New Joiners - Animals #724

This Capuchin Monkey shot is full of rich greens and deep shadows that compliment each other well. The surrounding foliage frames the subject perfectly. I rather like the leaves partially blocking the monkey as they add a bit of mystery rather than a distraction. The vignette also brings attention to the frame's center in a strategic way.

The colors are rich and really stand out in this butterfly shot. The yellow and green tones work well together and offset the dark shadows throughout the frame. The wing position is ideal and probably the best posture from a dorsal perspective. The applied vignette tampers down any highlights and distractions.

This Mute Swan image is quite striking and aesthetically pleasing. The soft color and tones compliment the bird well and the frame splitting is the right call. The ripples on the bottom half of the shot add interest and texture to the reflection. The image would not be as impactful with still water.

Not only do I love this shot, I also love the title as well. This is the first time I've seen a bunny on top of a skateboard and it works, especially in the Easter season. The pinks and blues add a nice pop of color and the surroundings do not distract from the subject.

The Lion's relaxed and inquisitive stare is immediately impactful with me. The eye level perspective chosen by the photographer is key as it creates a sense of intimacy and connection with the subject. The panoramic crop compliments the animal's position and I can't help but notice the paws and hunched shoulders.

At first glance, this White Ibis image reminds me of a vintage shot taken back in the film days. The color and overall atmosphere have a retro feeling in a good way. The aqua color in the water gives off a tropical vibe and the ripples in the surrounding water add a nice touch.

While this Flamingo is foraging it appears to have its eye directly on the photographer. The engagement factor is a quite high as a result, which is a positive. The green ripples surrounding the bird are a great support act and also bring in a complimentary color. This bird can multi-task!

Head on captures of birds often bring out some interesting expressions as you can see here. This sparrow doesn't seem too pleased, but that of course is not what's going on here. The fluffed up posture gives the bird a portly or round appearance in a comical way, and that's a good attention grabber.

This is a great action capture of a very cute Lab. The exposure is spot on with a shutter speed fast enough to freeze movement in a pleasing manner. The water contrail behind the dog looks great and gives the viewer a sense of motion. The orange ball brings in a pop of color as well.

If this kitten was photographed out in the open, it would not have the same impact as the surrounding setting that gives this frame life. The red, rusty metal combined with the natural green foliage combine to act as a vignette and frame to the cat. Even with all of the chaos, the eyes still compete for your attention.

This is an absolutely haunting, but yet beautiful image. The light and textures coming from the sky give this shot an other worldly or supernatural type of feel. The light hits the sheep just right and the contrast is outstanding. I also like the placement of the subject in the center of the frame as it breaks the rules in a good way. Amazing work!

This scene is a must capture and I'm pleased to see the exposure as this must've been a high contrast scene. The sun is rendered bright, but not too bright and the rest of the frame is not in shadow. The highlight of the shot is the back to back positioning of the birds.

The strong, golden light is exposed nicely here and the symmetry between the deer silhouettes stand out in the composition. The placement of the subjects in the frame fits in with the rule of thirds. Upon close inspection, it's also interesting to to see how the bodies cross each other.

This fish closeup borders on the abstract and it's very appealing. The sharp lines and angles are offset by the circular eye. The colors hit you right away at first glance, but after a deeper dive, the fish's scaling becomes more apparent. Lastly, there's a layering effect created by the shadows, colors, and division of the subject and water.