New Joiners - Animals #515

Good nature shots are often the result of careful timing and persistence. Taken a few moments earlier, this shot would have been a fairly standard shot of a bird on a post. But thanks to the photographer waiting and persevering, they've captured the subject about to take flight. The pose is great, with wings poised and stunning wing detail revealed. A very well captured photo.

This is a well seen image, with the bridge neatly framing the heron in flight. The subject is probably a little too small in frame for this shot to be a complete success. However, this is clearly a young photographer with a great eye for a shot. Keep shooting!

This is a really well composed shot, with the cathedral beautifully framed by the trees behind, while the swan makes a compelling subject and focal point. The large depth of field helps convey context. A vertical frame might have worked well too, allowing the photographer to include more of the swan's reflection.

This is a nicely captured cheetah portrait. The blood around the animal's mouth adds impact and interest to the shot, telling a story of the cat's recent kill. The photo is bitingly sharp. I might be tempted to lose a little bit of the space above the subject's head.

This is a well composed shot, with the photographer recognising the need to frame the subject's head between the background trees, rather than allow a tree to 'grow' out of the animal's head. The soft light is attractive and the shallow zone of focus really draws the eye to the subject.

This is such a cute shot, but sadly it just isn't sharp enough to make my top ten. There are no accompanying camera settings, so I can only guess that - due to the low light - an insufficient shutter speed was used and camera or subject movement has softening image quality.

This is a very well captured shot, with Tyson peering around the tree, staring toward camera. Using a telephoto length has throw the background attractively out of focus, while the maple leaves add a warm, autumnal feel. A very nice feline portrait - well done.

I love the use of light and shade in this photo. With the lizard practically spotlit, the lighting really directs the eye to the subject, while the shade creates depth and interest. The leaves create a frame for the reptile and overall, this is well seen and captured shot.

Lots to like about this shot - good light, nicely framed and well-captured. However, the composition is too tight at the bottom of the frame and unfortunately the mockingbird's tail is clipped. As a result, the composition looks unintentional. If in doubt, always include a little extra space when you take photos - you can always crop the shot later, but you can't add information and detail.

Given that this was taken at an aquarium, I think this is a very good effort. I love the cool blue cast and clarity and sharpness remain good despite this being captured through glass. It is a simple, but striking shot. The composition is maybe a fraction too tight at the top of the frame.

Unfortunately, this is another otherwise good shot, spoiled due to a lack of critical sharpness. The photographer has composed and exposed the shot well, but I would guess an insufficient shutter speed has softened image quality. The problem grows more obvious the larger you view the image.

A lovely subject, but unfortunately the crop is a little too tight at the bottom of the frame, and the image isn't quite sharp enough. When using a long focal length, it is important to generate a fast shutter speed, as any movement is greatly magnified. An 1/80th just isn't fast enough with a big lens. In this instance, a higher ISO would have solved the problem.

I like the bold framing of this shot, with the tern low in the frame with lots of negative space. It is important to try to be innovative when shooting nature shots. Less conventional shots often catch the eye and are more memorable.

This is a lovely low-key portrait and the photographer has captured a loving, loyal look in the subject's eyes. This is a simple, but striking photo. The shallow depth of field works a treat, but the point of complete focus appears to be on the animal's nose and not on its eyes unfortunately.

This is a well captured shot. The light and setting are attractive and I wonder if this shot is set-up (or a captive subject), rather than a result of opportunism. Exposure and focusing are spot-on, while the composition - with the chipmunk looking into the space on the right of the frame - works well.