Africa's "Big Five" Animals in the Wild

A great photograph of an incredible animal. Simplicity is key! The leopard is so perfectly in focus that you can see every little whisker and hair. The eyes are focused, the sunlight is in it and the background is very nicely blurred. If I really would have to give a recommendation, I would may be clean out the background even a bit more (some little spots and dots). But really: fantastic shot!

For me this is absolutely the number one in this contest, from the moment I saw it first. The symmetry in this image works very very well, and so are the colours. The focus is exactly on the eyes, but in the background you can still see the hint of rain, which I love. The pose is a bit arrogant and aggressive, which is even stronger because of the composition. A really outstanding picture according to me!

There's a lot of movement and dynamics in this photograph, which I really love! The angle is wonderful and with the elephants in the background it really tells a story. The focus and texture are lovely, and so are the colours.

What an exceptional image! To catch a leopard in its action, fully in focus on the eyes, is really difficult! The wrinkles in its face tell you it needs to grab the impala strongly by the neck. May be the image would have been even stronger with a little bit more space around the two. But all by all: wow, love it!

Isn't this an image that we all would love to shoot (or even see!) one day? The focus on those little paw prints is very beautiful. The way the lioness is holding her head makes her look very proud. May be the photograph would benefit from a tighter crop and some extra contrast, for my liking. The moment and the power & love is really what make this image very strong.

The low angle really gives this picture more power and strength. The water splashing, the egret in the background, the wonderful warm colours: they all add up to a great image. Personally I think a portrait crop would make it even stronger! All by all: great photo!

At first glance you think: hey those elephants aren't in focus! The second instance you see the leopard, not even looking at the elephants. That's what makes this image very interesting to look at, in my opinion. It's almost as if the leopard is photoshopped into it! May be the image would have been even stronger when it was a bit more zoomed in, but that's personal. An image that's really different from most images!

The eyes of the lion in front that catch the light so nicely... wow, you keep looking at those! The light and therefor colouring on the lions makes this photo very attractive to me. A little bit of space between the two would have made the picture even stronger, but I do realise the angle is not always what you can ask for in photographing wildlife. The depth of field in this image makes it even better.

This lion is indeed blending in the grasslands, it's amazing! I love the colours, but I even more love light. The lion is squinting a bit because of the sun which gives the photo more power, just like the wind in its mane. Love the focus. And I love the composition. May be I would have put his head even a little bit more to the upper right corner of the photo but that's of course personal. Great picture!

The way this lion arises from the grass makes it look as if he's suddenly appearing from the mist. The angle of his face, the light, the colours: they all add to this superb photograph. According to me may be just a little bit more space in the upper part would give it even more power. Fantastic shot ánd editing!

The symmetry in this image is what really attracts me. The black and white makes it even stronger. And because of the buffalo being the darkest part of this image, it really attracts my eye. Of course the fact that it's looking at us like this adds to that! A lower angle, that would make the animal stand out partly above the horizon would have made it even stronger (but being in the vehicle is definetely safer!). Very interesting picture!

What a wonderful photograph! The focus is exactly on the beak of the oxpecker at the nose. But I also love the composition (there's no need to show the whole horn or head as the attention goes to the oxpeckers!) and the editing. A bit of vignet, great colours... just a fantastic image!

This image really shows the family aspect of a herd of elephants. Big and small, young and old, all together in the same direction. The light, the haze and the colours make this photo very mysterious. In my opinion the tusks are a bit too bright here and there which makes them stand out just a bit too much may be. But overall: very great capture and editing!

I have no clue how you were able to capture this wonderful rhino with such a low angle, but wow! The wide angle shot makes the animal even more impressive, especially the horn. May be the image would benefit from a bit more drama: some extra contrast or saturation may be, to make it stand out even more. Really like this one!

I think this is a very powerful image because of the expression on this lions face. We know it's part of a yawn but it looks very powerful! The face is also really in focus and the colours pop and stand out. Very exciting image!

This capture seems quite simple but according to me that's what makes it stand out. The depth of field is fantastic. And so is the angle of the body versus the head, the horn, the little bits and pieces of grass sticking out if its mouth... wonderful photo! What I also love is the colouring in it, warm but still grey and full of texture!

This is a very different image from all the others. A tangle of elephants, very closely together, with dust and water and beautiful colours. I tried to count but it's impossible to see where the one ends and the next one begins. May be I would give the picture a bit more texture or clarity to make the skins pop even more. Lovely photo!

Sometimes you just have to be lucky but also be well talented to capture it: the two rhinos, big and small, perfectly looking in the camera, at the right time of this sunset. Being at the right place at the right time with the right skills! I love the colours and the composition. Superb image!

As a wildlife photographer I'm always after interaction and emotion between animals. In this photograph I'm touched by the look the cub is giving the camera, looking for safety with its mom while the mother is not even bothered. The focus is nicely on the little ones face and the colours are warm.

What an interesting angle in this photograph! The water dripping, the bright colours, the elephants in the background... it all makes this image very different. May be I would personally go for a little bit less sharpening but all by all a great picture!

What a great moment to capture! A leopard in a tree with a bloody kill: who doesn't want to see this? I really like the composition and depth of field. May be I would have made the colours a little less harsh, so it's really the golden/blue hour. I love the way it's protecting its kill!

Just to see a leopard in a dense tree or bush like this is already difficult. But to capture it peeking through like this, with the light on it: exceptional! The light in the eye is lovely and the focus according to me is perfect. Just the composition could may be use some adjustment (bit less in the middle) to give the image even more power. Great image!

Very interesting photograph. The dark background and tight crop makes it mysterious; you start wondering where exactly this has been taken. May be the contrast of the sharpening in the rhino versus the sharpness of the reflection might be a bit too much. But I do think that the black and white gives the image a very powerful look and feel!

The composition in this photograph is fantastic! The low angle (how?? wow!), the way she looks in the camera, it's all very strong. Also the fact that the image is by far not symmetrical makes it more powerful and interesting. May be just the colours I would pop a bit more to give it even more strength. But I really wish I would have shot this myself!

An image with lovely colours and lovely depth of field! Your eye immediately goes to the trunk and the texture of this elephants skin. I think the image might have even been stronger with a bit of a different composition; either exactly in the middle (but one can't tell an elephant to look straight... I know!), or a bit more out of the middle. The position of the trunk gives the photo dynamics; you can see the movement in it which I love!