New Joiners - Animals #595

The vibrant background really gives this image some punch and colour impact. The focusing is perfectly on the Labrador's eyes and the lighting, exposure and framing are spot-on. A nice pooch portrait that I'm sure the owner's will enjoy having on their wall.

While, at first glance, this is a nicely captured image - well timed, sharply focused and with a flattering background - I have to seriously question the ethics of restraining a wild subject and keeping it in a cage for several days. Tying-up a cricket and using live bait is also completely unacceptable. This is not a practise that can be condoned. Subject welfare must always be the priority.

This is a very sweet and engaging shot with the two owls staring directly into camera. A slightly tighter crop might be worth exploring, just to remove the branch in the bottom right corner and create a cleaner composition overall. There is some obvious chromatic aberration (colour fringing) along some of the high contrast edges - particularly the tree branches in the top left corner. This is easy to correct using lens correction tools in photo editing software like Lightroom.

Animal portraits captured up-close, and using a short focal length, often create a distorted and eye-catching perspective. This is a fun shot of a curious squirrel as it looks directly into the lens. I might just be tempted to lift the shadow detail from its body below its head, where its appears a little too dark.

I would love to read more information from the photographer about how this image was captured. It is never easy to take photos in blizzard conditions, but the photographer has managed to convey the harsh conditions though their choice of exposure. The relatively slow shutter speed has blurred the snow and created atmosphere. The focus looks like it's slightly beyond the subject's head and more sharply on its body. But overall, a very striking shot.

This is a stunning hare portrait with the cool, frosty ground providing an attractive backdrop. The focus is spot on and the photographer has captured lovely detail. This image boasts strong eye-contact and a feeling of symmetry. I know I'm being nitpicky, but I would like the gap between the hare's ears and the edge of the frame to be even both sides - currently the gap is larger on the left.

There is plenty to enjoy about this shot - the simple composition, wintry vibes, and the complimentary shapes. Had the swan been walking into the frame from the bottom left corner, I think this image would have felt more balanced. However, with the subject walking out of shot, and away from the rushes, the composition doesn't quite pull-together in my opinion.

This is a very sweet shot. I love the low. natural viewpoint and the symmetry created by the water vole's reflection. Unfortunately, the image isn't quite sharp enough and (crucially) the subject's eyes are slightly soft. The poor light and slow shutter speed (1/25sec) are the culprit in this instance.

I love the timing of this shot, with the Osprey's wings captured perfectly outstretched. The framing works well - the branch and foliage creating context and balance. The warm sunlight is beautiful, but the overall tone of the image looks slightly off to my eye. I might be tempted to look at the Temperature and Tint sliders in Lightroom - increasing the amount of Magenta might create a slightly more pleasing tone.

This is such an extraordinary looking image. The tree climbing and grazing goats in Morocco are now well-known, but image's like this still don't look real, do they? The midday light is a bit harsh, which makes me wonder if a black and white conversion might suit this photo better. There are a number of a sensor spots obvious in the top corners - remember to clean your sensor, particularly when shooting in dusty environments.

This might not a 'pretty' nature shot, but it is a great bit of action to capture with the stalk eating a snake. Its an eye-catching shot that is beautifully focused and timed. Exposure is well controlled too, given the tricky, mixed light. However, I would reduce the overall brightness of the shot by 1/3- or 1/2-stop - or drag back the Highlights slider - so that that subject's plumage isn't quite so light.

This is a very striking perspective. The low shooting angle further helps emphasise the elephant's size and scale. I think the black and white conversion works well, but I think the photographer could get more from this file - the photo looks a little flat and lifeless. A few tweaks to contrast and clarity might give the shot a bit more depth and oomph. The rocks in the bottom right corner are a little distracting in my opinion.

This is an eye-catching shot with both the deer and suriri appearing to be staring at the same thing. The processing and tone is contrasty and modern, which suits the image well I think. For me, the shot would benefit from a slice more negative space to the left of the frame, to help absorb the subject's gaze.

This is a nicely captured portrait - clean, simple and attractive. However, you can see a number of dust spots around the frame (both toward the bottom left corner and to the right of the cheetah). Always take time to view your photos at 100% and remove any distracting sensor-spots using the Heal or Clone tool. And explore different methods of getting your camera's sensor cleaned - DIY kits are available, or consider getting your sensor cleaned professionally.