New Joiners - Animals #663

There is so much to like about this image. The first things that strike you are the complimentary tones and beautiful textures created by the excellent use of light which is simple exquisite. The light catching the nostrils and hair of the mane is delicate and effective adding depth and energy. The position of the pony in the frame is also spot on with space on the left for the animal to 'walk into', and the leg position is perfectly balanced. I also love the diagonal lines of the hills in the background and the contrast of light and dark tones on the slopes. The thin strip of grass at the bottom of the frame holds everything in, and the lighter strip of grass above creates the separation between the foreground and background. The post processing is skillful and has brought out the best in the image. Excellent work!

This image is all about the relationship between the elephants. The composition here is excellent. There is such a sense of love and protection which comes across here with the closeness of the animals and that over-arching trunk of the matriarch showing both strength and tenderness. The central position of the youngster is sublime and I love the processing which highlights the texture of the skin and the overall composition. Some would not like the crop which cuts through the head of the adult and the trunk of the youngster, but I think it works as it is. Beautiful work.

One of the more difficult skills when capturing animals is to give them a bit of space in the frame and make the image work with all the other elements. This is a great example of when it works well. Not only is the bird in a great pose with its wings fully extended, but the other elements have been composed well giving the photo a nice balance. I'm really glad the bird isn't obscuring the building in the background. The second Vulture is a nice touch, adding an extra element for the viewer to find and which may not have been obvious at first glance. I would have processed this image differently a looked to add a bit more depth through contrast and levels adjustments.

This is a really good example of a breaching Humpback. To time this correctly is not easy, even with modern cameras and their fast frame rates. I like the shape of the animal and the detail you can see on its underside, the background has complimentary tones, and it gives the viewer a sense of place. The image captures that point of maximum breach height, just at the point the motion seems to 'pause' for a fraction of a second. This has helped the animal stay sharp in the frame at the shutter speed employed - the blurry water adds energy. A faster shutter speed (upwards of 1/2,000 sec) would have been my choice to ensure the animal stays sharp throughout the shot sequence. Great shot.

A well composed and exposed image. It isn't easy to get the exposure correct when shooting this type of scene, as the camera will naturally want to expose for the lighter background and underexpose the subject. The photographer has obviously factored this in with some exposure compensation. The pose of the bird is excellent, and the eye contact is essential for that connection with the viewer. I also really like the textures and colours in the background. The whole scene places the bird within its environment. The point of focus appears to be on the owl's tail feathers and not the eyes, which is a shame.

I quite like the fact that this Robin is a little scruffy-looking as it adds some character and is a change to all the shots of pristine birds. It looks as if it may have just taken a bath and is sat on the post to dry its feathers off, so a bit of a story there for the viewer. The background is nice and clean, allowing all the attention to focus on the bird. I also like the fact the photographer has factored in the shutter speed for the length of lens, and obviously used something fast enough to make sure the subject is sharp in the frame. I would have cropped out some of the space at the top and right of the frame to balance the composition better.

I like the idea of this shot - the central composition works well and shooting from a higher angle creates a reflection of the face in the water, which I like. The focus is on the eyes, and the space around the frame tells the viewer a bit about this animal's environment. The left side gets a bit lost in the shadow due to the harsh lighting and I would have tried to get a little more detail out of this area, and the frog in general, in post processing

Action shots of wildlife are some of the more difficult images to pull off successfully. There are many things that the photographer has done well here. The focus is on the eyes and the bill - critical when using large apertures such as f/4 in this case. The shutter speed is just fast enough to freeze the action and at just the right moment. I really love that slime that you can see between the fish and the lower half of the bill. I'm also glad that the tail of the fish does not touch the right edge of the frame. I would have used a shutter speed of upwards of 1/2,500 second here - as it is surprising just how much you need to make sure everything is sharp. The background is a bit distracting and this would work better with something cleaner, but a great capture nevertheless.

The most important thing when taking animal portraits such as this shot, is that the eyes are pin sharp. The photographer has also chosen a large aperture so the focus falls away beautifully, concentrating the viewer's attention on the face. The composition is good and the processing skillful. I also like the subtle vignette.

I love the composition of this image, the looser crop gives the Marmot a real sense of place and tells the viewer a story about where the animal lives. I also like the positioning in the frame as this gives a nice balance. It is a real pity that the camera has focused on the rocks in the bottom left of the frame and not on the Marmot itself. It also would benefit from a levels adjustment to bring it to life more. Great composition.

I really like elements of this image, the most obvious of which is the skillful capture of the bird and the insect, the bird's gaze firmly locked on its prey, beak open in anticipation of its meal. The colours are beautiful and complimentary, the background uncluttered and clean. The pose of the bee-eater is good with the wings spread evenly and tail fanned out. The position in the frame could be improved by a tighter crop to give a better overall balance. There is too much space in the top half and, although I'm not a great fan of square crops, I think it might work here. Also, a faster shutter speed would have eliminated the blur in the wings and tail.

I love the direct eye contact, composition, and overall framing of this shot. The puffin is staring down the barrel of the photographer's lens from its nest burrow, the entrance to which has been skillfully used to frame the image. The photo is all about the eye contact, Puffins have such expression-filled eyes with that clown-like face. This is full of mood and connection. I find the exposed root on the right a little distracting and the tones are a bit cool for my liking, but a great image!

This is a very skillful image indeed. Technically, it is a great example of a high key approach which has focused attention on the subjects and their relationship, and created a dream-like and romantic feel. The white dress contrasts well with the black and white fur of the dog and the pose of the two is perfectly balanced. Eye contact creates the obvious close relationship between human and dog. The shoes in her hands and the dirt on her dress suggests an untold story and leaves the viewer to fill in the gaps for themselves. Elegant and beautiful.

Great use of light and a shallow depth of field to focus the viewer's attention on the eyes of this reptile. The lighting is really nice and creates great depth and mood, bringing out the colours and textures of both the animal and the rock in the foreground. A tighter crop would have worked even better I feel, removing some of the bottom of the frame to reduce the dominance of the rock.