New Joiners - Animals #645
Caron Steele

New Joiners - Animals #645

April 2023

Entry 16104708
13th
6

Wow., eating ants definitely seems like a dirty job for this lizard. The muted tones in the image are complimentary and quite pleasing to the eye. The textures within the shot have a strong feel and the zig zag lines add interest. I hope the effort was worth the calories.

I suspect this is the eye of a raptor, perhaps a hawk or an eagle. It's amazing how reptilian the eye looks, but it's probably not a surprise as birds share a common ancestry with reptiles. I would not want to be a rodent or anything small near the vicinity of this bird. The eye of Sauron is watching!

Expert
winner
Entry 16113210
29th
8

This Dragonfly shot is pure magic and a perfect example of how artistry can be combined with animal photography. Huge kudos to the photographer for making the best of a situation and figuring out how to use the available light in a creative fashion. I love the backstory on the image as well. Awesome shot!

Crowd
winner

I've heard about black cats crossing your path, but not about a single Magpie offering back luck as the photographer suggests. I'd say the photographer had some good luck when coming across this opportunity. The light hitting the bird is magnificent. The blue ones on the feathers are subtle yet powerful and the contrast is just right.

Meet the expert judge

I've seen many Lion images combined with other animal subjects as well as landscapes, but never with a hot air balloon. The vertical composition works well here with the Lion's face and balloon both intersecting the middle of the frame. The. processing lends a muted coloring that's pleasing to the eye.

Giraffes are incredible animals to see in the wild and their shape is unmistakeable, which makes them perfect for a silhouette. The light is great here and I don't mind how the animal is placed in the center of the frame. This shot makes me want to travel back to Africa soon.

For me. this shot is all about the water color color and texture as it blends in with the male Mallard duck. I like the placement of the duck in the frame as it breaks some conventional rules and plays well with the corners of the frame. Not a bad opportunity for a first time visit to a new location.

Entry 16099560
20th
7
Entry 16101141
18th
7

European Starlings are considered pests in the United States, but they are a dying breed where they originally came from. I personally think they're pretty birds as can be seen in this image. The purple tones are stunning as is the yellow bill. I also like the perch and the bird's head on posture.

I absolutely love how the Peacock is used as the background to offset the Marmot in this image. Not only are they looking in separate directions, but their colors and posturing are also in contrast as well. The stick coming out of the lower left corner of the frame is a nice leading line and helps give the Marmot a seemingly similar stature to the Peacock.

Entry 16111788
3rd
13

The color on this Peacock Butterfly is jaw dropping. Red and green are complimentary colors and this image is a perfect example of why they are. While a shallow depth of field was used, the focus landed where it needed to be. I like how one half of the butterfly is sharp and the other is a bit soft.

Entry 16114416
55th
2
Entry 16114445
72nd
3

Most Crocodile images are taken while looking down on the subject. That's not happening here and it's a good thing because the eye level perspective is much more intimate and helps the audience feel. a connection with the animal. I also rather like the border that's been applied here and the filtering effect as well. There's a retro feel to the shot.

Entry 16116906
16th
162
Entry 16117008
57th
3
Entry 16118525
11th
5
Entry 16118895
50th
11

It's rare that you can fill an entire frame with overlapping animals, but it always makes for a unique and strong composition. I love that you can go from each corner of the frame and find different parts of the cows. The frosty breath is a nice touch and the engagement is quite high as well.

Entry 16120198
28th
2
Entry 16126169
4th
14

100 Images entered

Some animal images are strong by telling a story or brining the viewer into a single moment as is done here. While the chicken is in focus and sharp, it's the out of focus and surrounding elements that give a broader perspective about the bird's life. You can't go wrong when blending human interaction.

Brief

See more contest details

Welcome to Photocrowd’s ‘Animals’ contest for New Joiners! These contests are a chance for new members to introduce their photography to the community, and get a taste of how Photocrowd contests work. They can be entered by anyone within their first 28 days of joining Photocrowd. After 100 images have been submitted the contest closes and the Crowd will start rating the images. The Expert Judge will also be judging the images and writing reviews at the same time. All the winners, both Crowd and Expert, will be announced after 3 days of judging. Make sure you also check out our two other New Joiners contests - ‘People’ and ‘Landscapes’.

85 Photographers

9,529 Ratings

Entry 16126662
14th
11

Mute Swans can be tame and make for great subjects. The water droplet is a nice touch and it even has a small reflection that can be seen in it. I also like how another Mute Swan is lined up in the background. The exposure works well considering it was a cloudy day.

Song Sparrows are subtle, but beautiful at the same time. I love how the surrounding tones compliment the sparrow and the busy background adds rather than subtracts from the shot. The bird is tack sharp and nicely placed in an open pocket for the viewer. I can't wait to hear these guys sing throughout the Spring season.

Entry 16128250
68th
3