June 2026 Theme Thread: Such a Beautiful Landscape (page 1 of 8)

This is where we chat.

In the mountains of Phrae Province, northern Thailand.

Hi,

You didn’t specify whether urban landscapes were allowed?

No, I’d rather not—we’ll stick closer to nature, I think the topic is already pretty "open." It could be the subject of another contest.

I think the topic is already well "open"

You could’ve made it more challenging by specifying: “no human trace.” 😉 I had the chance to try it in another contest—it’s really not easy with the fence in the background, agricultural tracks, the stone wall, etc.

these are details that don’t necessarily ruin the scenery. Let’s leave it as is...😉

Can we suggest landscapes with houses? I’m thinking of one of my photos showing a palm grove in Morocco with its little adobe town below.

Of course! As long as the village doesn’t overpower the whole photo. Often, foreign elements help highlight the landscapes.

To complement my photo 1, here’s the approach:



The land you can see is Procida. To port, Capri, where Titus fled from Rome.

Catherine

Nighttime view of the Thar Desert from the berth of a sleeper bus in southern Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border.

Icelandic Landscapes:

Landscapes of northern Chile:

The Swabian Jura (in German: Schwäbische Alb), a mid-mountain landscape in southern Germany, between Stuttgart and Lake Constance. This region is known for its karst topography, numerous waterfalls and caves, deep river valleys, vast forests, unique rock formations, and historic castles (the Hohenzollerns)... I live "on the edge of" the Swabian Jura... (20 km from this photo)

hgb

No, I’d rather not—I think we’ll stick closer to nature. I feel like the topic is already pretty "open." Maybe it could be the subject of another contest.

For example, do you think this kind of photo is too urban for the theme?

I think the answer to your question is a no-brainer...

No, I’d rather not—we’ll stick closer to nature, I think the topic is already pretty "open." It could be the subject of another contest.

For example, do you think this kind of photo is too urban for the theme?

Yeah, a bit too much... But it’s still really beautiful.

Oh, I recognize Udaipur 😉😎 One of my (many) favorite spots in India !

Same, Udaipur is still somewhere my favorite place in India.

Oh well, I’ll look for more natural landscapes...

The Alps in Central Switzerland. The Susten Pass, 46 km long, connects the Hasli Valley in the Bernese Oberland to the canton of Uri. Stunning views, a bit of snow on the highest peaks, tunnels, and waterfalls. Climbing the alpine pass under your own power and feeling the wind whistle in your ears on the descent—there’s no better thrill for a road cyclist.

Hery

Hi there,

You really have no idea what a “such beautiful landscape” is? Hard to believe. I think P.’s three photos speak for themselves and don’t need any extra explanation. No need to make a big deal out of it...

In the classic sense, we mostly understand it as wild nature outside urban areas; connotations like nature, beauty, harmony, vastness, and solitude play a big role. So, landscapes that fit into a canon of what’s worth seeing and protecting (since they’re often threatened by wind turbines, deforestation, etc.). However, for a long time now, we’ve also talked about urban and industrial landscapes, beyond rural areas, idylls, and nostalgia for nature.

Many people are fascinated, for example, by deserts or Antarctica. Or by high mountains. By shifting dunes or mystical rock formations, and so on. Ultimately, features that can shape a landscape. But a lot of these landscapes are mainly amazing for tourists—just so they can say they’ve been there. They’re not really welcoming places to live, though. And some landscapes are stunning from above but not necessarily when you’re right in the middle of them.

Take another look at P.’s photos and Attila’s too to get a better idea!

hgb