New Joiners - Animals #754

This is such a nicely balanced image. I like the overall composition, it feels 'comfortable' to look at with the bird placed slightly to the left of centre giving it space to look into. Personally, I would have been tempted to crop a little more from the left edge so the stem it sits on sits directly in the corner. I also like the complimentary bright tones of its plumage and the leaves that surround and frame it - just look at the set of leaves above its head that resemble a little parasol. The fact that it is positioned in a clear space between the foliage is vital to its success. My guess is the photographer over-exposed this image a touch, and I think that this is part of the image's success, brightening the background elements and reducing their dominance in the frame.

It is the shallow depth of field and the fact the the focal point has locked onto this squirrel's eyes that make this image work so well. The eyes are the central part of this photograph, from which the rest flows. That direct eye contact draws you in immediately and holds your gaze. I really like the overall composition too. Those railings frame the head perfectly and are balanced by the end of the tail as it appears between railings on the left. The bright background helps to separate the subject and direct the viewer's attention. I would be tempted to crop in a little tighter to lose the railing on the right edge and some of the dead space at the top of the frame, but retaining the overall balance of the composition.

Images of big cats always grab the attention, but it is the lighting in this image that grabbed mine. I'm not generally a fan of front-lit subjects photographed with the light coming from behind the photographer. They tend to produce flat and uninteresting results. Here the light is coming from the lefthand side and you can see that this creates areas of light and shade that lift the image and give it a three-dimensional quality. The photograph also highlights the importance of the soft, warm light that you get at either end of the day. I like the angle of this cat as it stalks through the grass, but it is a shame that the rear of the animal has clipped the right edge. The depth of field has retained nice detail in the grasses which add to the frame rather than distract. The photographer talks about prime lenses and their greater depth of field. In this case, it was the distance they were from the subject rather than the f stop number that was the main determining factor for depth of field - the longer the focal length of the lens, the further you are from the subject, and the closer the subject is to the background, the greater the depth of field will be.

One of the most common images I see in these contests is a male peacock spreading and displaying those amazing tail feathers. Seeing this done with a white morph bird is not only a refreshing change from the norm, but it is a nicely executed shot too. The photographer has been wise to choose a central placement for the bird's head, this accentuates that pattern of feathers and they spread out from this central area to explore the outer edges of the frame, a real avian starburst. The white feathers give the whole image a rather, soft and fluffy angelic feel which I find rather appealing. I also like the depth of field which has ensured the bird's head is sharp and the rest of the image falls away into delicate softness, emphasising the starburst effect.

What a moment to capture. This image isn't necessarily just about technical skill, but its success is all about capturing a small moment in time for others to enjoy. I like the central position of the cormorant's head, it being nicely balanced by the coils of the eel's body as it writhes and struggles for its freedom. The beak clamped firmly on the eel's head, and the determined look in the bird's eye is rather chilling. It leaves the viewer wondering what the outcome of this duel was, although the photographer does reveal that the cormorant got its meal in the end. Eels are surpringly tough fish, and I can only image it was wriggling in this cormorant's stomach for some time afterwards! The dull light has resulted in the photographer compromising slightly on shutter speed. Not even 1/2500 second was enough to freeze the motion entirely. I don't think slight blurring detracts in this case, the motion actually adds some energy, but something to be mindful of.

This is an image where the photographer has managed a really accomplished composition. Perches and backgrounds are equally as important as the subjects themselves when taking portrait style photography such as this. The plant this Cardinal is perched on has an uncomplicated and nicely uniform feel to it. Each element feels complimentary, all the main stems pointing at a similar angle providing symmetry. The placement of the subject in the frame, and the angle of its tail and body add to this feeling of balance. What the photographer has done well here too is dial in some over-exposure to give the whole image a rather artistic and painterly feel. Washing out the background slightly has ensured that it does not distract and the colours of the bird rightly dominate.

Photography is all about the use of light and this image is a masterclass in that regard. The side lighting is simply delicious, picking out the head of this monkey, sculpting its features and bringing it to life on the page. Being the brightest part of the image, your attention is immediately drawn to where it needs to go. The exposure values the photographer has chosen are so well judged, it creates such mood and emotional connection with this animal. I love that pose, the hand on the mouth gives it a thoughtful look and I feel like I am intruding on a moment of peaceful contemplation - it rather reminds me of Rodin's sculture 'The Thinker'. The mixture of dark foliage and brighter spots of light creeping through the vegetation provides a sense of place and the perfect frame. The long focal length has rendered these elements delightfully, proving loads of interesting textures and patterns. Amazing image.

A beautifully composed image with lots to admire. I really like the contrast between the colouration of the snake and the dark background. Combined with the out of focus foreground, ensuring that all the concentration is on the animal itself with all the lovely detail that has been captured. That classic reptilian vertical pupil dominates the frame and is the immediate draw. Its central placement in the frame is the right choice, and I really like the balance it creates, it also being central to the coiled body. The depth of field is sufficient to ensure lots of detail is retained, but shallow enough to isolate the subject. Good job.

This image is all about the dramatic way the photographer has chosen to use the light. The strong back lighting here has helped to create light and shadow, sculpting the head of this horse and making it truly three dimensional. Back lighting also helps to create separation from the background - just look how those ears are outlined with light, ensuring they are not lost in the gloom. Under-exposing is the key to making this photograph work, and being bold has really paid off here. By stopping down what I would think will be at least two to three stops has allowed only the brightest areas of the frame to stand out, rendering the rest dark and without detail. This creates so much mood and focuses all the attention on shape and form. The black and white conversion is a really good choice, and the puff of breath the icing on the cake. Bravo.

For me, this photo is all about the relationship between the eye of the heron and that of the hapless fish in its beak. These are the focal points of the image, and it is clear which one is having the better day, the fish looking rather resigned to its fate. I like the placement of the heron in the frame - a deliberate choice not to include the whole of the bird, but to concentrate on the narrative of what is playing out. But the photographer has paid attention to the edges and corners of the frame - see how the bird's underside emerges exactly from the bottom left corner. There is also a comfortable amount of space remaining on the right side of the frame. I like the bright out of focus background - this lifts the image and provides a nice separation to the subjects. The twig on the right of the frame is very distracting and I would have removed this in post-production.

Getting the correct depth of field balance with close up shots such as this can be tricky. Generating sufficient depth of field to capture enough detail in the subject is generally the issue, unless minimal depth of field is the intention of course. Focus stacking can be one solution, but here the photographer has used a telephoto lens rather than a macro lens, and a smaller aperture. This has helped with the overall depth of field balance which I think is very pleasing. Just look at the detail we see in the butterfly, while the background and foreground elements are supportive rather than distracting. I also really like the placement of the brighter patch of background light directly behind the subject. This has helped to focus our attention where it needs to go. Technically, all the element are solid; good composition, nice lighting, and the ideal depth of field and focal point.

Most murmuration images I see are of the various shapes that these birds make in the sky as they congregate at sunset over their roosting locations. It is always nice to see different approaches to this event, as we see here. The photographer has clearly thought about this image from the start - the central position of the tree, the strip of hedgerow and meadow anchoring the bottom of the frame, and the square crop are all deliberate choices. These elements are also conciously rendered out of focus, leaving no doubt that the subject of the image are the birds and not the landscape. The black and white conversion focuses everything on shape and form and is a good choice. I would be tempted to introduce a bit more contrast, especially to brighten the sky a little.

It's all in the eyes! As a viewer, you can't help by be transfixed by those eyes that dominate the frame and are the main point of interest. There is something about reptilian eyes with those vertical pupils that can add a sinister appeal to most reptile shots. However, in this case, that has been completely diffused by the shape of the mouth which appears to have a grin spreading from one side of the frame to the other, changing the whole mood. The bright, warm tones of the photograph also help to give a sense of endearment to it. Technically, this is an accomplished shot - the focus is directly on the eyes, the composition is solid and the exposure level spot on. I love all the detail that has been captured in the skin, I can almost feel my finger running over its rough texture. Nice image.

This is an image that so nearly made it into my top ten. The use of light here is really accomplished, that soft light on this tamarin has sculpted those facial features with so much depth that you almost feel you can reach into the screen and stroke that crazy hairdo! I love the way the photographer has composed this sceen, the animal dominating the left side of the image, that wistful look has been left lots of space on the right on which to linger. The shallow depth of field has placed all the attention on the eyes and the facial features, the background falling softly away to avoid any distraction. The under-exposure is very clever, and makes use of the side lighting perfectly.

You can’t help but be immediately drawn to this image, the cute factor is undeniable. However, it is one thing to be presented with an opportunity such as this, and another to get the best out of the situation, as the photographer has managed here. The pose of this squirrel is about as good as it gets, the perfect moment in time has been captured for us to enjoy. The erect stance, the position of the front paws, and that sideways tilt of the head gives so much balance. It is the direct eye contact that completes the puzzle, creating immediate connection with the viewer. The focus and exposure are spot on, and I love the shallow depth of field that has created a softness to the background elements and kept our attention on the subject. The overall composition and choice of square crop are also well judged.