Cheers for the votes guys 'n gals, No. 10 was my photo of Scrabo Tower. It was a 20 second exposure and most of the light you can see on the tower and the clouds was coming from a fairly full moon just out of frame on the right. I like that you can see the Exit light in the 5th floor window of the right tower, didn't notice that until I got home. Unfortunately the perspective is a bit off (kindly pointed out by Dowser, he is a hard man to please
) so I could do with giving it a bit of a tweak!
Just thought I would give a few thoughts on the photos, hope you don't mind? Just my unqualified opinion
I think the photos this month were some of the best quality we've had yet, hope we get as many entries next month!
Photo 1 - Really liked this photo and I had to think hard to choose between it and the one I eventually voted for. Great choice of subject and perfect conditions with the sky and snow. Lovely contrast. Only thing I might consider is the composition and maybe moving the tor to the right hand side of the frame so it's less central.
Photo 2 - Nice choice of landmark, definitely thinking outside the box. Will have to visit here sometime! Think you've picked a great subject, but just maybe need a better day for it weather wise.
Photo 3 - I love the action in this photo, and I can definitely taste the sea salt on my lips just looking at it! Was it a coasteering trip? Very subtle choice of landmark, took me a minute to find it, very nice idea. Again it was definitely on my shortlist to vote for!
Photo 4 - Nice to see a local (to me!) landmark making an appearance! Tricky landmark to photograph as its quite closed in by trees. Could perhaps do with a bit of a straighten in Photoshop or suchlike to ensure the edges of the tower are vertical, and maybe re-jig the composition keeping in mind the
ROT.
Photo 5 - Love the choice of landmark and the atmosphere. I'm surprised there weren't more entries of one of the most famous landmarks! Love the wind turbine blades in the foreground, would love a snoop around them sometime. I'd maybe have stuck the crane more over to the right of the frame so that the turbine blades lead you into the subject, but depending on the original you might be able to crop it. (Whilst on the subject, I found this
video on Youtube! It's probably done the rounds before, but first time I'd seen it. Wee bit of Belfast language in there, so I'd cover your ears
).
Photo 6 - Definitely wins the prize for the furthest away landmark! Nice capture of an iconic mountain, just think it could maybe be spiced up slightly with a bit more interest in the foreground, or perhaps lower the horizon to lose some of the foreground.
Photo 7 - I would say this could be one of the lesser known landmarks even though its so close to Belfast? I certainly hadn't visited it until we went up together! I think this is a great perspective of something that is tricky to photograph.
Photo 8 - Nice idea, I love night photos! Good thought given to the composition, I like that you've included the steps although think there is perhaps a few too many of them. I'd probably crop out the tree on the left and lose a few of the steps.
Photo 9 - Couldn't work out where this one was taken? Looks familiar, but not sure... Looks like it was taken at a good time of day, nice mellow lighting makes for an interesting sky.
Photo 11 - This is the one I voted for in the end. I think this is a great approach to what is probably our best known landmark, a subject that has probably been photographed to death. Your photo feels fresh and I think B&W was a great choice with lovely texture. Really liked this!
Photo 12 - I like that the usual NI-Wild stomping ground slipped into the background! Nice choice of subject and I love the detail of the sky that has been captured in the chrome.
Photo 13 - I liked your comments about the Italian PM fourman
Like how you captured the statue with the sun behind it, makes for a striking outline of the statue. Just a pity the shutter hadn't clicked a second or two beforehand to capture the people walking by it before they moved into the shadow of the statue.
Anyway, hope you don't mind me giving my opinion. It's all very easy saying these things looking at a photo on the computer but I know in reality it can be tricky to move the sun, add a great sunset and move your subject a few inches to the side