Birds Landing

Hobbies are fantastic falcons, and to witness them hunting dragonflies during the summer months when they visit our shores is a thrill. Although the landing post is a little ugly, the rest of the image is superb and technically accomplished. The pose of the bird and the timing of the shot is spot on. I really like the fact that the dragonfly clasped tightly in those talons is clearly visible and tells the viewer all about this birds and its feeding habits. The image is really sharp, well-processed, and the clean background focuses all the viewer's attention on the bird. I wish I had taken this.

It's a bold move to deliberately go for a tight crop when photographing a bird in flight - in this case coming in to land. i think it works really well in this case, and perhaps a wider view would have produced a weaker shot. The viewer's concentration is focused on the eagle's piercing gaze as it stretches out those talons ready for touch down. The warm tones of the feet and bill contrast well with the more muted tones of the scene. The falling snow adds nice texture to the background.

This shot makes me want to duck! Most image I see that are taken with the subject coming at the photographer like this have not held the focus in the right place, but this is not the case here. the eyes are the critical part and the focus is bang on with a nice depth of field providing detail in other parts of the bird too. The fact that the bird is looking straight down the lens provides a fabulous connection with the viewer. The shape and position of the wings and the symmetry of the image is exceptional. The out of focus background is a beautiful mixture of colour, tone and texture, complementing the duck's plumage beautifully. I'm a big fan of waterbirds and would love to have taken this.

This is such a beautifully constructed image. The position and shape of the stump and log is so well thought out and works so well with the shape of the eagle's open wings as it swoops in to land. The wing position is perfect as are the outstretched talons moments from grasping the log. The bird is perfectly positioned in the frame and everything is in really sharp focus. The overall colour palette works so well with the colour of the bird - bravo!

Contrast and back lighting are two of my favourite photographic elements. This image has combined these in a simple, but strong composition. By under-exposing this image, the background has been rendered black which draws all the attention to the light coming through the wing and tail feathers. There is still sufficient detail retained in the head and body of the bird - a great balance of exposure. The symmetry of this image is almost perfect, those wings stretching out towards you, seemingly to give you a hug.

This contest didn't throw up as many slow shutter speed images as I would have liked to have seen. It's a rather difficult art to perfect, and many of the images will be treated with the delete button. But every so often you get a 'keeper' and this is one such image. It's a great mixture of the dynamic and the elegant - what I really like is that you recognise the subject instantly. Abstract, but with literal elements. A great example of experimentation paying off.

Goofy, gawky and a whole lot of fun. There is nothing quite like a duck in flight, coming at you with those big eyes and brightly coloured webbed feet! This is technically strong, there is good eye contact and the colours really complement each other well. Not a top ten shot perhaps, but a well-deserved Highly Commended.

Gannets were another popular subject in this contest - this image was the pick of the bunch. As well as having strong composition, with good lines and symmetry, there is also an element of story-telling as the bird comes in with nesting material for its mate. The colour pallet is soft and beautiful, and I love the blob or two of bokeh - presumably a result of out-of-focus birds. The out-of-focus vegetation at the bottom of the frame adds to the soft feel of this image.

Symmetry can be a really powerful element in photography and this image displays it through both the position of the wings and through the reflection. I really like the way the photographer has correctly chosen to highlight this symmetry by placing the gull's head in the centre of the frame. The shot is technically sound and the exposure well-considered given the lighting is a little on the harsh side..

When thinking about birds landing, the obvious choices are the larger waterbirds which lend themselves to being photographed in many different ways. This wader is diminutive in comparison, but I love the delicate touch the photographer has demonstrated here. To achieve the correct exposure would have been a challenge with the contrast on the plumage, but it spot on, with detail remaining in the highlight and shadow areas. I really like the pose of the bird and the shadow cast across its face with the wing feathers, the eye perfectly framed through the gap. The little water droplets are a nice subtle touch as are the feet which seem to dangle delicately in the water. The vertical crop works well here too.

Pelicans were a popular subject in this contest as they are very photogenic and reasonably easy to photograph. I think the silhouette approach works really well in this case. You see just enough shape, the head nicely separated and angled to the side, the wings outstretched and the feet clearly visible. I like the choice of shutter speed here too, it gives a nice blur effect to the end of the wings to add a sense of motion, while still retaining sufficient shape and detail. I would usually find the inclusion of the post a little distracting, but in this case it anchors the image and provides a target for the bird as it comes into land. The colours of the sky are beautiful and I'm glad to see that the temptation to 'over-juice' them has been avoided. I'm not keen on the white border as it adds nothing to the image.

This is one of those images that tells the viewer a story. There is so much for your eye to take in and so many questions that you want to ask. Who is the person in the entrance way? What are they carrying? Do they even notice the pigeon? Where are they heading? The lines are so strong and the shapes and shadows created by the contrasting light make this image work so well - a fabulous blend of bird photography and street photography. This really is an excellent piece of work and shows a moment expertly captured in time. I could look at this for hours and still find something new.

A rear view of a bird seldom works very well as the viewer has little connection with the subject, but this image is an exception to that rule. The symmetry here is good, and the crashing waves provide real drama as they break around the subject. I really like the contrast in colours and tones between the surf and the bird itself. The lighting is a little harsh, but I think the photographer has got away with that through strong composition. I particularly like the frozen water droplets around the bird's head. A little more space at the bottom of the frame would have been a benefit.

This contest was full of strong images showing birds of prey coming into land with outstretched talons. what really stands out with this image is the bird flying straight at the viewer with direct eye contact. Technically, this is a really strong image, everything is well exposed, in focus and there is no motion blur. I love the background of the Penguins which gives, not only a sense of place, but a rather sinister undertone as this bird swoops in looking for a meal. My only isue is the lack of space at the bottom of the frame and the talon which touches the edge.