New Joiners - Animals #493

Falling snow or rain has the ability to add so much interest to nature shots. In this instance, the fast shutter speed has suspended the snowflakes beautifully, adding texture to the photo - in fact, the image has an almost painterly feel to it. The ram is an impressive subject and this is a very striking shot. well worthy of being in my top ten.

This is a very elegant, well constructed feline portrait. The lighting, backdrop and composition are simple, yet effective. You can't help but get caught by the cat's gaze. The subject's pose and shape help create a very well balanced and classy image.

Flight shots are always challenging, but this is a well-captured image. The cormorant's eye and body are sharp and the photographer has got their technique spot-on. For me, I'd like to see a little more negative-space in front of the bird - centralised subjects can produce quite static looking compositions.

Taking photos at this level of magnification is fraught with all kinds of technical challenges, particularly a limited depth of field. I think this is a very impressive shot given it was taken on a camera phone with a lens clip. Both ants are acceptably sharp and its interesting behaviour to capture. Well done indeed.

This is such a nicely constructed shot. The branches and blossom really help frame the blue tit, while also adding a nice seasonal flavour. The subject is beautifully sharp and standouts boldly against the deep blue sky. Overall, a very well executed shot. Well done!

What 'makes' this shot is the soft, warm side-light just kissing the sika deer's head and body. It might be subtle, but it brings the shot alive and gives it depth and life. The out of focus trees behind create really nice context.

This is an excellent portrait of an impressive animal. I love the dead vegetation caught in the stag's antlers and the shallow zone of focus, which allows the deer to pop from its surroundings. For me, the colour temperature is a little cool, though - I might be tempted to warm-up the image slightly.

This is an attractive shot. The undulating water ripples behind the Canada goose add colour, texture, depth and interest to the composition. The goose is bitingly sharp throughout - focusing and aperture choice are both spot-on. However, I would have preferred the subject's reflection not to have been clipped by the bottom of the frame.

What an impressive animal this is and the weather brilliantly conveys the harsh conditions this bison has too withstand. The snow has created a mono-like result and highlighted shape and texture. For my taste, the composition is a little too tight, though - I'd love to see more breathing space around the subject.

In order to capture the 'decisive moment', timing is everything as a nature photographer. The photographer has captured this moment well, with the lion's mouth outstretched as he roars or yawns. A nicely taken shot that highlights those fearsome teeth.

A lovely, intimate portrait of mother and baby. The soft, diffused background really keeps the attention on the subject and both animals are wonderfully sharp and detailed. I wonder if a vertical format might have worked slightly better, though - or maybe placing the animals slightly less central in the frame instead.

This is a good action shot - beautifully sharp, well exposed and nicely framed. The shallow depth of field really helps direct the eye to the subject. If this was your pooch, you would be thrilled to have this shot hanging on the wall.

One of the reasons this shot didn't make the cut is due to the dust spots you can see in the top left corner. This is a common problem and many shots get rejected for exactly the same reason. All cameras that are compatible with interchangeable lenses are susceptible to sensor dust and dirt. Often, these marks are easy to tidy up in post processing using the Clone Tool or Healing Brush. However, photographers will need to clean their camera's sensor from time-to-time - either using a DIY sensor cleaning kit, or by taking it to a camera store for cleaning. Don't forget to do this.

Photographing light subjects against dark backgrounds (or vice versa) can cause all sorts of exposure problems, but this mute swan portrait is well captured and the subject standouts boldly. I love the detail in this shot - the texture of the ruffled feathers as the swan preens. The catchlight in the bird's eye really helps bring this shot alive.