New Joiners - Animals #753

The pink and cyan colors on the Crane's head and neck are quite pretty and exposed well here. The crest feathers create a starburst like shape and make this bird a total knockout. There are some bright highlights in the background, but they still can't distract from the beauty of the Crane.

The angled light coming from the top left corner of the frame falls nicely on the Zebra. The subject is tack sharp and exposed nicely, while standing out very well. The composition meets the rule of thirds and and aligns the Zebra and the light beam. Lastly, the warmth of the image is pleasing.

This is such a powerful image due to the connection with the subject and a very strong composition. The bridge is positioned perfectly to frame the photographer's dog. Further, the dog's eyes are captivating and match the surrounding tones of the scene. A hunched posture is also a nice contrast to the height of the structure in the background. A clear winner!

This is a pleasing portrait of a dog, but it's also a profile on the hunting lifestyle and that's story telling. The dog's expression is captivating and the eye color plays well with the dead grasses resting on the blind. The red neck collar also adds a pop of brightness.

The photographer wisely took advantage of some strong light and created a low key, studio look. The dark surroundings bring all attention on this gorgeous Mandarin Duck. The bird's color is stunning and the preening behavior is a nice plus to include in the frame. Lastly, the sharpness in the feathers is a positive.

The soft, pastel tones are aesthetically pleasing in this image. Also of note is how the colors of the water and sky blend are nearly identical and blend together. The lineup of Geese is serendipitous, however, the composition can be improved with a bit of straightening to the horizon and cleaning up the edges a bit.

I see many bird images with smooth and clean backgrounds and uniform color. Those backgrounds are pleasing, but can't compare to some added texture and nice bokeh as you see here. The Starling's eye nicely matches the bright bokeh balls in the top half of the frame and the perch doubles as a frame for the bird.

This is an interesting image as the out of focus subjects in the background come close to stealing the show. I love the positioning of the cats with three huddled together and two others looking taller and hovering over the scene in an ominous like manner. There's a lot to appreciate in this image and one to spend some time on.

I see plenty of deer images in contests, but finding one with an apple in its mouth makes this shot unique. The apple's texture is smooth and shiny and strikes a contrast with the subject's fur and velvet antlers. The surrounding foliage gives a sense of space and the surrounding scene as well.

The photographer's choice of a vertical crop compliments the Leopard's height in the frame. The cat's yawning expression also gives the viewer a front row seat to its tongue and teeth. There's an out of focus line running from top to bottom on the right side, but it doesn't take away the image's impact.

I appreciate silhouettes as this type of lighting can be an effective tool for wildlife when the animals have a distinctive shape such as you see here. The interaction between the two doves is pleasing and the surrounding textures of the trees and branches adds a sense of artistic complexity.

Arctic Wolves are rarely seen in the wild and they're stunning animals that are on the decline unfortunately. You can feel a sense of relaxation when looking at the wolf's relaxed posture and expression. The eyes immediately bring you to the center of the frame and just don't let you go.