New Joiners - Animals #820

What initially drew me to this image was the well-balanced posture of the monkey as it feeds in the trees. The positioning of the arms—both bent at right angles—creates a natural frame that neatly contains the rest of the animal’s body. The vertical leg along the right edge of the frame further complements the composition, reinforcing a sense of structure. The subdued, drab tones of the limbs help to emphasise the warmer hues of the head and face, subtly guiding the viewer’s gaze to where it matters most. Ultimately, our attention settles on the wrinkled nose and snout as the monkey contentedly munches its meal—a wonderful focal point. The fine water droplets beading on its fur are a lovely, understated detail, rewarding the more observant viewer. If I were to make one suggestion, it would be to apply a tighter crop on the left side of the frame. This would eliminate some of the empty space and bring the viewer even closer to the subject, enhancing the sense of intimacy.

I have no doubt this image will be a crowd favourite—and rightly so. Puffins are a hugely popular subject, and for good reason. Their clown-like appearance gives them an almost human quality that we instantly connect with. This frame-filling, head-on portrait makes a dramatic impact. The puffin’s wide, intense gaze draws us in immediately, creating a strong connection between subject and viewer. The beak full of sandeels is a classic moment from the breeding season, when these birds tirelessly collect food for their chicks. It never ceases to amaze me how many fish this characterful little seabird can carry in that vividly coloured bill. Technically, the image shows excellent control and understanding of camera settings. Exposure is well-balanced—no easy task when dealing with bright light and the puffin’s contrasting plumage. There’s detail in both the highlights and the shadows, and the point of focus is spot-on—right on the eyes, as it critically should be. A shallow depth of field isolates the subject beautifully, while still hinting at the surrounding environment to provide context. This is a bold, engaging portrait that combines technical precision with visual charm. A strong and memorable image.

What immediately stands out in this photograph is the pleasing diagonal line that runs from the tail in the bottom right to the head in the top left. The opposing tilt of the bird’s head adds further interest and strengthens the overall composition. Diagonals, when used effectively, can be powerful compositional tools—and this image demonstrates that well. The eye, as the main focal point, is critically sharp, revealing excellent detail in the head, beak, and surrounding plumage. The background, with its contrasting colour and tone, helps the subject stand out cleanly and adds to the visual impact. The photographer has chosen a low angle of view, which is important for this kind of image. Dropping even lower could have enhanced the sense of intimacy and improved background separation further—but the current perspective still works nicely.

I really enjoy the sense of fun and energy that this image conveys. The calf in the foreground has been captured in a wonderfully expressive moment, full of playfulness and youthful spirit, as it charges ahead of its mother—ears and trunk flapping with animation. In contrast, the calm, composed posture of the adult provides a lovely counterbalance, giving the image a well-rounded emotional tone. Technically, the image has been handled well. The choice of a fast shutter speed was important here, freezing the motion of the youngster and preserving detail without any motion blur. The tight crop works nicely too, keeping the viewer’s attention focused on the interaction between the two elephants. That said, the point of focus appears to have locked onto the adult in the background. Personally, I would have preferred the focus to fall on the calf’s eyes, as the young elephant is the clear centre of interest and emotional anchor of the scene.

I love seeing pet portraits that offer something a little different—and this photograph is a fantastic example of a photographer finding a fresh angle. It bursts with energy and playfulness, capturing a perfectly timed moment as the dog leaps into the air in pursuit of its ball. There’s a real sense of motion here. Look at the way the ears and fur are lifted mid-jump, suspended in that fleeting instant when gravity briefly lets go. The symmetry of the floating ears and outstretched paws adds a pleasing compositional touch.

But it’s the subtle inclusion of the ball, just entering the frame from the left, that delivers the knockout punch. The dog’s eyes are locked onto it with laser focus, giving the image both narrative and emotional drive. I also really appreciate the background. The deep depth of field renders it almost as sharp as the subject, providing a strong sense of place that complements the scene without distracting from it. What a fun, joyful image.

When used in the right context, the exclusion of colour can add real impact and drama—and this striking portrait of two male lions is a perfect example. The black-and-white conversion strips away the distraction of colour, encouraging us to focus on composition, texture, and form. This tight, double-headed portrait is all about detail. The coarse manes, the weathered skin, the quiet strength of these two warriors—all of it leaps from the frame with striking clarity. The lions sit side-by-side in calm companionship, gazing into the distance, and the lack of direct eye contact adds a contemplative, almost introspective quality to the image. The tight crop is another strong choice. It eliminates any background distractions and enhances the visual impact, ensuring our full attention stays on the subjects. A great example of black and white used with purpose—subtle, powerful, and emotionally resonant.

When judging competitions, I’m often drawn to images that offer something a little different. While every photograph is unique in its own way, some can feel like familiar replications of scenes I’ve seen time and again. These may be technically proficient, but their predictability can diminish their impact. This image, however, captures a moment that stands out. It offers us something fresh—a striking, close-up encounter with a salmon as it breaks the water’s surface during spawning migration. The composition is all about the central character: our eyes are immediately drawn to that gaping, tooth-lined mouth as the fish thrusts forward. The point of focus is spot-on, directing our gaze precisely where it needs to go, and the choice of shutter speed is excellent—freezing the action with razor-sharp clarity. The shallow depth of field enhances the subject’s isolation, while the backs of the neighbouring fish serve as strong visual anchors along the bottom and right edge of the frame, adding context and balance. This is a powerful and distinctive image—technically sound, compositionally thoughtful, and creatively original. A standout photograph, and a deserving winner.

Jackdaws are wonderfully characterful birds, but their dark plumage can be challenging to capture in a way that reveals the subtle tonal variations—particularly around the head. In this image, the transition between the deep blacks and softer greys is handled very well, showcasing those nuanced shifts in tone with clarity. The bright yellow background of flowers adds contrast that helps the bird stand out, further enhancing the visibility of those delicate details. The choice of a vertical orientation complements the bird’s upright posture and introduces a pleasing diagonal from bottom left to top right, following the line of the body and adding dynamic tension to the composition.

This is a well-executed and classic bird portrait. The goldfinch is neatly positioned on its perch, beautifully illuminated by sunlight coming from directly behind the photographer—as evidenced by the delicate catchlight in the bird’s eye, which reflects the light source perfectly. The lighting is gentle rather than harsh, delivering pleasing warm tones not only to the bird itself but also to the background. There's excellent separation between the subject and its surroundings, allowing for sharp focus on the goldfinch and revealing plenty of fine detail in the plumage and features. Meanwhile, the background is rendered soft and out-of-focus, eliminating any potential distractions and instead contributing warmth, texture, and subtle narrative to the scene. The slight diagonal created by the bird’s posture adds dynamic interest, and its off-centre placement is a thoughtful compositional choice—giving the goldfinch space to look into on the left, which enhances the overall balance. A beautifully made image that showcases solid technical skill and a strong understanding of traditional bird portraiture.

I really enjoy the tonal variation in the background and the cool, contrasting tones of the pigeons as they take flight. The strong leading lines of the trees and pathway draw the eye toward the vanishing point in the distance, creating a solid compositional framework for the flock of birds. The sheer number of pigeons, along with their even distribution across the middle and lower thirds of the frame, injects a dynamic energy into the scene. There’s a wonderful sense of motion and life here, with the varied shapes and forms of the birds giving the image a richness that rewards repeated viewing. This is the kind of photograph you could study for a long time and keep discovering new details to appreciate. Nicely seen and well executed.

When capturing tight portraits like this one of a fox, ensuring that the eyes are tack-sharp is absolutely critical—and that’s exactly what the photographer has achieved here. Our gaze is drawn straight to the eyes, forming an immediate connection before we begin to explore the rest of the frame. The eyes are a powerful focal point and often serve as the emotional anchor of an image. In this case, they’re beautifully sharp and expressive, pulling the viewer in. Foxes have striking facial features—those large, triangular ears and slim, pointed snout are instantly recognisable—and I like how these elements are balanced across the frame, forming a pleasing diagonal that enhances the composition. The slight overexposure lends the portrait a soft, almost ethereal quality and contributes to a clean, uncluttered background that complements rather than competes with the subject. I’m not usually a fan of square crops, but in this instance, it works well to balance the composition and keep the focus exactly where it needs to be.

Close-up portraits can produce powerful images when executed well, as demonstrated in this striking example. The decision to zoom in tightly and crop out most of the pelican’s head may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s a deliberate choice that allows us to appreciate the remarkable detail in the eye, feathers, and bill structure. One of photography’s great strengths is its ability to reveal intricacies we might not otherwise notice. Here, that strength is on full display. The strong diagonal line formed by the bill and head—from bottom left to top right—is a smart compositional choice, adding visual energy and guiding the viewer’s gaze through the frame. The image also benefits from sharp focus and a generous depth of field, achieved through well-considered aperture control—evidence of a skilled and practiced hand. The eye, placed at the center of the frame, serves as a crisp focal point and a strong visual anchor. If I were to suggest one improvement, it would be to shift the eye slightly further to the right within the frame. A less central placement might have added even more dynamic tension and visual interest. Overall, this is a compelling and technically sound image that showcases both creative vision and photographic precision.

Symmetry is the key element that makes this image work so well, and the square crop effectively emphasises this quality. The photographer has deliberately placed the deer’s eyes right in the centre of the frame, providing an immediate focal point from which the other compositional elements radiate—most notably the antlers, which extend toward the opposing upper corners. The background is sufficiently distant to be rendered out of focus, allowing it to complement rather than compete with the subject. The foreground grasses creeping into the bottom of the frame add a nice contextual touch, although I would have preferred the removal of the blade of grass that crosses the mouth and nose, as it slightly distracts from the otherwise clean composition.

I appreciate images that portray the subject a little wider in the frame, as this often adds a compelling contextual element—something that’s evident in this photograph of a heron. Captured among the seaweed-covered rocks, there’s no mistaking the coastal environment. I also like the clear distinction between the darker rocks and the lighter sea in the background. The clean, even division separates the frame almost into equal halves, creating a tranquil mood that complements the overall scene. That said, the heron’s central position isn’t the strongest compositional choice here. Placing it further to the left would have created better balance and given the bird space to move into, following its natural patrol from left to right.