up photography. I do wonder just what is that growing on that dead wood (Just what is that lichen?) but I always expect a walking stick, chameleon or something to be in shots like this for more interest. It does look professionally taken, like it should be in my stock photography book, just the subject matter doesn't get me.
IMG_2651-1-2 Paths make for good eye flow because you are literately drawing a line to lead the eye across the photo and this shot is no exception. The tree in the foreground is interesting and perfectly placed too. IMG_2821-1 wins out over this one though due to it having people on the path IMO. The nature you are photographing is interesting but lacks variety of color and subject. People are a potential way to add some of both. You might want to consider getting people to wear colors that complement the terrain
. Of course it's nice to have pure nature shots too. In painting I'd be putting hues of purple in the shadows and all kinds of variations in the grass color.
IMG_2643-1 Between the hornets nest (that is a hornet nest right?) and the pattern on the tree it's more interesting than IMG_2658-1 . On landscapes you generally avoid putting an area of interest dead center (it can be done but requires other things) as you want people to look around the picture. However since the tree itself is more interesting than the nest the focus is off center. Plus it's a close up and not a landscape so it works.
IMG_2547-1 I wish there was more to it but composition seems good. Makes me feel peaceful.
IMG_2362-1 Subject is off center and has both interest and motion which is good. The deer seems perfectly posed with the one leg up emerging from the forest with trepidation. I like it and it seems like a photo a painter would like to paint from.
IMG_2130-1 Subject is off center and the value contrast between the trees and path is a good but there is only one area of interest, the man. If you could see the mountain better between the trees or there were god rays, a lens flare or something coming through the trees the eye would take interest in the left side as well as the right. As it is all focus is on the man and the eye does not want to explore the rest of the shot.
20120903-IMG_2822 Subject is dead center, do not like.
646-1 One of the better skies. A common painting technique is to darken the outside of a painting and the shadow in this photo naturally creates this border. It's nice but I wish there was more than just trees in the shot. It doesn't really have any one area of interest. So on one hand the eye does not become trapped but on another it has no reason to look around the photo.
574-1 Needs a person or something. You do have some good perspective in the photo capturing both the distant trees and the foreground rock. The problem with a lot of shots is not that they need people in them but they are very even in distribution of color and subject. It also seems like the shot could have been taken with the path more to the left or the right but IDK what the terrain is on either side.
350-1 I like the perspective but it has the same problem as above. These landscapes are captivating but it's a lot of the same thing with no particular areas of interest. It's not that you can't get them IMG_2821-1 does.
339-1 Not particularly compelling when you have access to those landscapes and this is a coming from a guy who finds rust and decay interesting subjects. I liked IMG_2643-1 best of the close ups so far.
059-1 Wow those mountains in front of the sky look positively unreal like Photoshopped in. Not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing in a contest. Also if the lens flare was more pronounced it would look intentional and possibly good. As it is it's just distracting. In such things it's my opinion to go whole hog or not at all or it just looks like a mistake. Could use more color but nature is what it is, I like it but there are better choices.
024-1 Makes me wonder what kind of creature caused the holes but I still like IMG_2643-1 better of the close ups.
IMG_5964-1-2 Arty but not my thing. If I was to be judging on skill the harder the shot to get the more you would impress me. Anyone can throw on a filter but capturing an instant in time just right is a lot harder. I mean when you have weather, light and objects in motion to contend with it should require more skill than a man controlled environment.
IMG_2805-1 Ooooooh I really, really, really want to like this one but that lake, it's so dead center, and yes I think it needs a person slightly to the left of the path looking down towards the lake
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IMG_2601-1 Not much going on at all in this shot compared to the other close ups.
496-1 I like it! See what I mean about complementary colors that can be added by people. The person is off center, in motion and heading into the photo too for perfect composition. You look at the person then you look towards were he is going. I do wish it had something more on the left though to keep your eye in the photo. There is also nothing to compete with him and the shot looks blank too. Perhaps showing more of that water?
IMG_6302-1 It looks professionally taken but your landscapes are much more interesting. I figure lots of entries will have access to people but those landscapes are another matter. Did you deliberately flip up that tag for more color. Bonus points if you did
. The girl skating awkwardly in the background lends story to the picture too.
IMG_6313-1-3 If you are set on going with one of these I prefer the above one for the stated reasons. This one is not nearly as clear as to what is going on.
IMG_5018_1 Not much of anything worth looking at.
