New Joiners - Animals #775

The close up and wide angle perspective of the Snow Monkey in the foreground creates a sense of intimacy with the viewer. Also, the lines created by the metal fence in the background frame the composition and help elevate another Monkey in the background,. The additional Monkey provides balance and interest.

I give the photographer credit for demonstrating some animal behavior that I suspect most have not seen before. To witness a large snail munch on a piece of vegetable is quite unique and intriguing at the same time. The Snail's eye appears to give off an expression of satisfaction as it chows down.

I love to see images which show the interaction between humans and nature. The extended arm leads the viewer into the frame and right to the Pigeon. The old and weathered red brick in the background help make the shot aesthetically pleasing as these tones compliment the subject to include the eye.

What a fierce and dynamic moment to come across in the wild. I've seen Snakes eat large prey, but nothing like this. It appears to be Monitor Lizard or something similar. The eye contact is strong here and creates an immediate connection upon first look. This outstretched claw is also a nice touch and gives a hint as to what's being swallowed.

This is very interesting image and requires some close study by the viewer, but it's well worth it in the end. The larger Snail appears to carrying another on its back as it makes its way through a watery landscape. The black and white conversion provides an emphasis on texture.

The golden light from the sunset creates a strong sense of impact here. The Whooping Swans are captured nicely in flight as they cruise through the color in a V shaped pattern. The silhouetted tree line below adds interest and creates some laying in combination with the cloud line near the top of the frame.

The bright colors in the Crab add a nice pop to the frame which is otherwise quite drab due to the surrounding sand. The placement of the subject in the upper left of the composition conforms nicely to the rule of thirds. Lastly, the position of the claws is iconic for this species.

The Black Bear's erect and alert posture is felt immediately when viewing this shot. Upon close inspection, its young cub can be seen peaking around the corner of the tree to see what's going on.. The shot is extremely strong from a compositional standpoint to include the vertical crop to compliment the standing subject and the layering created by the grasses and trees. Amazing work!

This Peacock image is a good example of what can be done with a shallow depth of field that's possible when in close proximity to the subject. The bird's head and eye are in focus nicely while the rest of the body melts away into the background. A good approach to direct interest toward the plane of focus.

I can almost feel the weight of the wood that's being carried by this Donkey. The mist softens the overall scene and creates a lack of contrast in a pleasing way, creating a painting like image. The diagonal line splitting the lower third of the composition works well and the extra logs on the ground provide balance.

I like the photographer's approach to this shot. The lines of swallows against a blue sky provide a lot to look at, but it's more about taking a step back and appreciating the image as graphic art. A black and white conversion might also bring some additional life to the composition as well.

This is such an exciting and pleasing shot to look at! The aerial view of the Whale Shark is unique as you get a bird's eye view to see the entire shape of the animal. The cool blue tones created by the water are relaxing and the wave textures add come complexity to the composition. Great work!

At first glance I'm immediately captivated by the curve and straight line created by the Sandhill Crane's arched neck and upward bill. Shapes can play such an important factor in a composition. The soft and golden backlight is pleasing and provides some contrast to the wooden fence in the background.

The sense of space and the surrounding environment in this Highland Sheep image is quite spectacular. It's a gorgeous setting that's anchored by the subject in the lower right corner of the frame. The sheep still stands out amongst the gorgeous background, but it would be great to see a bit more space around it as opposed to being so close to the edges.

It's very hard to create an interesting Gull in flight image, but that's exactly what's done here. The low key and dark background includes some nice tones and texture while serving as a nice contrast to the white Gull. The shutter speed and exposure are spot on as the entire bird is tack sharp.