New Joiners - Animals #712

You can almost feel the breeze when looking at this image. The processing is done well as the color tones look great. The grasses add a nice sense of texture and frame the dog well. I like how the gaze is shifted to the right of the frame as it creates a strong profile and angle for the light to fall on.

This is a pretty portrait of a young Red Kite. The bird has a proud expression and the surrounding, background color is rich and matches the subject quite well. The noise grain sticks out in a positive way and gives an authentic feel, while the slight ruffle in the breast feathers is an interesting detail.

This is lovely shot as the golden light falls on the dog just right and the depth of field utilized by the photographer gives it a professional look. The composition is strong as the dog is placed to the left of the house and framed by the fence on both sides.

This horse image demonstrates how a strong anchor can be used in a composition. The large bush compliments the horse and adds weight to the right side of the frame providing a sense of balance to the subject. I wonder how this image would look after a black and white conversion.

Pine Martens are ferocious predators, but also a super cute and charismatic animal at the same time. It's rare to come across these in the wild so kudos to the photographer for this capture. The martin is rather expressive and the claws are in plain view giving a sense of what this little weasel is capable of.

This Green Python image is so powerful! The light hits the snake just right as it illuminates the eyes and the U shaped curve formed by its body that frames the head perfectly. The deep greens and shadows blend well and create a mood that suits such an intimidating animal. This is shot that stays with you and a clear winner.

Black and white conversions usually work well on Elephant images and this is no exception. At first glance, the size of the tusks get my attention. There are so few larger tuskers left so this must've been quite a privilege for the photographer. A lower perspective creates a sense of intimacy and the narrow aperture creates proper separation with the background.

This is quite a captivating shot of an Arctic fox. The dark coat of this blue morph fox blends in so well with the surroundings. The eyes stand out and draw the viewer in at first glance., while the light illuminates some random hair strands which serves up some nice details.

This Kestrel image is a great presentation on its feeding behavior. The fast paced action is frozen with a fast shutter speed and it's quite clear, in graphic detail, what's going on. The wing position is just right and shows off all the feather detail. I don't think that little rodent had much of a chance.

This guinea pig image is cute and deserves a second look and close study. You have a sense of its micro environment here and the plastic container doubles as a head piece, in a darth vader kind of way. The color harmony also works as orange and green combine nicely.

I love the thought that went into creating this image as it's definitely the most artistic of the competition. Filling the frame with a group of horses is wonderful as it emphasizes texture, color, and can even be seen as somewhat abstract. I get easily lost while staring into the scene and that's a good thing in this instance.

I come across a good deal of cat images in the contests, but this fella definitely stands out amongst the pack. The dress up is quite comical and the matching pink tones are also a nice touch. There's a lot going on here upon close study such as the pearl necklace. This is one unique kitty.

This Pit Viper image is all about the light and shadows. The dark and low key look adds a nice mood to the image and brings all the attention on the snake. I'm immediately drawn toward the eye and then follow the body as it melts into the background of the frame.

Filling the entire background with feathers is a tried and true method for a solid peacock image. The "eyes" on the tail feathers are a bit mesmerizing in this image and can quickly capture your attention. The bird's head is tack sharp with a slightly out of focus body, which is pleasing.

This high key, crow shot breaks a lot of rules, but it still works. There is room for interpretation for the viewer as the bird gazes down at something not in the frame. The out of focus vegetation on the lower right side adds a bit of interest and balance.