New Joiners - Animals #805

Using the mother Elephant's body as a way to frame up the entire scene as well as the baby was a smart move by the photographer. The mother's dark tones also double as a vignette as well. Even though we see only part of the parent, the interaction is still strong in the image.

This Horse portrait has a painterly feel to it and would also work well as a print. I can see this hanging on the wall actually. I don't usually care for square crops, but it works fine here and matches the proportions of the Horse in the frame rather well.

This is another very strong, macro image and it's great to see these in the competition. The Praying Mantis is enveloped and framed nicely by the surrounding greenery. The subject also has a unique pose and appears active adding a bit of dynamism to the shot. The highlight in the background assists with the framing without being. a distraction.

Not all images of animals have to be pretty and inviting to tell a powerful story. This Red Fox seems to have sustained a previous injury that's evident and documented in this capture. Looking at images like this give me perspective and respect for these animals as they're able to continue thriving after setbacks.

The colorful tones in the Lizard match the background in a pleasing way. The highlight of the image however, is the curved shape or arc created by the tail. It's worth commending how the photographer grabbed focus on the Lizard and not the background when taking this shot as the foreground is in shadow.

The blue tones coming from the flower make this image a standout entry. It's nice to see the Hummingbird's feeding behavior as it's captured in flight while foraging on the plant's nectar. The background is rather busy but doesn't distract from the in focus and important portions of the frame.

This Sandhill Crane image is brought to life by the rich gold tones illuminated in the background, that also compliment the rusty tones on the bird's back feathers. I appreciate the contrast between the bright and colorful upper half of the frame and the bland lower half. The crane acts as a connection between both segments.

It's interesting how you can create an environmental portrait of a small animal such as this Snail in such a tight space. It's interesting to see the Snail perched on a flower, but it works great in this vertical composition. The green and red tones are complimentary and bring the scene together.

It took a few seconds to find the Elk in this image as it blends in well with the surrounding flora. The layered landscape is shown off well in the vertical composition and also provides the viewer with a sense of the animal's preferred habitat. I would love to walk right into the scene as it looks so inviting.

The colors really stand out in this fish image. Blue and gold always come together nicely and this is no exception. I suspect this image was shot through glass, however, the subject is rendered fairly sharp so the image quality does not suffer at all. I also agree with the vertical crop.

The intense stare given by the Monkey in this portrait stops you in your tracks. Its gaze is strong and creates a intense sense of connection between the subject and the viewer. The dark green foliage acts as a vignette and helps bring all attention to the eyes and face.

This is an amazing image of a Blue Dasher Dragonfly! The technical precision stands out as the photographer was able to catch the face and eyes in focus while rendering the wings slightly soft, in a pleasing manner. The highlight in the background doubles as a spotlight on the subject. There is also a strong sense of symmetry in the composition. Great work!

The chaos that's occurring in the scene captivates my attention and invites the viewer for further study. The light is pleasing and the compositions is anchored by the centered Gull's wing that enters the frame in the upper right hand corner. The upward angle is also a bit unique and it's captured wide.

The shutter speed chosen by the photographer is fast enough for a sharp image of the Tree Swallow, but slow enough to elongate the rain drops which adds interest. The large tree trunk on the left side of the frame acts as a counter-weight and balances out the bird being placed near the center.

Great timing to capture the moment of a Black Headed Gull landing on the water. The light illuminates the head nicely to include the eye ring and cherry red tones on the bill. The extended wing also seems to mimic some of the shapes created by the water ripples from the bird's contact.