Solid framing and use of the surrounding atmosphere. The dramatic sky adds depth and grandeur, perfectly complementing the presence of this big tusker. The low angle enhances scale and intimacy while the blend of warm and cool tones creates a rich visual balance. A portrait that honors the subject’s strength within its natural environment.
A fantastic use of shallow depth of field to isolate the subject against that rich, painterly blue backdrop. The background color elevates what could be an ordinary pigeon portrait into something elegant and more refined. The sharp eye contact and subtle iridescence on the neck add life to the subject.
Exceptional use of backlighting to emphasize both form and texture. The glowing rim light around the Hyena's fur is amazing. The reflection doubles the impact, creating perfect symmetry and balance. The dark, low key background isolates the subject beautifully, allowing every droplet and hair to shine. A great approach to controlled light and mood.
The warm golden tones and mirrored reflections give this image a serene, painterly like quality. The soft light enhances the lineup of the shore birds, while the lone blackbird adds visual tension and balance. The layering of the water, the mudflat, and the sky creates a nice blend of tones as well.
100 Images entered
An impressive and artistic composition with an interplay of lines and curves that can be mesmerizing in a positive way. The tight framing supports abstraction while still retaining a literal connection through the Zebra’s visible eye. A good call on the black-and-white conversion, using contrast and texture to full effect.
94 Photographers
This image excels through it's simplicity and precision. The symmetry of the two Bee Eaters looking in opposite directions creates harmony and balance, while their vivid plumage works well against the clean, green background. The perch also curves to guide the eye, and the out of focus background isolates the subjects.
A striking and beautifully composed macro image. The vivid blues of the flowers compliment the warm tones of the mantis, while the out of focus bokeh adds a dreamy quality. The triangular arrangement of the blooms acts as a set of leading lines to ensure the viewer explores the entire frame. Exceptional color harmony and detail. Great work!
Meet the expert judge
This photo captures an interesting observation. The frame has both humor and tension. The Monkey’s mischievous expression peeking through the railing adds narrative charm, while the red fabric draws immediate attention and balances beautifully against the cool green foliage and bench. The partial obstruction works in its favor, creating curiosity and a layered composition that feels candid and thoughtfully framed.
Brief
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Welcome to Photocrowd’s ‘Animals’ contest for New Joiners! These contests are a chance for new members to introduce their photography to the community, and get a taste of how Photocrowd contests work. They can be entered by anyone within their first 28 days of joining Photocrowd. After 100 images have been submitted the contest closes and the Crowd will start rating the images. The Expert Judge will also be judging the images and writing reviews at the same time. All the winners, both Crowd and Expert, will be announced after 3 days of judging. Make sure you also check out our two other New Joiners contests - ‘People’ and ‘Landscapes’.
The natural framing through the foreground foliage works beautifully, creating a sense of intimacy and discovery, as if peering into the forest and seeing the subject. The eye contact is compelling and emotive. A slight lift in exposure or selective dodging on the face would help bring out even more without losing the moody jungle atmosphere.
Good eye from the photographer taking this image. The layered composition works nicely here. The Buck’s pose naturally leads the viewer’s attention to the Doe behind, creating a sense of connection and depth. The antlers act as a frame for the Doe's face. The soft, even lighting also helps maintain detail in both subjects.
The timing makes this image compelling despite its simplicity. The dropped frog adds an element of story and surprise that elevates the frame. While the composition is fairly straightforward, the clean blue sky helps isolate the action, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on a fairly unique and wild moment.
A wonderfully atmospheric image where the reflections creatively take center stage. The silhouettes of the animals dissolve into shadow, leaving only their mirrored forms to enter the scene. The layered tones of the sky with purple, orange, and gold tones add depth and a sense of tranquility. This demonstrates a creative approach to composition.
5,928 Ratings
