New Joiners - Animals #612

Choosing the right moment to take the shot is always key in animal photography. Capturing a moment when the turtle's head is above the surface makes this image stand out. It provides contrast and separation with the subject's face and the rest of the frame, bringing the viewer's attention to what matters most.

The grasses in this animal portrait add some nice layering and interest without distracting from the face and eye. The lack of contrast and neutral tones also work to make it aesthetically pleasing. Lastly, I like the vertical composition and the negative space in the upper half of the frame.

The shapes and curves really come into the forefront with this stretching shot of a Leopard. When viewing this image, my eye is taken from the outstretched paw in one corner of the frame all the way to the tip of the tail in the opposite corner. Exposure is also solid here considering the sidelight.

I absolutely love the concept of this kingfisher image! For me, it's all about the the deep and rich color. The green background matches the pumpkin stem nicely and the kingfisher's breast is a perfect compliment for the pumpkin body. Both the bird and pumpkin are tack sharp and the composition is very strong as well. Great work!

Great portraits, including animals, always include dramatic light and this image is no exception. The angled light falls perfectly on the eye for viewer engagement and also reveals some nice textures around the body. Further, the candid profile, low key light, and solemn expression all help bring the image together.

Talk about getting the right moment in an action sequence. The color harmony is quite strong in this image as it pertains to the browns and natural colors. Also, both subjects and their respective perches are sharp. It's interesting how the overall scene form a line coming in and out of the lower edges of the frame.

How can you not fall in love with these horses upon first glance? Each of them is sharp and and the shutter speed used by the photographer captures some motion in their hair, bringing you right into the scene. You can almost feel the wind when looking into the frame.

I definitely love the symmetrical aspects about this photo to include the eyes and tusks. At first glance, the viewer has to study the image carefully to see where one elephant begins and where the other ends. This is especially true with the interlocking tusks. The crop an overall composition are quite strong and capitalize on the symmetrical strengths.

I really enjoy the black and white conversion for this image as well as the vertical composition which suits the bird's height in the frame. The cormorant's placement on the right hand side allows for some pleasing negative space and some bokeh as well. Great job at creating an artistic image.

This is an amazing bird in flight image due to the action, placement, and overall mood of the scene. The wing position is incredible here as you see the primary feathers almost grazing the frosted grass and cutting through some morning mist. You can count each feather on the bird as the details are stunning. here.

There's always a temptation to photograph animals as close as possible by using the longest zoom lens. Stepping back and using a wider focal length to include the surrounding environment usually pays off. I enjoy seeing the distant hills and pastures and appreciate how the near hedge divides the shot between subject and background.

The photographer's patience clearly paid off here as this is quite the image. The lighting is amazing and the placement of the baby and mother work incredibly well. This shot also brings out the textures in a positive way on both of the animals. From a compositional standpoint, it's also pleasing that both are positioned beneath the distant horizon.

I really enjoy the use of natural framing around the resting Jaguar as it supplements the subject without distracting from it. The animal is framed using the rule of thirds and is looking out towards one corner as part of a strong composition. Great resolution here considering the shot was taken behind glass.

White birds work great for a low key effect when you have strong or mid-day light. The dramatic black background, rendered by a fast shutter speed, offers a nice studio look for this pelican. With full attention on the subject, one can appreciate the feather patterns and subtle color palette.

All images, including animal images, become more interesting when there's a story being told. I appreciate the thought that went into this capture with an intent to show the perspective of a cat's prey. Cats are cute animals and make great pets for us, but they can also be fierce predators for many other animals as you can see here.