New Joiners - Animals #730

I have to say, this is the first time I've seen an interaction captured between a poodle and frog. I'm intrigued when looking at this shot and wonder what's going through the minds of both animals. While I suspect they are friends, you can also visualize this as a stare down between David and Goliath.

The pale eye on this young White Tailed Deer fawn immediately grabs your attention and also gives a sense of that animal's innocence and vulnerability. The exposure is spot on here as it handles the strong highlights well and renders the background scene fairly dark and without distraction. I also like that the ear is not cut off and within the frame.

This Timber Wolf image is all about the reflection for me. The photographer wisely places the horizon at the center of the frame allowing for a split screen effect. While the reflection mirrors the Wolf, the surrounding is different and acts as. nice contrast to the snow and highlights on the top portion of the frame.

Bright birds make for a wonderful low key opportunity and that's what you see here. The studio like look removes any surrounding distraction and puts the Egret's textures and shape on the center stage. I rather like how the bird is half in shadow, while the other half is bright white.

This Waxwing shot has some amazing action in it and talk about hitting the shutter button at just the right moment! It's great to see the berry suspended in mid air, in between the bird's open bill and gape. Upon closer inspection you can see the tongue extended out as it almost touches the snack.

The black and white conversion is a good call as it emphasizes the textures and expression on the Lion. There's a lack of contrast which serves the background well as the fence is diffused and not as prominent to the viewer's eye. The skin folds and dimples also stand out.

A shallow depth of field is a great exposure tool to use with snakes as the head and eyes are in focus, while the rest of the body melts away into the scene. The wooden fence post creates a strong diagonal line to compliment and contrast with the contours and curves of the snake.

The fall color in this scene is pleasant as is the sun direction which provides some rim light around the Sheep. The patch of green, tilled grass in the foreground acts as a nice leading line into the frame and toward the subjects. I wouldn't mind taking a nap here as the entire scene is very inviting.

I absolutely love the sense of balance that's felt in the composition of this Butterfly image. The dorsal view on the Butterfly is aesthetically pleasing and the outstretched wings are symmetrical while showing off its color and patterns. The exposure is just right as the highlights and mid tones aren't rendered too bright.

This image immediately caught my eye as it includes a very remarkable moment. While the shot isn't super sharp, it still contains an amazing piece of behavior with an Octopus in the mouth of a Dolphin. The Dolphin looks quite fierce with its prey as the tentacles wrap around its face.

American Robins are know to make nests on and around suburban and even urban homes. A slightly wider perspective in this shot helps the viewer understand this adaptation. The nest is well done and the launching action is a plus as well. The success rate of nests in highly trafficked areas can be quite low. I'm hoping that won't be the case here.

This Monkey image has so many things going for it. The angled light creates some interesting shadows and contrast and the highlights provide some framing for sibling in the center. There's a great story here as you scan the scene and see two young ones being cared for. The engagement factor is quite high as you're immediately drawn in to the center of the frame. The contemplative looks from the adults are a plus as well. Great shot!

Utilizing a slow shutter speed for birds in flight can pay off at times. While many shots won't be keepers, there's always one or two that make the grade such as this capture. I love the sense of motion that's conveyed here and while blurred, you know exactly what you're looking at.