New Joiners - Animals #784

Macrophotography or close up shots like this one can be very tricky. The closer you get, the more shallow the depth of field so the focus area must be intentional and where it matters most. In this reptile image, focus does land squarely on the eye in a pleasing way.

I love to see shots of baby animals. The Lion parent perfectly frames the young cub and offers a sense of scale for the audience as well. Even though there's a bright highlight on the right side of the frame, I'm still drawn into the cub's eyes. There also seems to be a bug or large parasite on the parent upon close inspection.

The black and white conversion of this image was such a good idea as it brings out the textures in the horse and the dramatic sky in the background. It also distracts from the shadows on the left side of the frame. If this were taken on a clear, blue sky day the result would be much different.

The composition is very strong on this Rock Python image. The head is placed perfectly in the frame as the rest of the body creates some interesting curves and provides balance in the shot. The wide panoramic crop is the right call as it plays to the shape of the snake.

As humans we have a tendency to anthropomorphize animals and that's exactly what comes to mind when looking at this image. This shot gives off some warm and happy vibes as the mother appears to be embracing her baby and also protecting it as well. The color contrast between the two is also powerful.

Talk about capturing an amazing wingspan. The wing position can't be beat here and it's a huge plus to have some backlight illuminating all of the flight feathers. The vertical composition was the right choice here as it takes advantage of the tall stick used as a perch by the bird.

I love to see interactions amongst primate families as they're very caring and protective of their young. The parent looking away immediately catches my attention since it is the brightest of subjects. I then move on to study the interaction between the other two subjects looking away from the camera.

Sometimes a great image comes right down to color and that's what dominates this python shot. The black and gold tones go amazingly well together and dominate the frame to a point where the eye is a secondary feature. Normally reptile eyes are a main focal point, but not here.

This is a dramatic portrait and a tale of interaction between animal and man. The low key effect and surrounding shadows create a high sense of drama and keep all focus on the interaction between the two. The sense of connection is very high here with an emphasis on human interaction.

Sometimes a looser perspective is the best way to go in certain situations. The green moss in the foreground and background compliment the Mallard pair nicely and its textures are smooth and not distracting. There's also a bit of grain in the image within the shadow areas and it's not a negative for me.

This is the first time I've seen a praying mantis captured in a night time, urban setting. Using a wider angle lens allows the background to enter the frame and that's a positive here thanks to the bokeh and overall atmosphere that's introduced. The viewer knows it's an urban environment, however, it's rendered soft and not distracting at the same time.

Sometimes it's not about getting your subject perfectly exposed. In this cat image, the subject is essentially a silhouette as the exposure was set for the background lights. What brings the cat to life however, is the catchlight in its eye as it blends the entire composition together. A feeling of mystery is in the air.

I appreciate the soft tones and how the Barn Owl seems to stand out and blend into the image at the same time. The heart shaped facial disk is on full display and the in flight action is also a strong plus. The bird appears to be actively hunting and demonstrating some behavior as well.

This is such a unique image and not a subject that's often photographed. It's pleasing to see the bats are portrayed in a positive rather than a negative light here. You can easily get lost in the frame going through each of the facial expressions and that's a positive. The amount of flash used was just right as the exposure is near perfect. Great work!

This Leopard image is such a powerful one. I'm first drawn to the Leopard's musculature and how the body appears to melt or sink right into the tree bark. The wide eyed expression and bloodied prey nearby give off a feeling of intensity that's still present even after a successful hunt.