New Joiners - Animals #533

A cute portrait, with lovely expression and a nice diffused backdrop. Unfortunately, the file just isn't sharp enough, though. I suspect this isn't due to poor focusing, but camera motion instead. 1/200sec just isn't fast enough to consistently freeze motion when using telephotos lengths like 500mm (when any movement appears greatly exaggerated). A higher ISO or larger aperture would have generated a faster shutter.

This is a great behaviour shot, showing interesting interaction between two ants. While the depth of field isn't quite large enough to record both ants acceptable sharp, I think this is a great result, particularly given it was taken on an iPhone with limited functionality. Well spotted...

This might not be a shot that grabs you at first glance, but look again. Not all images have immediate impact - some of the best shots are 'slow burners'. I like this image. Its different, well-captured and the low-key effect works well. The water droplets standout well against the dark background. A good shot that looks better and better the larger you view it...

This is a lovely seaside photo that really captures the essence of the place - harbour walls, fishing boats, colour and of course 'Fred' the gull. I'm a little uncomfortable with how the building at the top of the frame is dissected and the orange buoy (just visible in the bottom right) is also a little distracting. But overall, this is a well composed environmental shot full of life and interest.

This is a nice portrait and the low shooting angle has produced a flattering and natural perspective. The photo is a little more contrasty than I would personally want - I would be tempted to lift the shadow areas slightly to eliveate this.

A well caught portrait, but the point of sharpness is on the meerkat's nose, not its eyes sadly. While there are always exceptions, in this instance the viewer's eyes immediately connect with the meerkat's and so they really do need to be the photographer's point of focus - 'simples'!

A fast shutter speed is key to capturing great action shots like this one. Lots of light and an ISO of 400 has helped generate a shutter of 1/2000sec - rapid enough to capture the swan's movement and suspend all the tiny water droplets. I might be tempted to reduce the brightness of the highlights slightly, but otherwise a well captured shot.

This shot definitely goes in the cute category! A really nice capture of a very appealing subject - pin sharp, well exposed and tightly framed in order to exclude any background distractions. Personally, I might be tempted to reduce the brightness of the image ever so slightly, but post processing is a very subjective thing.

Patience is a key skill for animal photographers. Nature rarely does what you want it to, and it can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. But, as the saying goes, 'the harder you work, the luckier you get'! In this instance, the photographer has been rewarded (for the time they invested in a hide) with a great encounter. And they've captured the moment beautifully - lovely light, great composition and atmosphere. Well done - richly deserved.

I don't think this shot quite works for a handful of reasons, but mostly because the beer's nose is clipped by the top of the frame. However, I do want to congratulate the photographer on the idea and vision to capture the animal as it shook - the movement and texture of the wet fur and water droplets is fantastic. A great idea, that perhaps doesn't quite work in this instance.

This is a very graphic image with strong lines, and contrast. The frog is beautifully sharp and although its not a natural or typical environment, it is a good urban wildlife shot boosting great eye-contact. A different and impactful shot.

Bees are always challenging and awkward subjects to shoot well, but this is a lovely shot. The insect standout beautifully against its background. The photographer has positioned their camera carefully, keeping it near parallel to the subject to place as much of the bee as possible within the plane off focus and thus maximising depth of field. Nicely done...

This is such a striking photo and an interesting and unusual perspective. Although the water is a little messy in places, it is a strong composition overall. Unfortunately, the image just isn't sharp enough to make my Top 10 - such a shame, as this is almost a fantastic shot...

This shot breaks the rules slightly, with the gull flying out of frame, with the negative space behind it. Although this is slightly counterintuitive, I think it works in this instance - rules are there to be broken after all! A well captured flight shot that is sharp, well exposed and nicely processed.

A very simple, but well executed image. Birds in flight are always challenging to capture, but this shot is razor sharp, beautifully exposed and I love the colour and texture of the background water. I would prefer the shearwater not to be so central in the frame, though - maybe a slight crop would help.

I like the way the photographer has used the tree to frame this family of swans. I would crop a little off the left hand side to exclude the leaves creeping in, which are slightly distracting. This was clearly a high-contrast shot and maybe the photographer has increased the shadow detail too much, as the result looks a little HDR ish to my eye.