New Joiners - Animals #691

I like the composition of this image, the large amount of dark negative space above the snake gives it a rather sinister feel, mirrored by the snakes defensive pose and direct eye contact with the viewer. The position of the snake's head in the frame is pleasing and I rather like the shallow diagonal the branch makes across the bottom of the frame. The lighting is well judged, being subtle enough not to dominate the scene and distract from the other elements.

There are those images that give an instant dopamine hit and others that slowly unlock their qualities and keep you coming back and looking at them over and over. This image is the latter. There are so many elements that work here. A group of three always creates a nice balance in an image and these animals are nicely grouped together in a pleasing shape. I love the reflections in the water which create nice symmetry. The mood here is fabulous, with those rain clouds rolling over the distant mountains correctly exposed and retaining detail. The mountains themselves and their shape compliment the group of animals nicely and create layers and depth to the image that I really like. This image tells a great story about the animals and where they live - it's a photographic gourmet meal to be savoured.

The pose of this Kingfisher is well captured and the uncluttered background helps to keep all the viewer's concentration on the colourful kingfisher which is pleasingly positioned in the frame. The focus is spot on and there is sufficient depth of field to keep all the bird sharp. I also rather like the softness that is creeping into the bottom half of the frame, presumably from out of focus foliage.

I like the use of out of focus elements to frame subjects. Here, the photographer has used the grass to achieve this which has also allowed a uniform background created by the out of focus sea. The result is that all the attention is focused where it needs to be, on the Puffin. I like the unusual pose of the bird, the position of the bird in the frame and the angle of its head. I also like the fact the photographer has taken a sympathetic approach to the post processing - so many would have been over eager with the use of the saturation slider. A well considered, technically sound and pleasing piece of work.

I like images that take a wider view and place subjects in their environment as is the case here. The obvious successful elements are the sublime dawn lighting and backlit mist that is rising from the water giving an ethereal quality to the image. But it is the layering of the photograph which I think makes it so strong - the lower third containing the geese on the water, the middle with those warm tones of the bankside vegetation, and finally the contrasting cool tones of the distant hills and sky. The camera seems to have focused on the middle part of the image rather than the birds which is a bit of a shame.

I have seen thousands of Puffin images over the years as these birds are so photogenic and are confiding subjects during the summer breeding season. I like the choice of a tight crop here, the dark background creating a nice mood and focusing all the attention of the detail of the bird. The point of focus is spot on and the photograph reveals so much detail in the plumage, eyes and bill for the viewer to enjoy - the star of the show being the bright bill. The composition overall is well balanced, although the eye to the left of the frame is getting slightly lost with the angle of the head. It's nice to see an artistic approach to a subject which most photograph in a more literal way.

The contrast in the light colour of the sand and the dark fur of the monkey really make this image stand out. I find the position of the animal in the frame pleasing, and the tail forms an interesting line across the photograph. The pose is engaging, those big eyes staring into the distance pose all sorts of questions in the viewer's mind and gives the animal personality. The darker rocks at the top of the image help to frame it, and I like the leaves which give random pops of colour.

I own a Springer Spaniel myself, so know the personality of these dogs only too well! When a photograph manages to portray personality, then you know it's successful - muddy and mad - the perfect combination for this breed. I really like the composition here, the central placement of the dog in the frame is the perfect choice, but the leading lines created by the wheel ruts and the fence line all converge in the centre and the dog too. The lighting is perfect for the scene, strong enough to provide the depth, but soft enough to retain all the detail. The shutter speed, focus and timing are all spot on and have captured a terrific moment.

I find the colours and textures in this image really pleasing and a perfect backdrop to the fish which rightly takes centre stage. The focus is perfectly on the fish's eye and captures the colours beautifully. It is difficult to create a pleasing image with a complicated background like this on dry land - beneath the surface introduces a whole host of additional complications to overcome. The photographer has managed to do this so well here and bring an underwater world onto our computer screens. I would have liked to be able to see the tail, but a fantastic image nevertheless.

I really like the approach to this pet portrait as it is different and bold - this makes it leap out of the screen. It is all about the eye - it's the centre piece of the image and the viewer is drawn straight in to it before wandering around the rest of the frame. The choice to crop in tight to only half the head is inspired, the left hand edge perfectly placed on the central line of the dog's face. The depth of field is prefect, the focus on the eye with the rest of the frame falling away beautifully. There is also a nice diagonal connecting the nose in the bottom left, through the eye to the ear, leading to the negative space on the right. The colour of the background is very clever, complimenting the tones of the dog's fur, ensuring that there is no distraction from the subject and that staring eye. The best pet portrait I have seen for a long time.

Penguins are such an iconic and unique group of birds. The Chinstrap is perhaps an under-represented species photographically as they lack the bright colours of some of their cousins, so it is nice to see this image in the selection. There are many things that have been executed well here. Black and white birds can be difficult to expose correctly, but I think the balance is correct with this image. I like the composition and the central placement between the rocks on the left and right of the frame. A good selection of shutter speed and focal point has kept everything sharp that should be sharp, and the background is uncluttered. A slight shame we can't see all the tail, but a minor issue.

This is an approach I have seen before, but I still like the contrast between the dynamic blur of the water and the statuesque stillness of the heron. This is a tricky shot to pull off well, especially without a tripod, the exposure needs to be slow enough to capture the movement in the water, but fast enough to keep the bird sharp. This has been achieved well here. I also like the overall composition and the choice of the vertical crop which works well with the shape of the bird.

The use of out of focus foliage to frame this shot works well and I like the central placement of the squirrel. The focus point has gone on the animal's eyes and the direct eye contact creates an element of engagement with the viewer. The white balance is a little on the warm side and the photo would benefit from an adjustment here.

The strong contrast in colour and tone between the animal and its surroundings is what drew me to this image. All the attention is focused on the animal as a result and makes the composition strong. The deer is placed ideally in the frame, having space to look into on the right, the exposure is spot on and the focus in the right place. I like the textures and tones in the out of focus background too. A very successful image.

Silhouettes can create simple and effective images as we see here. Silhouettes work best when the viewer is left in no doubt as to what they are - Flamingos have such a distinct shape that they work extremely well for this style of shot. The colourful sky is the ideal background and I like the array of wing positions on display here. A pity about the central birds overlapping slightly, but a still a pleasing image.