New Joiners - Animals #639

Most duck images are taken at the waterline for a more intimate perspective, however, shooting down on them is underrated in my opinion. I love the textures achieved in this shot and how the light moves from shade to colored reflection from one side of the frame to the other.

The story behind this image captured my attention and it's very powerful. Animals are family to us and will always stay in our memories in a positive way. The German Shepherd is placed nicely in a scenic frame that's busy but yet not distracting from the subject or point of focus.

A mixing of human elements and a manicured landscape can be a nice supplement to any animal image. The extra pop of color with the flowers brightens the otherwise bland colors in the rest of the frame Fawns are very curious and can sometimes be confiding as you see here. A pretty moment.

This lizard composition really takes advantage of some strong diagonal lines that are apparent and subtle. The curve in the out of focus bucket offers a nice counterweight as well. I like how the subject is positioned in a similar manner and mimics the the shape of the leaf or piece of wood in the lower portion of the frame.

I've seen grouse fighting on leks and it's very intense to witness. That said, this shot captures the heat of the moment between two Pheasants in an impactful way for the viewer. The subtle amount of wing blur gives a sense of momentum, yet the shutter freezes the action to show what happens in these lightning quick exchanges.

I enjoy spider images and they are amazing subjects that can be captured in our backyards if we look closely. The composition is strong here and the depth of field chosen by the photographer is just right from my standpoint. The subject and some of the surrounding web are sharp with a soft background, free of distraction.

Is this a monkey's take or its best version of Dionysus? It apparently seems so and stops you in your tracks, which signals a strong and unique animal image. The subject's posture and expression really help bring the composition together nicely. It's always a treat to see animals acting or seemingly acting human like.

This is such a great example of a strong bird in flight image, which isn't an easy thing to capture. I rather like the cool tones in the background as they contrast the warmth of the Eagle. Exposure is strong and the bird is nice and sharp with a pleasing, soft background,

I see a lot of squirrel images and it takes something special for one to stand out. I love the surrounding textures of the tree bark and how it blends in with the subject. Speaking of the subject, the squirrel's posture is rather humorous and a bit unique. A nice take on a common subject.

I love artistic images of nature that can be both literal and yet abstract at the same time. This image has incredible color to it and keeps the viewer guessing until closer inspection. I'm not sure what the cause is for the water color surrounding the amphibian spawn, but it helps make this shot special. The eyes have it!

Backlight can work amazingly well on animal images and can offer even more impact than the more standard front lighting. The golden color is very pretty here and it adds some subtle rim light around the Blackbuck upon close inspection. The out of focus buck in the background is a nice touch as well.

I absolutely love the light quality in this image. Exposing for the dawn color allowed for a silhouette of the subjects, which works well here since Cranes have a conspicuous shape. This is a scene that invites you in and makes you really want to be a part of what's going on.

You can't help but wonder what this Snow Monkey is thinking based on the expression captured here. I suspect this may be a look for relief as the warm water offers a nice respite from the surrounding temperatures. The subtle pink coloring on the monkey's face blends in well with the surrounding, soft light.

This image has so many things going for it. The black and white conversion along with the grain add tons of character. I love how each subject is placed in a separate frame, both of which contrast the other. Some shots tell a story, but this one offers many interpretations for the viewer. I can say that my mind ran a bit wild with imagination here.