New Joiners - Animals #728

There has been a bit of a theme with this particular contest, and that is relationship. Being able to communicate a sense of relationship between the subjects in the frame can make an image successful, as is the case here. These cubs are clearly siblings, their close proximity to each other telling the viewer of their bond. What is so important is to ensure that the eyes of both animals are clearly visible to the viewer. In this case, they are both fixated on the same thing, further endorsing that family connection. I like the overall composition here, the animals are so nicely balanced in the right third of the frame, with plenty of space to look into on the left. The lighting is a bit harsh, but the photographer gets away with this as it is coming slightly from behind creating a rim lighting effect on the fur. By over exposing the shot slightly, the background loses some of its dominance and allows more attention to be focused on the cubs. This is a well thought out image that has been executed brilliantly.

Lion cubs are hard to beat for the cute factor as this image clearly demonstrates. I think the photographer has done a great job of framing this shot - not an easy task with all that distracting sedge cutting across the cub's face. But I think the image gets away with it as the eyes are nicely framed between stems. The flat lighting has enabled a lot of detail in the fur to be captured, and this adds depth and texture to the shot. I also think the overall composition is nicely balanced, with the denser areas of vegetation placed on either edge of the image to act as a natural frame.

For me, this photograph is all about the quizzical look of the left-hand gull. This gives the birds character and connects them in a silent conversation. As a viewer, we are left to wonder what they are saying to each other - it is as if the bird on the right is stoically ignoring the other - an old married couple airing their differences perhaps? The composition really helps pull this image off, the placement of the pair coming out of the bottom right corner is well thought out, and the exclusion of the legs and tail areas keeps the concentration on their expressions. The lighting is good, and the blue sky background transports you to a sunny day by the seaside. This is crying out for a caption in a speech bubble!

Kingfishers make popular photographic subjects due the their vivid colouration and pleasing body shape. This is a nice example of a portrait - those colours really pop through that little window of sunlight that is falling on the bird. I like the balance of the overall composition; the perch forms a nice diagonal across the frame, and the kingfisher is placed on the right third intersection looking into the space on the left. The beak forms a counter diagonal to the perch from top right to bottom left. The dark beak cuts across an area of the perch in shade and gets a bit lost sadly, but I rather enjoy the monotone feel to the background which has reduced the distracting elements - a clever post-production touch.

I love abstract images, especially in wildlife photography, they can make the viewer work a little harder to fully appreciate the work. The exclusion of context (in this case most of the dragonfly and any detail in the background) has created a degree of mystery. The absence of context allows the viewer to look at these dragonfly wings and liken them to other objects. To me, they recall stained glass windows with their small individual pieces of glass, held together by delicate leadwork to create a patchwork of light and colour. Over exposing was a good choice here, as all the concentration is on the shape and pattern of the wings. I also like the cool tones created by playing with the white balance. There is perhaps a little too much empty space for my liking, but a clever image that has been well executed.

Exclusion can be a very powerful technique in photography, and this image is a good example of that. The photographer has deliberately chosen to exclude a good proportion of this Musk Ox and that has concentrated all the attention on the nose, lips, and teeth that have so much detail - detail I can't recall ever having seen in a Musk Ox image before. I love it when photography reveals something new to you. The image has been taken at the perfect moment allowing the teeth to be revealed - I can almost hear them grinding across each other as the animal breaks up its meal of tough vegetation. The shallow depth of field has ensured that there are no distracting elements, although I would be tempted to crop in tighter and lose some of the unecessary space on the right of the frame. The horn will be lost, but I don't think that matters as I find it quite distracting in any event.

Direct eye contact creates a connection with the viewer that draws you into a photograph, as is the case with this image. I love the connection between these two rather grumpy-looking primates. The level and position of their heads balance so well and those eyes just bore right into you as though you are intruding on their privacy. Look carefully and you will see the cause of their clear concern, the little one which is being so lovingly protected by its parent. The use of the vegetation creates a nice frame, although the branch sweeping across the bottom half does dominate a little.

Direct eye contact is a really good way of grabbing the viewer's attention and creating an immediate connection. This Mongoose is starring straight down the barrel of the lens here and that has created something immediately arresting - there is nowhere for you to hide viewer! I rather like the central composition here which works well and emphasises the symmetry of the animal. The blotchy background is a little unattractive, but it's hard to get past those staring eyes.....

Puffins are such endearing birds, their clown-like faces giving them a human quality that immediately connects the viewer. This image is all about the open-gaped expression of the main character which adds a dynamic element to the shot. The out of focus sea creates a clean background to help keep the attention on the subject. The bird playing the supporting role almost has an intriguing, quizzical look to it as if it is wondering what all the fuss is about. The lighting here is quite contrasting which has resulted in the whites being a little on the bright side, but a difficult balance to get right in these conditions. I would have cropped out the head of the puffin that is sneaking into the bottom of the frame.

Cygnets are another of those subjects that can't fail to elicit a 'cute' response from the viewer. Their fluffy down and angelic looks are winners every time. This image revolves around the central cygnet - the photographer has cleverly focused on this individual, the shallow depth of field ensuring the others are softer and less prominent, but act as supporting characters. Critically, the centre bird's head is side on, the beak and eye forming a nice diagonal from top left to bottom right corners of the frame. The cygnet on the right balances the central bird and creates a perfect bookend for the element that makes the image - the out of focus adult in the background. The head and beak of the parent is positioned perfectly in the space between the siblings. I really enjoy the fact that the adult bird is so out of focus - the viewer can still see it clearly, but it's subtle and allows the main character to retain its starring role.

What grabs you about this image is the human-like pose of the seal as it relaxes in its chaise longue of snow. The overcast conditions have provided the perfect opportunity to capture loads of detail in the animal, which is the whole focal point of the image, the uniformly light background of snow providing no distractions. The overall composition is solid, the proportions of space and placement of the animal well judged. I think the original file could be worked a little harder as it feels a little flat, but a minor issue that is subject to personal taste.

Close portraits of big cats are always magnetic and draw the attention of the viewer. This is a good example of that. I like the overall composition of the shot which has a nice balance to it, the eyes placed to the right of centre, the body of the animal fading away to the left anchoring the shot. The focal point is directly on the eyes, a crucial element to a photograph like this. The direct head on view has created a pleasing symmetry. The top edge of the frame is clipping the ears and that grates a little, and there is a small dust spot by the animal's left ear that draws my eye - a simple fix in post production.

I like the balance of the composition here. There is a nice diagonal from the bottom left corner to the top right formed by the long tongue, wide open mouth, and nose. The expression of the lion as it yawns has been captured well, and at the moment of maximum gape. Just look at all the detail we can see in the mouth, the top row of teeth forming a nice balancing diagonal from top left to bottom right. But this is all about that protruding tongue and those powerful canines. So much detail has been captured, we can see all the way to the back of the throat. The background is a bit busy but doesn't distract in this case.

This is a classic head and shoulders portrait of a Bald Eagle - they make such charasmatic subjects with that stern and rather grumpy look. I'm not a great lover of flash in my own photography, but I think it has been used to good effect here, allowing the background to be under-exposed and, therefore, removing any distraction. The lighting has also brought out so much detail in the bird and emphasised the contrast in its plumage. I also enjoy the little catchlight in the eye.