New Joiners - Animals #757

This is such a clever image that feels as if it has borrowed elements from a steet photographer's playbook. Those sharp diagonals and contrasting areas of light and shade are expertly put together; the placement of the cat sublime as it splits the light and the shade. The black and white conversion removes the distraction of colour and concentrates our attention purely on shape and form. The more I look at this photograph, the more impressed I become. Marvellous!

This is an accomplished image showing the amazing courtship display of this egret. I like working with contrast as it can produce some really interesting images - in this case the white plumage allows for under-exposure of the darker background, removing its distractions and focusing attention on the detail of the plumage. The exposure levels and focal point are spot on here, and I like the pose of the bird which sits nicely in the frame. A shame about the vegetation in the bottom right corner, but things are rarely perfect when working in the field.

This is another splendid image with so many delightful elements to it. Firstly, the composition is so nicely balanced. I love the way the web divides the frame, its top surface angled perfectly from top left to bottom right. The spider itself is ideally placed on the interesction of thirds, making the photo very comfortable to look at. The backlighting is what brings the image alive, the spider delightfully bright against the darker, out of focus background. The shallow depth of field has created those beautiful bokeh balls of light that adorn the left half of the image - the out of focus dewdrops that are catching the light. Bravo.

The most difficult images of animals to take are those that encompass a wide view with the animal small in the frame, as we see in this example. Showing plenty of environment adds another dimension of complexity to the composition - there are so many more elements to balance to create a compelling image. I like the overall composition here, which feels easy to look at. The contrast in tone of the blue sky has allowed the subject to stand out to the viewer immediately - this is where your eye is drawn to first. The wider view then invites you to scan the rest of the image and discover the three animals further below - what a treat. The image feels a little flat - nothing that revisiting the post-production edit couldn't fix.

The things I like about this image are the low point of view and the overall composition. I also enjoy the shallow depth of field which has allowed areas in the foreground and background to be rendered soft and out of focus, framing the subject. Some may find the some of the vegetation distracting, but I think this adds to the image as the tortoise makes its way through the undergrowth. The colour palette is also nicely complimentary, making the image comfortable and pleasing to look at.

This photograph demonstrates a number of skills. Firstly, the contrast between the bright skin of this gecko and the darker background works well and makes the subject stand out. The focus is directly on the animal's eye, as it should be, and the composition is nicely balanced with the rock anchoring the bottom of the photograph. The lighting has provided sufficient light and shade to sculpt the animal and give the image depth.

A great example of a well-considered macro image. I particularly like the bright background which gives the photograph a rather joyful feel, celebrating the beauty of this butterfly as it rests. The exposure is well-judged, and the composition simple and effective, although I would be tempted to crop some off the bottom to reduce the impact of the plant stem. The point of focus appears to have locked onto the rear area of wing - ideally this should be on the eyes with a shot like this. Macro really doesn't leave any room for error with its shallow depth of field.

Being bold with composition often produces really pleasing results. In this case, the photographer has chosen a tight composition showing only part of this lion's face - I think this really works. The whole frame is filled with its fur; that large, shaggy mane providing a nicely balanced frame for the facial features. The left edge of the frame cutting through the face just to the left of centre is ideal - it provides enough information for your mind to fill in the blanks and complete the picture. The lighting here is the key to the success of this image. Coming in from an angle, it has produced that contrast of light and shade that helps sculpt the features and create depth. The warmth of the light is also critical - those periods of golden light at either end of the day can be magical. Portraits should convey character and this image certainly achieves that aim. The direct eye contact creates an immediate connection with this old warrior. I would have cloned out the grass stems in the bottom of the frame.

I never tire of looking at pictures of tigers; such a powerful, yet elegant animal. I like the overall composition of this image, the tree anchoring the frame on the lefthand edge, the tiger seemingly curling around it as it prowls through the woodland. The background tones are warm and complement the colour of the animal nicely. The elevated front paw is a nice touch, as is the tip of the tail as it emerges from behind the trunk. A very pleasing image.

I love images that show me something a little different - a perspective that I haven't seen before. This image is one of those. The choice of background here is very unusual, but rather compelling. I like the way it plays on the intersection of man and nature, our lives often intersecting. The composition here is really well thought out, the snake seemingly slithering out of the top right corner and casting its beady eye on the gathering of humans. The focal point, the lighting, and the exposure choice are all spot on here. I love this.

Big cats always make for compelling photographic subjects, as we see here. This image is rather unusual in the fact that the leopard is out on the open plain, often they will be tucked into dense vegetation, or up trees during the day. I like the fact that the photographer has made the most of the situation and gone for a wider shot with a wide angle lens. This has treated the viewer to so much detail in the background elements that the better depth of field a short lens enables. The mood captured in the cloudy sky is a real winner - the leopard seemingly walking into the rain storm you can see on the horizon. I like the black and white conversion here too - removing the distration of colour was a good choice. A pity the shutter speed was a bit low - this has resulted in motion blur in the legs. If the intention was for these to be sharp, then the shutter has to be way faster than that employed. Don't be afraid to increase the ISO to achieve the shutter speed you want.

This is easily a winner for me as there are so many things that I find compelling in this image. Let's start with the light. The way that soft light is coming from behind these wild dogs is sensational - just look at the way it lights their outlines, picking up all the detail in the fur and creating separation from the background. The balance of exposure is masterly, there is so much detail retained in the shadow areas, yet the highlights are not stark and 'blown out'. The position of the two animals in the frame is so nicely balanced - I love the gaze of the dog on the left as it engages with its pack mate. The background is delicioulsy out of focus and comprises some complimentary tones and interesting textures. The forground has a nice slope to it and balanced so as not to be over-bearing on the rest of the image. I love that little scrubby bush between the two animals - perfectly framed; plus look at the little patch of backlit airborne dust between the legs of the right animal. Beautiful image.

This photo demonstrates just how important the crop is for a successful image. Here, the photographer has chosen a panoramic crop to emphasise the flock of stilts which are strung out in a long line on top of this grassy hump. This has given the image a dramatic, almost cinematic, feel which has elevated it. Note the rather flat lighting conditions and busy background which threaten to make this another ordinary shot - it is the crop that makes it work so well. This is an image well seeen, and I have no doubt that the photographer knew just how they wanted the final image to look when they pressed the shutter. This may not be perfect in all respects, but hats off for making the most of the situation.