New Joiners - Animals #542

This shots boasts lovely light and context. I do worry that the background saguaro is possibly a little too dominant and distracting. However, it does also provide some balance to the frame. Overall, this is a technically good image, which is bitingly sharp and demonstrates good camera-handling skills by the photographer.

While I prefer animal images to be captured in the wild, rather than captivity, this is a really striking portrait. I like the cool tone and look of this image. It is bitingly sharp and detailed and the tight, vertical composition works well.

I love the unconventional, elevated perspective of this shot - its very striking, particularly with the gorilla looking upward directly into camera! The shot boasts great eye-contact and impact. This looks like a tricky scene to expose for, but the photographer has done an excellent job with both capturing and processing this image.

This is a great bit of interaction with the hippo yawning or shouting and two oxpeckers in close attendance. Unfortunately, the action is just too small in the frame and therefore the impact is greatly diluted. A longer focal length - in the region of 300-400mm I would guess - would have produced a far more impactful result.

A clean and uncomplicated image whose success is linked to its simplicity. These light, bright high-key images - created through applying positive exposure compensation - are visually very striking. This image has a painterly feel. I'm sure it would be equally effective converted to black and white.

This is not an image that might immediately standout, but it is a lovely, authentic looking shot. It is well timed, with the grass snake flicking out its tongue and 'tasting' the air. Well done to the photographer for achieving a low, natural angle. The tight crop simplifies the snake's busy environment.

I do like the distorted perspective of this image! That worm's eye viewpoint and wide-angle lens combination has created this wacky effect and makes this little dog look like a giant! The people and fencing in the background are a little distracting. Unfortunately, on close inspection, Buffy's eyes aren't quite sharp enough for this shot to make my top ten.

This is a very good flight shot - well-timed and expertly tracked and focused. Personally, I would prefer to see a little more space in front of the egret, rather than it being so central in the frame. I also think the image is a fraction underexposed. The egret's white plumage appears grey - the photo would benefit from a slight tweak to the exposure slider in processing.

This is a nice bit of action to capture. Photographing behaviour and interaction can greatly help your animal images standout from the crowd. Although the lighting is a little harsh, the photo is well-captured, nicely framed and the black and white conversion simplifies the shot.

There is a lot to like about this shot. The lighting is good, the background is clean. and the cat's face, whiskers and eyes are bitingly sharp. The cat's expression is sweet and I'm sure the owner was very pleased with this image. However, the framing is a little odd, with the subject's feet being awkwardly cut off. I think a vertical composition would have created a stronger, more concise result.