New Joiners - Animals #606

There's a standard rule in the bird photography world that you get as low as possible when shooting waterbirds. This shot does not adhere to that rule and that's what I like about it. The little bit of elevation brings the water texture into focus and it looks great as a supplement to the pelican along with the backlight.

I absolutely adore the angled lighting and strong shadows on this Gorilla portrait. It brings the moment to life and makes this shot much more than just a standard animal portrait. There's a sense of mystery here and feeling that's conveyed through the expression of the subject. A great usage of light.

Squirrels are very endearing subjects and always offer up some character and a pose. That's all included in this image, but the inclusion of the supporting mushroom makes it quite appealing. The photographer is able to showcase the squirrel with a tight portrait, but the mushroom offers some balance and a sense of habitat.

I really love the amazing action captured in this photo! It's always a plus when you have two animals interacting in a frame during a dynamic moment such as this one. Both subjects are sharp, exposure is spot on, and the viewer can sense the level of engagement at a moment just before contact. Great work!

This is by far the most artistic shot of the entire selection and one I do like a lot. The dark mood works well with the subjects here and I appreciate how the cow in the foreground is used to frame up the other in the distance. Getting the light direction right is key and it's done well here.

Always excited to see great snake images as they are not normally represented well to the public. When viewing the image, you can see how the shape of the snakes mirrors the wood in the background of the frame. Also they are placed well in the open pocket and framed up nicely.

I love Mute Swans and their signets are always crowd pleasers. It's great to see the parent and both young ones in focus and I rather like the placement as the adult is flanked on both sides. The curved lines created by the parent's neck and head shape are emphasized well here.

Backlighting when used properly can be much more powerful than front light as can be seen here. The setting or rising sun in the distance is captured as a pleasant starburst and it also provides some great rim light around the horse. The surrounding foliage offers up a nice frame and it wraps around the subject adding interest.

Bears are known for their toughness and fierceness, but this portrait seems to reveal a more tender side. I rather like this type of an expression on a bear and the little of bit of bokeh in the background supplements the subject well. Sharpness is good and exposure is spot one considering the contrast in the scene.

This shot is very thoughtful and one of the most humorous I've seen in quite some time! Professor rabbit is adorable and the little chalk board in the background and glasses are used well to support the intended story or theme. I'm hoping a treat in store or perhaps some carrot after such a good performance.

This is a very pleasing macro shot of a Jumping Spider. You have to look through a magnified lens to really appreciate how special these spiders truly are and that's conveyed in this image. The spider's color is rather appealing and unique as these animals aren't normally known for dazzling tones.

Dragonflies are interesting subjects and quite pleasing to look at when viewed through a macro lens as you see in this shot. Obtaining a proper depth of field can be tricky in situations where your lens is only inches away from your subject, but it's done right here as the subject and perch are sharp where it counts.

This shot has a unique, top down view of an interaction that's not typically seen by most. The cool tones really stand out here and I enjoy the contrast between the calf and its mother. One has a tail above the surface with the rest of the body obscured and the other is in full view but beneath the water..

Wow, talk about some incredible color. The tight or close focus on the butterfly works well with the composition where the animal is almost filling the entire frame. The wing patterns double as leading lines from the corners of the frame right to the head and eyes. This proves that a centered crop can sometimes be the right answer.