New Joiners - Animals #491

What an eye-catching and well-balanced shot this is. So often this type of environmental photo is overlooked in favour of frame-filling, generic portraits. However, a shorter focal length allows the photographer to include context and tell a story. Compositionally, the bears and mountain peak create a pleasing balance and the photographer has captured and timed this image superbly well.

Who doesn't love a good action shot like this? I haven't seen too many photos of kites catching fish, so this is a great bit of behaviour to capture. The image is beautifully sharp and well-executed - good technique to get the exposure and focusing spot on. I love all the water droplets falling from the fish and the three-dimensional feel of this shot.

I like the use of light and shade here - it gives this shot wonderful depth. Backlighting provides drama and interest and the photographer has done well to control exposure and preserve detail throughout the scene. The low branches create a neat frame for the deer below. A lovely, natural shot.

This is a busy and fun shot. With so many birds in the frame, they are never going to be all perfectly positioned. But overall, this shot works well with lots of activity and poses to keep the frame interesting and engaging. The shadow in the bottom left corner is a slight distraction, but otherwise I think the photographer has done well with this image.

This is a very sweet shot and I love the symmetry provided by the cubs sitting down either side of the one laying down in the middle. However, it appears that autofocus has locked-on to the grasses just in-front of the lions, and the cubs themselves lack critical sharpness, which is a great shame. A nicely constructed shot otherwise.

This is a bit of a Marmite shot I suspect - you will either love or hate it. I like it - its different and quirky. The shallow zone of focus and pinpoint focusing on the gull's eye really directs the viewer to the bird's stern gaze. It's simple, bold and unconventional.

A lovely, striking portrait. The photographer has done exceptionally well to capture this at just 1/40sec with focal length of 600mm (35mm equivalent). However, I would advise increasing ISO to generate a faster, more practical shutter in the future. Otherwise, you risk undesirable camera or subject motion.

If you wish to 'capture the moment', timing is so important. This it such a sweet, tender moment, with the mother and calf touching trunks - and the photographer has triggered the shutter at just the right moment. The midday light is a little harsh, though, and the framing a tiny bit tight in my opinion.

This is a lovely portrait of a magnificent animal. I love the autumnal bracken in the foreground and the seasonal feel of this shot. The warm, soft light enhances the quality of the photo and the combination of long lens and large aperture helps the stag pop from its surroundings. Very nice indeed.

Not all photographers have the time or opportunity to photograph animals in the wild. Captive-bred subjects can still provide good photo opportunities, though. This is a lovely portrait of a stunning bird. The background colour really enhances the shot. Meanwhile, the pose and composition - with the eagle looking back into the negative space on the left - is very effective. Well-captured.

Good to see a range of different subjects entered. I'm fond of frogs and this is a well captured image. There was no technical info supplied unfortunately, but I'm assuming flash was used. However, the light needed more diffusion - frogs have wet, reflective skin, so flash can cause distracting hotspots. I would also suggest cropping or cloning out the distracting blob of light in the top right corner too.

This is a good shot of a stunning creature. I love the detail and texture the photographer has captured in the crane's plumage and crown. The diffused backdrop helps the bird standout. I just wish the crane was looking slightly toward the camera, rather than away from it. A very nice capture, though.

This is a simple but effective shot. While I would favour a natural perch (rather than the iron arm of a bird feeder) there is much to like here. The background is a nice, diffused wash of colour that compliments the subject. I love the blue tit's inquisitive pose too and, given the poor light, the image is crisp and sharp.

I so often refer to the light's warmth or quality when commenting on competition entries. Quite simply, it can make or break a photo. In this instance, it definitely makes it. I think this is a beautiful shot - I love the detail, the sun-kissed vegetation and the mixture of light and shade. At a different time of day, this composition might have appeared quite ordinary, but the evening light brings this portrait alive.