New Joiners - Animals #816

The green tones on this Viper are quite striking and it's no wonder how the snake got its name. If you look closely however, the reptilian eye is on full display and the ultimate star of the show here. In addition to the head, some of the scales on the body are in focus and worthy of attention as well.

Having the exposure prepared with a fast shutter is crucial to capture actions sequences such as this one. It's nice to see the Coyote captured in mid flight as it crosses the ditch. The line of the canal divides the frame nicely and helps build the story for the jump.

This photo has quite the line up on display here. All of the Doves are in focus and that's a huge plus as it gives the viewer the ability to explore each bird and spend time examining the entire frame. It appears flash was used tastefully as the highlights are not blown out.

Monkeys always make for great subjects as they're expressive and human like, especially when the camera is on them. I like the contrasting expressions of each subject. One appears to be having a good time while the other appears to mean business. The red pop of color also compliments the green foliage.

It takes a while to figure out what's going on inside of this frame. What's most compelling for me is the circular pattern that's formed by the horns coming together from two separate Sable Antelopes. They appear as almost one entity. I also enjoy how the circle shape is placed in the center of the frame.

Even though this Jellyfish image isn't full of different colors, it's the cool or blue tones that stand out for me. There's an interesting chaotic element created by the tentacles moving in all sorts of directions. I also appreciate how the lines come in from one side of the frame and help balance the main portion of the subject.

The Cat's slate color matches and blends into the floor tiles in a pleasing way. But what's more interesting is how the yellow eyes stand out and compliment the wooden legs of a nearby table. I find myself turning my head to view the shot from a different direction and that's not a bad thing.

It's common for wildlife photographers to look for a background that's not busy or distracting. Well this image flies in the face of that logic and it pays off. The busy surroundings and textures of stone and seaweed compliment the Harbor Seal perfectly. The bright highlights of the seal help it stand out, but not too much.

I spent a good amount of time studying the skin folds, colors, and textures on the head of this amazing Turkey. The pale blue tones surround the eye and help bring focus to it. Getting an up close and personal shot of this bird is critical as the detail can't be appreciated from a distance.

This is simply a pretty image with a worthy perch and background to support the Butterfly. Purple and yellow always come together in a pleasing manner. For that reason, I don't mind the bright out of focus flowers in the background. The subject is in focus and yet appears soft at the same time.

Ginger is a cute cat and her resting pose is what brings this shot together. The cat is snuggled in a position that forms a beautiful circular pattern. It allows the eye to start at the face and move all the way around to the very tip of the tail.

The photographer wisely splits the frame in half by using the Yellow Headed Dwarf Gecko as the midpoint. The subject cuts through nicely and separates the orange wall below and the out of focus background above. The bright orange tones allow for the unique fingers and toes to stand out.

When scrolling through all the contest images, this shot stopped me in my tracks. It's unusual as the bird is flying away, but that's the most appealing piece of it. The colors are in full display on the back, tail, and wing feathers. The outstretched wings great an amazing visual that's framed by the palms above and below. Make a print of this. Great work!

I don't come across many Zebra images that are full of expressiveness such as you see here. The open gape provides a visual of the animal's dirty teeth and pink gums. This isn't something we typically see. Although the eye lid if almost closed, there is still some character that comes through.

This is a well executed bird portrait. The tall, vertical composition compliments the shape of the Pigeon and allows just enough of the bird and background. The yellow eye is matched by the upper half of the out of focus background. There are also some interesting feathers on top of the bill upon close inspection.