Colourful Wildlife

This looks so simple but is, in fact, an extremely complex image that has been executed to perfection. Firstly, the colourful wildlife theme has been addressed expertly with the choice of subject. Secondly, the composition is so skillful - it is really difficult to create a pleasing image with close up detail like this. However, the photographer has managed to achieve beautiful balance by placing the pattern of veins and colour panels in the ideal places in the frame. I love the way they converge to the top right of the photograph. The detail of the scales is sublime - the colours and textures jump out at you from the frame. Everything here is tack sharp as intended - great technique and composition. This is a photograph to print and hang on the wall.

There is no denying that Atlantic Puffins are among the most photogenic of all birds; the clown-like faces give them an almost human quality. I have seen thousands of images of them over the years, and they never fail to please. This photograph has made really clever use of the flowering bluebells to surround and isolate the subject in a sea of purple haze. This is a perfect way to draw all the attention to the Puffin and its features and makes this image work on so many levels. It is nice to see the photographer making use of other elements available to create something that journeys from the literal to the artistic.

With so many wonderful images in this contest, choosing a winner was always going to be difficult. As always, it's the tiny details that make the difference, and the suitability of the photograph for the category. To begin with, technically this is a very accomplished image; focus is pin sharp, shutter speed is enough to freeze the action as intended, and the aperture and focal length of the lens have ensured a background that compliments and does not distract. The theme of the competition was colourful wildlife and we see, not only a colourful subject in the bird, but also the surrounding plant, framing the bird and proving additional interest for the viewer. The background is also beautifully complimentary with those lovely warm, glowing tones. I especially like the position and pose of the bird which has a pleasing curve, the tail feathers balancing the curve of the bill beautifully. A lot of photographers forget that the crop of the image does so much to enhance composition - the photographer has done so well with the choice here as it is perfect for the scene. Brilliant work that's hard to find any fault with.

Another popular subject in the competition, butterflies formed a good percentage of the entries. I chose this as arguably the best portrait as there are so many aspects of this image to admire. The composition is really strong, the flower's stem anchoring the left hand side of the frame and curving over pleasingly to support the star of the show which is balanced so well with the other elements. The colour of the background and flower compliment those of the Swallowtail beautifully. The lighting is bright and soft and everything that needs to be sharp is, the out of focus background the perfect partner to keep all the attention where it needs to be.

This is an image style and subject combination that I have seen numerous times before, but the combination produces such arresting and emotive images that they are difficult to ignore. Here,the photographer displays perfect technique in all aspects of the image from the camera settings, composition and post production. The shape and colour of the facial hair provides the perfect frame for the details of the face and those eyes which form the anchor of the whole image. I like the darkening of the outer edges of the frame which draws in all the viewer's attention to the central part of the image. This image oozes emotion and fits the category brief perfectly.

Kingfishers (and especially those diving) where the most popular subject in the competition. It was going to take something special to make the top 10 as there are so many hides dedicated to the species that images abound. There are a number of elements to this that make it stand out above the many others. The pose of the bird is unusual with the hunched shoulders and drooping head forming a pleasing shape as it emerges from the water. Those water droplets form the perfect adornments to the bird and sparkle like little jewels all around it. The background is what really makes this; not only is it nicely out of focus avoiding any distraction from the subject, but the colour is vibrant and warm, matched by the Kingfisher's breast and in stark contrast to the electric blue of its upper parts. Technically, this is very accomplished, the photographer correctly ensuring that the shutter speed was sufficient to capture the motion. I also like the central placement in the frame. Don't worry too much about high ISO in good lighting conditions as modern sensors are so good that this really is no longer the issue it once was.

There is so much to admire in this photograph, but what really makes it jump out, especially with the category brief in mind, is the contrast in colour between the fish and the anemone. All the attention is drawn to the fish as a result and those staring eyes down the lens of the camera create a connection with the viewer. The placement of the fish in the frame and the choice of crop are well thought out and work fantastically. As your eyes wander around the frame, you are also drawn to how the tips of the anemone which look like eggs or eyes. I even like the position of the fish's fin, which appears to be brushing aside the tendrils. When you also factor in the difficulties of photographing in an underwater environment, you really start to appreciate just how good this image is.

Red Cardinals were another very popular choice in this competition. What I find really exciting about this image is the use of snow as a white frame around the subject to emphasis the crazy colour of these birds. If that weren't enough, the composition of the image is as good as it gets; that subtle angled line of snow in front of the bird is perfectly offset by the jaunty angle of it's head. This gives the subject character and added appeal. I also really enjoy the bright pointed crest which has been deliberately positioned to point to the top left corner of the frame. This image is full of diagonals, all of which are perfectly balanced. The direct eye contact and the snow-covered bill are the icing on the cake. Bravo.

This image is all about colour, texture and contrast. The bright yellow of the sea snail contrasts with the purples of the sea fan, a colour marriage that you would not immediately think would work, but it seems to in this case. Perhaps it is the bright background coming through the structure of the sea fan that holds it together. The markings on the snail somewhat balance with the intricate the structure of the sea fan, and I like the positioning of the snail in the frame and the direction of the main structural veins. An extraordinary image of an extraordinary subject, and a perfect example of colourful wildlife.

I love the simplicity of this image. The dark background is an unusual choice for a photograph of this nature, but it works so well, drawing all the viewer's attention to the poppy and that splash of vibrant colour. Somehow the bee doesn't get overwhelmed, indeed it still manages to be the star of the show. The bee has been so expertly captured, a skilled hand is at work here to get the insect so pin sharp but with that lovely motion blur in the wings adding dynamism. The lighting is sublime, just enough to separate the bee from the background and highlight all the intimate details. Excellent work.

This photograph is all about dramatic light. I am a real fan of back lighting and the effects that it can generate such as the lovely bokeh balls on display in the background to this image - they form the ideal backdrop to the bright rim-lighting around this Arctic Fox. These lighting effects have created the amazing shapes and colour, around which this image hangs. The subject itself shows bags of detail, has a wonderfully engaging expression and creates pleasing diagonals balancing the frame. I love the shallow depth of field here, the eyes and snout the only areas in sharp focus, the rest melting away deliciously into that amazing background.

Most experienced photographers know the value of an out of focus background and how it focuses all the viewer's attention on the subject. However, few pay as much attention to the foreground areas of the frame. I love the use of out of focus foliage in these areas to create a window through which to view the subject. Here we have a near-perfect example of how effective the technique can be. A goshawk isn't the most colourful bird in the world, but the use of lighting and foliage here has framed it with some beautiful tones and textures. The photograph has such a nice balance to it and is technically very accomplished. the pose of the bird creates a very pleasing shape making the whole frame flow.

This so nearly made it into my top 10 selection. This is a colourful species and an obvious choice for the category. Most approaches would be for a much wider perspective of the bird, but I love the tight focus on the detail here which concentrates the viewer's attention on the array of colours that adorn the birds head and bill. Technically, the image is well executed and the composition is strong. What really makes it for me is the starburst catchlight in the eye which acts as the centrepiece, holding the viewer's gaze before they explore the other parts of the photograph.

The choice of crop is a much-neglected area of photography, but it is a vital element in a successful image as it directs the composition. The choice of square crop here makes this photograph work so well and enhances the effect of the central placement of the subject and its symmetry. Centre stage (literally) is the star of the show, the shiny bright red and deep blacks of the ladybird are perfectly framed by the plant on which it is sat, the leaves curving invitingly away from the subject in a near-perfect reveal. The subject is beautifully sharp, with the remainder of the frame softening away to the edges. Really nice work.

I keep coming back to this photograph which I think is a very interesting take on the category brief. There is no denying the colourful qualities of a fox - an obvious and common subject for this category. What I particularly like about this image is the juxtaposition of the urban and the natural, and the stark contrast between the light cover on the car and the colour of the animal resting upon it. I enjoy the story that this image tells - photography is not just about perfect lighting and composition. A narrative can sometimes elicit a more considered and longer-lasting appreciation of a photograph, as is the case here.