New Joiners - Animals #819

This is such a cool Sandhill Crane image. I've never seen a shot done like this before on these birds. The pop of flash is enough to illuminate the Crane as a fast exposure was most likely needed to capture the setting sun in the distance. The red skies compliment the subject's red face cap.

This Dog image is a great example in showing the importance of subject placement. The Dog is looking toward the shop window and guides the viewer to the work going on inside. I suspect there's a strong interest on the Dog's part since this is a butcher. Also, the rich colors also play well through the scene.

The alpine shot is very surreal and incredibly pleasing to look at. The four goats are placed perfectly in the frame and almost double as house ornaments. The rich green tones in the grass are offset nicely by the ascending fog and mountains in the background. This is a scene I'd love to walk into. Amazing work!

This is quite the lineup of Bison. A pano crop was needed to include all of the individuals as they march toward the camera. You get an eye level perspective here which offers a sense of intimacy with these amazing animals. It looks like the roads aren't just for vehicles in Yellowstone.

There's a great demonstration of behavior in this image as you can see the Bee feasting on what looks like a sweet substance. You also get a sense of scale as the Bee is only slightly larger than the liquid drop. The vertical composition is the right call as it helps enhance the lines.

This is a smart phone snap shot, but it's a good demonstration of how elements can be used to frame a subject. In this case, it's the Dog's ears. Also, you're provided with the perspective of the Dog as you're given a chance to look through its eyes as it stares into the scene.

It's great to see close portraits of hawks as they're less confiding than other birds. The Sparrowhawk is captured on a very pleasing perch the there's a sense of connection as it stares back with a head on gaze. The grain and color profile give the illusion of a vintage, film capture.

First of all, blue and yellow are complimentary colors and they come together beautifully here. The Crickets both support the circular pattern in the sunflower and focus is spot on. It's also nice to see some out of focus sunflowers in the background, which provides depth and a larger sense of space.

This image shares a great conservation message and goes to show that photographs don't always need to be pretty and tell a good story. The chains around the Elephant's foot tell the entire story without needing to include more of the body in the frame. The bells are also an interesting contradiction as this isn't a celebration.

The standing Hare in this image is illuminated in a pleasing way by the angled light that comes down from the upper right corner of the frame. The leading lines support the composition as they lead the viewer right to the subject. A shallow depth of field works here as focus is only needed on and around the Hare.

This Bighorn Sheep looks quite proud and appears to be on a throne. It's interesting to see how the entire frame is filled with rock, which is a perfect demonstration of this animal's preferred habitat. There are converging lines that come together from the lower sides of the frame and bring the viewer right back to the sheep.

The Red Fox is a misunderstood animal and always an amazing subject as they're full of expression. This image captures a rather subtle and inquisitive look which brings the portrait to life. On close inspection the Fox's face is placed in between two out of focus grass blades that provide some authenticity to the moment.

I'm used to seeing raptors captured in positions of strength, so this is a great break from that and there's a story in here as well. I get the sense this Kite is almost begging for a donation as it perches next to an empty coffee cup. I hope better days are ahead.

I've never seen a Lobed Argiope before, but it's quite an intimidating spider up close. The body appears to be armored. Great work getting. a well exposed and sharp macro shot. The mangled spider web separates the foreground from the distant background nicely. I also like that the spider isn't centered perfectly.

If you're taking a close portrait of an animal that fills the frame, it helps to ensure it's one of the most colorful birds you can find. This Rainbow Lorikeet has so much going on, it takes a while to digest all of its fancy. The fine feather details are also a nice touch.