New Joiners - Animals #787

I absolutely love the composition in this Crocodile image. Shooting down on the subject emphasizes its shape and texture, which can't be accomplished at an eye level I also appreciate the incorporation of the boardwalk as an added layer and framing element. The green algae and grasses are both appealing and also a sense of habitat. Great work!

This Robin shot is well done through the usage of proper exposure elements to capture fast paced action. The fast shutter speed was able to free the bird's face, but allow for some blur in the wings to imply motion. The bird feeder appears to be a natural element at first glance.

Sometimes it's not about putting the sun behind you for the always appealing front light. In this Lion image, the backlight brings everything to life. It illuminates the edges of the mane, the whiskers, as well as the flying insects. Let's also not forget about the Lion's expression that comes to life through the eye.

Burrowing Owls are naturally charismatic and make for great photos. The front light illuminates the owl and brings the eyes to life. The shallow depth of field renders the background silky smooth and the yellow tones also compliment the subject. The owl appears to be lifting an eye brow and turning with a suspicious glance.

If this Orangutan was photographed with a longer focal length it would not be as powerful. The loose composition brings this image to life and makes it stand out. I really like how the foliage frames out an oval pocket of shadow which includes the subject dangling and just having a good time. Great demonstration of behavior as well.

Talk about a serendipitous moment. The light comes down and touches the Scops Owl perfectly, illuminating the eye and facial disk. The key element however, is the bug that has its attention which is also tack sharp and a major element within the frame. There's a great connection captured here and the scale comparison is also interesting.

The dark, low key effect in this image ideally sets the stage for the Pigeon's gorgeous feather color. The textures on the bird also stand out as does the look back posture. The dark mood supports the bird and distracts from the surrounding sticks, including the out of focus foreground one, and background foliage.

The snowfall on the Horse's mane adds a sense of uniqueness to the shot, which would just be a standard portrait otherwise. The vertical crop is the right call here as the edges follow the horses lines and allows room for the entire head in the frame. The strand of hair covering the one eye is a nice touch.

Now this is a different kind of image and something I really dig. The Camel is used as a framing element for a colorful hot air balloon taking off in the background. The photographer was careful to place the balloon right in the pocket created by the curve of the camel's neck.

At first glance I thought this image would be rendered better in black and white, but I changed my mind. I like the tawny and beige tones which give off a dusty and dry feeling, something elephants have to consistently deal with. The ivory tusks and curved trunk offset the eye and provide some balance to the frame.

The post processing was meticulous on this lion image and it paid off. The black and white conversion and the brightness of the lion contrasted with the dark background gives off a studio like look. The Lion's look back, fluffed up mane, and powerful gaze are all strong elements. The whiskers are a nice find on close inspection as well.

This Mallard pair breaks some compositional rules and and I like it. Placing them in the center of the frame is daring, but it just feels right. The water droplets frame the birds in a circular pattern with a little help of the reflection below. The surrounding vignette brings focus to the center.

The variety of green tones in this Lizard image stand out, including the color on its back and legs. This color dominance gets my attention even before the subject's eye. The photographer utilized excellent stability techniques as the subject is tack sharp making it stand out amongst all the surroundings even though it's not the brightest element.

This image immediately has me considering what is on this monkey's mind. There's a great story here and some mystery which are strong ingredients for a good photo. The photographer was able to capture a contemplative expression on the subject's face, which connects perfectly with the rain drops on the window.