New Joiners - Animals #750

It's great to see a compelling underwater image in these contests. This Leafy Sea Dragon is gorgeous and automatically steals the show, thereby making the shot standout. The dark feel in the surroundings minimizes distraction and also gives a sense of depth for the viewer. The strobe lighting was handled well during the exposure.

This is a beautiful image with a lot of complexity to it. The composition is bold as the horse is placed in the extreme lower left corner, but it still works. The subject serves as an anchor to the frame and also welcomes the viewer to an incredible landscape. There are some intriguing lines and curves upon close inspection. I wish I could walk right into this scene. Great work!

Normally you want your subjects facing the camera versus looking or swimming away in this case. That said, swimming away from view and into the vast expanse of the ocean makes sense here and helps tell the story of these Dolphins. The horizon splits the frame nicely and a mid air leap suggests good timing on behalf of the photographer.

I've seen a good deal of Cheetah action shots over the years, but never one with a Mongoose involved. I didn't realize a Mongoose is a prey item for these cats, so the image is educational as much as it is pleasing. A fast shutter speed was the right call as the actions is frozen nicely here.

The wooden chair serves as a perfect perch for this Gray Squirrel as it snacks on a nut. The main subject nicely fits within an open pocket and framed up by the wooden fence in the background. The warm tones created by the backlight are soothing and also compliment the wood.

I normally come across spider images that look and feel two dimensional or flat since the web is situated parallel to the frame. In this case, the web flows away from the lens and into the background creating some depth, which is refreshing. The sidelight also illuminates the spider and creates some refraction and color.

This is an adorable image and immediately brings a smile to your face. I love how the young puppy is mimicking the expression of its parent, but not in an intimidating way. The photographer's position was important as the angle provides separation between both of the dogs and avoids an overlap.

I'm not exactly sure how this image was taken or assembled, but the final product is quite pleasing. The circular, red sun ball and Acacia tree are tributes to Africa and the silhouette is unmistakable. When looking at this image, it's more about the vision it conveys as opposed to how it was created.

This is an amazing Caterpillar shot that's packed with interest. The wide angle, up close perspective provides an intimate feel and you get the sense the subject is about jump right out the frame due to its posture. The sunburst along with backlight and bokeh also make the frame aesthetically pleasing.

Introducing the human element into an animal photo always tells a story and can peak interest. I'm really enjoying the split screen created by the photographer's vision. The leather harness provides a border or separation. I'm immediately drawn to the contrast in size between them as well as the eye shapes and colors.

The shadows combined with the rich red and orange tones dominate this frame and make it extremely attractive to the viewer. The Flamingo's eye is illuminated which is important. Further, the curves created by bird's neck and back feathers are huge bonuses for the discerning eye. This will make a great print.

What an amazing moment of action that's captured in this frame. The Kingfisher's head is tack sharp and the outer flight feathers are slightly blurred, which denotes motion and works well here. The extended wing position is symmetrical and must've been quite difficult to capture with things moving so fast.

The warm glow and soft colors stemming from the backlight in this Willet image is very pleasing. It's also important that the photographer got low, and perhaps wet, to capture an eye level perspective with the bird. The look back pose emphasizes this shorebird's tall neck and long bill that it uses to probe the beach.

I really appreciate the thought that went into this capture. Using the textures and lines from the sidewalk add interest as do the green weeds with their pop of color. The snail stands out due to its brightness and a dorsal view is rather unique. This image will make a great print.