Animals – Photoshop challenge

An extremely cute photomanipulation project, juxtaposing ducks swimming carefree and the very confined space of a small bowl. It looks very realistic, down to the mirror effects in the water itself and the seamless composition work placing the ducks in the bowl. It's very creative, too.

A simple composition with a lot of life to it. The photograph itself is fun on its own, while the cheeky addition of a stormtrooper astride the approaching dog, seemingly riding it into battle (or just having fun) should produce a chuckle. It may not be the most refined artwork, but it's one of the most fun for sure.

Beautiful, stark and almost tragic in its composition, this image reminds us immediately of the incredible plight rhinos face in nature today, as it isolates the rhino from the world, its only companion being its own reflection. The contrast detail in the rhino is amazingly intricate, and the choice to go fully monochrome only adds to the quality.

An adventurous, very creative and delightfully cheeky composition. There's a lot of life in this image, a sense of some danger and the toy crocodile looks very lifelike in this miniature setup. Extremely well played entry, making use of both photo techniques and post-production creativity.

Juxtaposing a flamingo with a dry, moor-like landscape is surprisingly effective. Used to seeing their bright pink colours, often bathed in sunlight, having this one standing under thunderous clouds and seemingly lost far away from its usual habitat creates an implied story that stretches well beyond the artwork itself.

A stunning piece of art, this. What looks like the face of an animal is in fact a very old, weathered tree, brought to vivid life by the addition of a very well placed eye. Full of intriguing detail, it instantly commands your attention.

Juxtaposing a misty landscape and flying birds creates a sense of adventure in this composition. It's well constructed and has a real sense of depth, with the far-away castle seemingly rising out of the clouds. It shows what you can do in Photoshop Elements, which is rather a lot, as it turns out.

A clever and extremely well made twist on the classic Dogs Playing Poker image. It's photorealistic in its composition, the lighting focus is stark but effective, and it's both creative and a little cheeky. Note that the pugs have started gambling away personal possessions in some cases...

This is a beautifully simple image but one that can conjure a variety of reactions in the viewer, hinting at a fascinating little story about the ladybird in the front. Stripping out any other elements actually elevates the artwork instead of taking away from it.

So simple, but strangely captivating. This monochrome bird portrait has been flipped on the side and simplified to its bare essentials to create the sensation that the bird is peeking through the curtain of reality itself. Just a lovely artwork in all respects.