A Day at the Zoo

From my reviews of the top ten images you’ll probably have guessed that I don’t like zoos.

That said I do believe that the zoo-keepers, the people that look after the animals on a day to day basis, are caring people who are no doubt passionate about the animals they look after.

This image for me illustrates that belief and shows a genuine bond between keeper and elephant. It’s a gentle picture and to some extent softens the blow delivered by the more sombre images.

Congratulations on your top ten placing.

I have a soft spot for ring-tailed lemurs. It’s the way they huddle together in photogenic little groupings with those orange eyes looking every which way. There is evidently safety in numbers.

There were a great many very fine pictures of animals entered into the contest but this one is my favourite.

Congratulations on your top ten placing.

Ha-ha, this one brought a smile to my face.

A couple of zebra in the background to prove we’re at the zoo and a really funny sign in the foreground.

Zoo management with a sense of humour ….. who’d have believed it :)

This is one for the family photograph album and just a precious moment to capture and look back on in years to come.

Its a shame about the chopped off tail in the bottom corner but this isn’t about perfect composition or technique, it’s all about the smile on the little girls face.

What a brilliant image this is, and a real sense of light-hearted relief after some of the other more intense and emotional images.

I love the low viewpoint and the crop here. It’s a penguins eye view of feeding time at the zoo. The boots and chopped off legs are wonderful as are the fish raining down from above.

A delightful image, well done.

This image caught my eye as it’s just so different to the other entries and the more I look at it the more that I find to like.

I love the colour, the background texture, the group of silhouette figures, the horizontal and vertical reflections in the glass and consequent distortion of the figures. To top it all we even have a seal swimming by upside-down.

Part documentary, part abstract, part surreal but entirely brilliant.

Congratulations on your well deserved top ten placing.

I’m not sure what’s in the cage that all of the kids are looking at, something small for sure as they’re all looking down.

Tortoises maybe or small and exotic furry creatures of some kind.

For me though it’s as if the tables are turned and it’s the kids in the cage with the tortoises or small and exotic furry creatures looking at them.

Either way it’s a nicely observed photograph and once again so different from the other entries to the contest.

Well done on your top ten placing.

This is a powerful and emotive image, reinforced by the tight crop and ideally suited to the stark black and white presentation.

I don’t need to review this image …… it speaks most eloquently for itself.

Congratulations on your top ten placing.

Once again a bleak and upsetting picture that speaks for itself and makes me angry and sad in equal measure. Zoo managers should pin pictures like this on their walls to remind them of where they have come from and where they certainly must not go back to.

No more words are needed.

Congratulations on your top ten placing.