New Joiners - Animals #797

Photography is not just about composition and lighting; narrative can also add a compelling dimension to your work. Here, the photographer has captured a moment that tells the viewer a little about this bird and how it makes its living, and is the reason the image stood out to me. The rather dappled lighting would have been tricky to work with to achieve the correct exposure, but the photographer has managed to balance things well in post-production to produce a pleasing result. The long focal length of the lens has allowed enough separation between the bird and the background through depth of field, focusing most of our attention on the animal, while still retaining a sense of its environment.

Diagonals can be very powerful elements of composition. In this image, notice how the mouth line forms a strong diagonal from the top right corner and points towards the bottom left. Ensuring that the main point of focus is on the animal’s eye is also a critical element, as has been achieved in this image. The depth of field is well judged, being sufficient to capture lots of texture and detail in this lizard’s skin, while rendering the background out of focus and reduce any distracting elements. I would have cropped in to remove a little from the bottom of the frame and improve the balance of the composition.

Most photographers would have chosen a horizontal composition in this situation, but I rather like the vertical format which divided the image into three strongly defined thirds – the sky, the trees in the background, and the water on which these geese sit. The lighting is rather flat and dull, but the photographer has done well to judge the exposure to retain enough detail in the darker plumage of these Canada Geese. The balance and space between the birds works well, however, the right hand bird is a little too close to the right edge of the frame.

Pet portraits taken with phones are a popular entry into these competitions and vary greatly in quality. This image demonstrates that it is more than possible to take great shots with the phone in your pocket if you take some time to consider the lighting and composition of the image. I love the flow of this shot – notice how the posture of the cat forms a nice diagonal across the frame from the paw in the bottom left corner to the back legs pointing towards the top right. The closeness of the camera to the cat has allowed a shallower depth of field and focused our initial attention on the cat’s eyes. Ensuring the eyes are in sharp focus is crucial for portraits to work well. The lighting is soft, yet the direction of it coming in from the right has generated subtle shadow areas that have helped to add a three-dimensional quality.

The rule of thirds is a well-known ‘rule’ of composition and is nicely demonstrated here. Notice how the image is clearly divided into horizontal thirds, the bottom forming the foreground and featuring the animal herd, the top section the distant mountain range, and the centre the middle ground that links these two together. Also notice how the animals form a relatively tight herd with a solid line at the division of thirds. A nicely balanced image that is comfortable to look at.

Direct eye contact is one of the most powerful things in wildlife photography as this image clearly demonstrates. The whole composition is centred around those large and compelling eyes of the toad. Ensuring that the eyes are the things that are in sharp focus is essential to a successful shot. The shallow depth of field has also helped to focus all our attention where it needs to go, and reduced the impact of the rather chaotic background, giving us a sense of place rather than overwhelming distraction. I rather like the panoramic crop which adds a dimension of theatre to the image.

Photography has the power to stir emotions – the stronger that emotional response, then the more successful the image in most circumstances. This image has me reaching for the wire cutters to free this unfortunate animal. The photographer has used simplicity to create something very powerful in this photograph. The use of under exposure and the removal of colour has emphasised the uniform pattern of the fence, and the pained and desperate expression of this gibbon, giving this photograph such a strong an unmistakeable narrative. Just look at the way the two eyes are perfectly framed through the diamonds of the wire, staring desperately to the freedom beyond. It is very hard to look at, but that is the photographer’s aim, and they have used great photographic skill to craft this shot. I find the bright patch to the bottom left rather distracting and would crop in a little tighter to reduce its impact.

Images with the subject small in the frame and showing more environment, are perhaps the most difficult to construct. There are so many elements to judge to make the image work. I like this photograph as it uses the context of environment to add narrative. While I am generally not a fan of central compositions in these circumstances, I think it works well in this case owing to the horse being in the gap between the trees, this gap providing an obvious central focal point. The stand of tree to the left and right balance the photograph. There is also a nice balance between the foreground and background sections. Overall exposure levels, point of focus, and post-production show a skilled hand.

I mention this often in my reviews, but eyes can be everything in animal photography – they are often the most powerful connection to the viewer. In this image, the composition is all about the eye which is the main point of focus. They say that the eye is the window to the soul, and perhaps the photographer is trying to give us a glimpse through that window with this image. There is certainly a good deal of feeling and personality that comes across from this shot. The image is helped by the dark and uniform colour of the fur – this keeps all our attention on the eye. I also really like the reflections that you can see, that bright sky creating a strong catchlight in stark contrast to the tones in the rest of the photograph. I would have been tempted to crop in a little tighter, but I like the idea behind this photograph.

There are so many strong elements to this photograph, The point of focus is right on the animal’s eye which is sharp and detailed, the lighting is soft and even, the background is beautifully smooth and out-of-focus, and the post-production shows a light touch. The composition could be improved by a different crop – placing the head slightly off-centre to the right would provide better balance. Also, a small levels adjustment to brighten the image would transform it.

This may just seem like a simple shot of a common bird in an urban environment, but the composition is well thought out and beautifully executed. Black-headed Gulls are common around the tidal Thames in the centre of London and their confiding nature makes them great subjects for images like this. St Paul’s is an iconic landmark, and one that is recognised the world over. I love the combination of the two subjects here, the gull taking centre stage, but St Paul’s playing a strong supporting role. The composition is so good, just look at the way the photographer has balanced the position of the gull to sit within the frame of the cathedral. I also really like the conversion to black and white as the removal of colour has amplified the focus on shape and form.

Leopards in trees are one of those classic shots that many who visit Africa seek to take. This is a good example, the photographer cleverly using the horizontal and vertical branches of the tree to frame the shot on three sides. I also like the contrast between the dark bark and the colourful fur of this majestic animal. The background is nicely out of focus, and this has created a nice window for the leopard to fit in. The yawn of the animal adds a nice animation to the photograph, and I love the way the whiskers are highlighted against that smooth background. A slight pity that the animal is facing away from the photographer.

Egyptian Geese are such odd-looking birds, that ring around the eye is the most prominent of all their features. I like the way the photographer has chosen to emphasis the head in this image and highlight the eye ring. Compositionally, the image works well, the head and neck forming a nicely balanced diagonal from top left to bottom right. The long lens has produced a shallow depth of field, isolating the bird from the background elements. The lighting is soft and even, allowing good rendition of detail and colour. I would have been tempted to remove the out-of-focus grass stem cutting across the head just behind the eye.

Symmetry is another powerful compositional tool, and this image has good symmetry through the central vertical line. Notice how the muskrat is positioned along it and is also obeying the rule of thirds, its head on the bottom and middle intersection, its body in the central area, and the tail connecting the middle and top thirds. I also like the tonal contrast of the water and the warmer tones of the animal’s fur. The focus is correctly on the eyes and the overall exposure well-judged.

The composition here is simple, yet effective, the lighting is soft and even, the focus is directly on the animal’s eye, the background does not distract, and the post-processing shows a skilled and sympathetic hand. All these attributes add up to a photograph that tells of a photographer who knows how to construct a good image. What I like the most is the way the hands are holding the plant it is clearly intending to eat. The pop of bright colour is a nice contrast to the animal’s rather drab fur and gives the viewer a point of focus and a narrative to the shot.