New Joiners - Animals #866

This simple pet portrait has been elevated by the skilled post-processing which has brough out the best in the photograph and added mood and atmosphere. I like the tonal quality and the use of the vignette to draw attention to the dog's facial features - the important part of any portrait. The direct eye contact hooks you immediately, the position of the body creating a nice curve that flows across the frame.

Tight portraits that deliberately exclude features can be very effective, and this image is a good example of that approach. The photographer has chosen a clever crop that makes the most of the symmetry in the cat’s face, with the eyes and nose acting as the clear focal points, further emphasised by the use of colour. The generous depth of field has allowed plenty of detail in the fur and facial features to come through clearly. Square crops are rarely my first choice, but in this case it suits the symmetry and works well.

Although the photographer has relied heavily on post-processing techniques to produce the end result here, the result is is a very effective portrait. The key to its success lies in the direct eye contact with the viewer. The eyes are the anchor to the frame and are the immediate draw for your gaze. The side lighting has helped to sculpt the features of the fox and added a three dimensional quality to the frame. The catchlights in the eyes are a nice touch.

This portrait has a lovely soft, gentle feel to it. The shallow depth of field has rendered the grasses and foliage out of focus, creating a smooth, unobtrusive backdrop and reducing what could otherwise have been a busy scene. Instead, those blurred textures form an attractive canvas for the subject. The focus is placed precisely on the eyes, and that sideways, slightly wistful glance adds a subtle sense of narrative. I would revisit the crop and remove some space from the top and left of the frame to tighten the composition and improve the overall balance.

I like the tight crop of this photograph and the symmetry created by the central composition, each animal occupying opposing halves of the frame as they lock horns. The eye contact between the two provides a narrative, their position in the frame nicely balanced. I would have chosen a faster shutter speed here and increased the ISO to balance the exposure. The shot is sharp, but 1/160 second will rarely deliver the sharpness required with moving subjects and action sequences.

Shooting a little wider requires more careful compositional thought, as multiple elements need to work together harmoniously. This is an excellent example of a wider environmental image that really succeeds. I particularly like the clearly defined layers within the frame. The foreground sweep of barnacle-encrusted rock anchors the image and occupies the lower third beautifully, providing weight and structure. The background is well separated and delivers complimentary tones without competing for attention. The sea lion is the obvious central character, positioned pleasingly on the intersection of thirds. The timing is spot on, capturing the animal mid-yawn and injecting a sense of energy and life into the scene. The post-processing is subtle yet effective, enhancing the image without drawing attention to itself.

A solid, traditional portrait of a beautiful bird. The shallow depth of field has created good separation between subject and background, reducing distractions and ensuring our attention stays firmly on the bird. The point of focus is correctly placed on the eye, and there is plenty of fine detail to enjoy in the plumage. A little post-production work to lift the exposure on the bird would help bring out those features and colours even more.

I like the contrast between the dark tones of the moose and the brighter, more colourful autumn foliage behind it. The background adds context without pulling attention away from the animal, which remains the clear focus of the frame. The exposure is well balanced and the focal point is exactly where it needs to be, on the face and eye. And of course, the real star of the image is those magnificent antlers, which dominate the composition beautifully.

I love the symmetry of this image, that central placement of the duck in the frame makes the most of the direct head-on perspective. I also really love the colour of the refection on the water, it complements the colours of this Mandarin duck so nicely. The shutter speed employed has produced a sharp photograph on this occasion, but generally speaking upwards of 1/1000 second is advisable to produce consistently sharp images and avoid motion blur.

One of the key things that makes this image work so well is the angle of view. The photographer has got down low and the camera is at eye level with this dog. This creates an immediate connection with the viewer. The longer focal length and aperture choice has rendered the background out of focus and kept our attention on the subject. Also, the shutter speed is sufficient to freeze the action and has ensured a completely sharp shot.

The photographer has handled a rather busy and chaotic background really effectively here. Images taken in the snow can be magical if handled correctly. Here the key to both the magic and the busy background is deliberate overexposure to brighten the scene and add an element of minimalism. By rendering the snow-covered areas completely white has lightened the tones of the branches and reduced their dominance. The exposure has also brought out the colours of the bird's plumage and drawn the viewer's eye directly to it. I like the wider composition and the placement of the subject on the intersection of thirds.

I ratrher like the bold vertical compositioon here, the frame being clearly divided into two vertical halves by the tree trunk and the sky. The wren occupies a comfortable compositional position, the photographer leaving enough room to capture the outstretched wings. The shallow depth of field ensures that all our attention remains on the bird and reduces any background distraction.

The direct eye contact is critical here - the eyes are the immediate draw for the viewer's gaze as this Jay stared head on at the camera. The shallow depth of field has created nice separation between the subject and the background and foreground elements, yet delivered nice detail throught the subject. I would have cropped differently, removing some of the distracting dark area to the right of the image, placing the subject off-centre to provide a more balanced feel.

The two tree trunks on either side of the frame work well as natural framing elements, guiding the eye directly to the centrally positioned squirrel. The animal is sharp, with the point of focus landing on the visible eye, which becomes the immediate anchor for the viewer. The choice of focal length and aperture has delivered a soft, unobtrusive background that removes distraction and helps isolate the subject. The image would benefit from some gentle levels or exposure adjustments to lift the overall brightness and give it a little more impact.

Puffins are a popular subject in photography competitions and I have seen them photographed in every way over the years. Their confiding nature during the summer months, and their good looks make them an obvious draw. Here we have a nicely executed image showing the classic bill full of sand eels. I like the tight composition, the even exposure and sharp focus. The puffin in the background mirrors the foreground subject well and adds interest to the frame.