New Joiners - Animals #742

I like this image for the story it tells and the complimentary tones and textures of the animal and its environment. The processing of this photograph has really made those earthy tones come to the fore, the perfect colour pallette for the rough bark and shaggy fur. The exposure, focal point, and overall composition are solid, although the left edge of the frame does clip the rear end of the Ibex which is a shame. I think the square crop works well here too.

This is a really good example of a close up detail shot that works really well. The skill with something like this is the composition - it can be quite tricky to create something that is pleasing to the eye when taking detail shots. This image uses symmetry to create a nicely balanced image that highlights the rough and heavily textured skin of this elephant. I really like the central position of the tail and the way the wrinkles and folds of skin all point in towards the central element. A well composed and thought out image.

This photograph is all about those lovely leading lines that take the viewers eye from the foreground to the hillside in the background. I really appreciate the overall balance that the photographer has captured here, the rule of thirds really coming to the fore. The viewer feels as if they are joining the two lions in the image in their journey towards the horizon. I really like this image, but I would have chosen to focus on the closest lion, leaving the further one to fade into the distance.

Flamingos are perfect subjects for us photographers to play around with exposure values to create a variety of effects. Here we see the photographer choosing to under-expose slightly to create an inky feel to the water and bring more focus to the subject. This is clever as there are many imperfections and distractions in the water that this technique has helped to mask. It also places attention on the bird and the symmetry of its reflection in the water.

What makes this image successful for me is the side lighting and the way the photographer has chosen to slightly under-expose the photograph to darken the background and draw more attention to the bird. Lighting coming from a side angle helps to create depth using light and shadow - this gives the image a three-dimensional quality. I also enjoy the pose of the bird, its head turned towards the light - there is even a little catchlight in its eye. For me, there is too much empty space at the top of the frame and I would crop some of this out to better balance the photograph.

I really like the concept of this shot. Using the autumn leaves in the background is a good choice as it adds nice contrasting colour to make the dog stand out in the frame. Critically, the focus is on the eyes and we have direct eye contact with the viewer - this creates immediate connection. I also really like the shallow depth of field, the face and eyes in focus, with the rest of the body melting away and fusing with the background seemlessly. I would crop a little from the left and bottom to balance the dog in the frame better, but a minor issue. Nice shot, and a reminder that great images can be taken with your phone.

This image may look uncomplicated, but it is a very technically challenging shot. What stands out here is the large depth of field that has been captured - something that is more difficult to achieve with macro lenses. Everything that needs to be sharp is, and there is so much detail on display for the viewer to enjoy - just look at all those individual hairs. I also like the composition, it's nicely balanced with the dome of the flower's pollen-laden anthers centrally placed, its curves pleasingly mirrored by the position of the bee. Nicely done.

Puffins are perhaps the perfect wildlife photographic subject. They simply ooze personality with their clown-like faces and bright colours. You can't fail to empathise with this beautiful bird which encapsulates the wild and rugged places of the coastline around the UK. This is a great example of a Puffin portrait. The light is beautifully warm and soft which has helped the photographer to expose the image perfectly, retaining detail in both the shadows and highlights. I love the use of the out of focus foliage in the foreground to frame the bottom half of the shot. The sea is the perfect background to accompany the other elements of the image. The slightly off-centre placement of the puffin is a good choice; I would have been a little bolder with this, but a personal choice. A really pleasing image that demonstrates plenty of technical skill. This is sure to be a crowd favourite.

When presented with stunning conditions like we have in this photograph, there is a tendancy to overlook composition in the heat of the moment. Not the case here. There are so many compositional elements that are expertly pieced together to create an image that is so naturally 'comfortable' to look at. The central character is the stag, placed centrally in the frame. He has space around him to isolate him from the rest of the herd, but just look how the others are spaced; a group of two, then three, then an individual, then a larger group - these are mirrored on each side. It's nothing short of joyful. Then we have the rule of thirds on display along the horizontal plane - the bottom third of the meadow, then the tree line and golden mist, and finally the sky. The panoramic crop accentuates the drama and gives the image a cinematic feel. The sun catching the morning mist and creating those delicious shafts through the trees is the icing on the cake and makes this a truly memorable image. Wow, wow, wow........

The composition of this image is nicely balanced - look at the way the foreground grass angles from the bottom right of the frame, it being balanced by the reeds zig-zagging across the central part. The heron is placed perfectly in the left third, with plenty of space on the right for it to look into. The exposure is spot on, making the most of that warm, bright light. However, the image is soft - this is most likely down to insufficient shutter speed rather than the focus being out. The settings show 1/400 second - this isn't generally enough for an active subject like this heron. The foot is in midair, which suggests it is on the move - try using upwards of 1/2000 second to ensure a sharp shot. Increasing the ISO will allow these speeds to be dialled in.

I enjoy images that place subjects in their environment, I think that it provides the viewer with more interest and holds their attention for longer. I also like photographs that tell a story, such as wildlife in urban areas. This photograph cleverly uses an obvious London landmark in St Paul's Cathedral to leave the viewer in no doubt as to where this image was taken. The ornate streetlight to the right of the frame anchors the image and provides a nice frame for the Cathedral's dome. The heron is nicely placed in the frame, the photographer leaving plenty of space to the left for it to look into. I also rather like the diagonal of the railing cutting across the bottom section.

I admit to being a bit of a sucker for this portrait feature in the iPhone and I often use it to take images of my own dog. The trick is to use light that lends itself to the style, as we see here. Darkening the background and converting to black and white, focuses all the attention on the dog and the detail that gorgeous side lighting is highlighting. Light coming from the side is essential as the shadows help scult the features and create depth. The composition is also strong, but watch out for things like paws at the edges of the frame.

One of the most difficult things to achieve with fast action shots such as this, is creating a balanced composition that works. This is an amazing example when everything comes together perfectly. Look and appreciate the positioning of the dogs here; the central character is book-ended with almost perfect symmetry by the pairs to the right and left. This balance makes the image immediately compelling. Add to this the feeling that these dogs are staring at the viewer and you are drawn right into the frame. All the flying sand communicates the energy these dogs are expending and the speed at which they must be travelling. The leg of the extreme right dog clipping the frame edge is the only sign of imperfection, but what a great image!

This is a nice example of a close-up portrait. The exposure is spot on, the flat lighting enabling lots of feather detail to be captured. I like the overall composition, the bird coming out of the bottom left corner and the main features placed towards the top right. The post processing could do with adding a bit more punch through levels and curves adjustments, plus some sharpening would polish it nicely.