New Joiners - Animals #869

You don’t see many images of peacocks in flight, which is exactly why this one stood out. The photographer has done a solid job technically, with everything that needs to be sharp rendered crisply – clearly the result of well-judged settings and an appropriate shutter speed for the action. I also like the close panoramic crop, which works well to emphasise the elaborate, elongated tail and gives the image a strong, distinctive feel.

I like the composition of this image - the pheasant forms a nice diagonal across the frame. The fast shutter speed has ensured that all the moving parts have been reproduced sharply. The long focal length has rendered the background out of focus and created good separation from the subject.

This image demonstrates real skill in the use of light and contrast. The side lighting sculpts the dog’s features beautifully, using light and shade to create a strong sense of depth and three-dimensionality. The exposure is well judged, with the black background providing a clean, distraction-free canvas that keeps all attention on the subject. The black and white conversion further simplifies the scene and focuses our eye on shape, texture, and form. The main weakness lies in the crop at the bottom of the frame. Cutting off the paws leaves the composition feeling unresolved, and it also draws unnecessary attention to the genital area, which detracts from what is otherwise a strong portrait. A tighter, more considered crop would improve balance and elevate the overall impact of the image.

This is such a gorgeous portrait - the photographer has got so much right here. Let's start with that low angle of view - getting down on the same level of your subject is important to create a connection with the viewer. It also helps to maximise the distance between the subject and the background and foreground areas, helping to isolate the subject using depth of filed. The wide open aperture and the long focal length has created a delicious shallow depth of field that has ensured all our attention is on the subject, and those background and foreground areas support and not distract. I really love the complimentary tones of the background - they really help to bring out the colour of the dog's fur. Splendid!

I like the use of light in this image. The photographer has been deliberate in their exposure, choosing to prioritise the animal and the shafts of light. The underexposure of the shadow areas creates a clean background and adds a real mood to the shot. The animal is in sharp focus, our eyes immediately drawn to that erect pose and the catchlights in the dark eyes.

The first thing our eyes are drawn to here is the animal's own eye which is sharply in focus. The depth of field is shallow, but the facial features are all sharp and allow us to fully appreciate the textures and colours of the skin. The erect dorsal 'fin' is happily in the same plane of focus and also displays plenty of detail. The background is soft and does not distract, and I love the streaky raindrops that hint at the tropical location. The colours really pop out of the screen and make this a memorable image.

Photographing birds in flight is one of the more difficult aspects of wildlife photography. While modern autofocus systems have certainly helped, there is still a lot of skill involved to capture a successful image. The most important thing is the correct choice of shutter speed. If the intention is to create a sharp image, then you need a setting that will freeze the action - in this case 1/2,500 second which is perfect for a large bird like this osprey. The long focal length has created a shallow depth of field and reduced the impact of the busy background which adds context rather than distracts. The focal point is the bird's eye, and I like the pose with the wings at full stretch, the hapless fish balancing the bottom of the frame clasped in the bird's talons. The exposure is well judged with both highlights and shadows retaining detail.

These small birds really do have the cute factor, especially when they fluff their feathers up against the cold. The light here is really nice, there is a lovely soft quality to it, and I like the fact that it is coming from slightly behid the bird producing an enticing glow around the edges of those fluffy feathers. The exposure has been well handled, those highlights retaining detail, the darker areas of the face also not being lost at the other end of the exposure scale. The twig the bird is perched on forms a pleasing diagonal across the frame, and the shallow depth of field reduces the distractions of the busy environment. Placement of the subject in the frame is also pleasing on the intersection of thirds. Perhaps a slightly tighter crop to reduce the dead space at the top of the frame would improve the composition further and remove the twig clipping the top right side.

You have to look twice at the image as it almost appears as if this chameleon is levitating in midair! I like the clever composition and use of shallow depth of field to create this illusion. The background is even-toned and smooth, and this helps to isolate the subject. The main draw is the one eye in shot, the focal point landing squarely on it and dawing our immediate attention. The depth of field is sufficient to have captured lots of detail in the patterns and textures of the skin. I find the out of focus stick end a little ugly and distracting.

When you place subjects small in the frame, the compositional choices are far greater than with tight portraits. I really like the bold composition of this photograph, it places the birds close to the bottom of the frame - not a natural choice and ignores the rule of thirds. But this works well as it leaves room for that lovely sweep of darker ice as it curves through the frame and leads your eye to the subjects framed by the small pool of water. The monochrome feel ensures that our concentration remains on shape and form.

This image is rather complicated with all the busy foliage, but it works as the green is of consistent tone and that creates a calm from the chaos. I like the way the photographer has also used it to frame the subject which is placed in a clear hole to try and draw our immediate attention. I would crop in a little tighter to really bring the detail in the insect to the fore.

This is another image which at first glance appears relatively chaotic. But I actually like it for that. The busy, lichen-covered branches add context to the image and place this bird in its natural environment. The phootgrapher has clearly taken care to frame the bird in a clear section, using the branches to create a window through which the viewer can peek. The bird is tack-sharp, the rest of the frame falling away with varying degrees of softness.

Usually I like to get low to my subjects and photograph them from their level to create intimacy. But shooting from a higher perspective can open up different compositional choices. I rather like the higher angle here as it brings in a strong reflection, and allows the brighter reflected sky to contrast with the darker plumage of the duck. It also facilitates the inclusion of the lilies at the top of the frame balancing the composition nicely.

The composition of this image is what makes it stand out to me. The placement of the turtle's head and eyes lies perfectly on the intersection of thirds. The focus is directly on the eyes and this creates a strong focal point for the image. The highlight on the snout helps to draw the eye into this area also. The lines of the shell edges under the water form a subtle diagonal across the frame helping the image flow. The shallow depth of field has meant that the water's surface forms a supportive backdrop of complimentary texture and colour.