Animal portraits in black and white

There were lots on images of apes in this contest and it was very hard to choose between some of them. This is a great shot that makes very good use of the light. Your focus and use of depth of field are excellent and we loved the expression as well as your monochrome conversion. Well done.

We often see dramatic portraits of snow monkeys, but this was an interesting take. I like how the photographer got eye level with the monkey and we feel like we're in the water right there with it. There's also a lot of nice detail in the wet fur. Great job.

What a fantastic moment to have captured. The photographer got the exposure spot on and froze time perfectly to capture this pelican shaking off water. The close crop also puts us right there with the bird for a more intimate feel.

It's the lighting that makes this image stand out. I love the dark, heavy tones through most of the frame and that the directional light illuminates the shape of the horns. It's very subtle, yet effective composition and is a new take on the classic animal portrait.

What a beautiful animal portrait. The photographer has captured a wonderful pose and expression, and the dramatic lighting helps emphasise the animal's nature. I also like that the photographer has shot at eye level with the cheetah so we see from its perspective.

An excellent study of a Dalmation pelican with well-executed conversion the monochrome. The eye contact, with the bird looking back over its shoulder towards the camera, elevates the image. Your composition is also excellent with the bird occupying the bottom half of teh frame and not disrupting the shadows of the refocused trees beyond.

We saw a lot of gorillas and chimps in this contest but this portrait is one of the most captivating with a thoughtful expression in the animal's face. Your handling of the exposure and contrast is superb, bringing out the details of the face and eyes.