New Joiners - Animals #873

I think this image offers the perfect depth of field to deliver a compelling portrait with a strong narrative. The focus is sharply on the interaction between mother and offspring, the younster's direct eye contact an immediate and compelling draw for the viewer's eye. The slight over exposure has helped the subject to background separation, while still retaining detail to add a subtle sense of place. The textured wall in the bottom of the frame provides a strong visual anchor. The black and white conversion removes the distraction of colour and concentrates our attention on shape and form.

When photographing small animals with equipment that produces a naturally shallow depth of field, precise focus becomes critical. The eye should almost always be the primary point of sharpness, as this is where viewers instinctively look first. In this image, the photographer has successfully kept the single visible eye sharp, creating a strong visual anchor within the frame. Although the depth of field is very shallow, there is still enough detail in the frog’s form to maintain interest. The contrast in colour between the subject and the background also helps the frog stand out effectively, adding separation and visual impact. That said, the overall exposure feels slightly dark. A modest lift in brightness during post-production would reveal more detail and bring additional life to the image. A tighter crop — particularly reducing the dark area in the top left — would also strengthen the composition and minimise distraction.

I like the way this photograph delivers a strong sense of fun - the elephant appears to be almost laughing with those hal=-closed eyes and open mouth position. All the emphasis is on the overexposed water that the elephant is throwing over its head, the bright tones the immediate draw for our eye. Technically, the photographer has chosen settings wisely, the shutter speed obviously fast to ensure that every moving element is rendered sharply. the balc k and white conversion removes the distraction of colour and is an effective choice.

Bears are a popular subject in wildlife competitions, and their appeal is immediately understandable. What elevates this image is the thoughtful use of light. Illuminated from the side and slightly behind, the bear is edged with a subtle halo that beautifully defines the outline of its form. This rim lighting enhances the texture of the fur and gives the subject a strong sense of presence against the background. The use of a long focal length is also effective. By compressing the scene and softening both foreground and background elements, the photographer has created clear separation, ensuring our attention remains firmly on the bear. Compositionally, the image feels well considered. Positioning the bear slightly left of centre gives it space to look into, creating a natural sense of direction and balance within the frame. Overall, this is a confident and well-executed wildlife portrait that demonstrates a good understanding of light, lens choice, and framing.

When photographing animals in busy environments, a shallow depth of field and ensuring the focus is on the subject's eyes can help to produce a frame that holds attention. Here, the photographer has managed both of those things well, the surrounding elements adding a sense of place without being too distracting. The deer is sharply in focus, and our attention is nicely drawn to those velvety antlers that define the young animal. A tighter crop to remove the space to the right of the frame would balance the composition more effectively, plus the image could do with brightening to lift the overall feel.

Corvids are often overlooked as photographic subjects, yet they offer rich creative potential, as this close portrait of a jackdaw demonstrates. These birds are full of character, and their plumage can be surprisingly beautiful when captured in light that reveals the subtle variations in tone — particularly around the head and nape. The jackdaw’s pale, almost icy eye stands out strikingly against the darker feathers, immediately drawing our attention. In portraits of this kind, sharp focus on the eye is essential. Although both eyes are not on the same plane of focus here, the photographer has ensured that one is tack sharp, giving the image a clear focal point and maintaining strong viewer engagement. There is a real sense of personality in this frame — you can almost sense the bird’s intelligence as it stares into the distance. The off-centre placement of the head adds tension and drama, preventing the composition from feeling static and giving the portrait added impact. Overall, this is a compelling study of a species that is often underappreciated, handled with care and thoughtful attention to detail.

It is the interaction between these zebras and the symmetry of their body shapes that immediately draws you in. The two animals on either side of the central zebra act as natural bookends, forming strong diagonals from the upper corners of the frame that guide your eye directly to the point of interaction. Although there is a fourth animal present, it remains unobtrusive behind the left-hand zebra and does not disturb the balance of the composition. The photographer has captured the perfect moment, with the three heads converging in precise alignment. The image has a wonderful sense of flow and cohesion — a strong, well-timed frame and a very deserving winner.

Lions are enduringly popular subjects in wildlife photography competitions, and their beauty and elegance make that entirely understandable. What distinguishes this image is the photographer’s decision to frame the scene tightly, focusing solely on the heads of the lioness and her cub. The close crop strengthens the emotional impact, drawing our attention immediately to the physical connection between the two. Their proximity and gentle contact clearly communicate the parental bond, giving the image both tenderness and intimacy. The positioning of their heads — along with the subtle lines formed by the mouths and noses — creates a natural visual pathway that guides the viewer’s eye smoothly through the frame. This is a beautiful, emotive moment, thoughtfully composed and skilfully captured, demonstrating a strong awareness of both timing and storytelling.

I like the strong use of light here, the bright light shaft falling directly on this squirrel helps to showcase the animal and create separation from forground and background elements, separation helped by the shallow depth of field. The point of focus appears to have fallen on the animal's eye - the perfect area for the shot. I also like the bold placement of the squirrel to the right of the frame - this adds additional drama.

I really enjoy the light feel to this image, the slight overexposure has helped to lift the mood of the photograph and emphasise the light falling on the edges of the foreground vegetation. The photographer has successfully ensured the focus has fallen on the deer, and the shallow depth of field has helped to reduce the impact of the bust surroundings. A slightly tighter crop, placing the deer to the left of centre, and a boost to the saturation would elevate the image further.

It is the careful control of depth of field and light that makes this image particularly successful. The butterfly is rendered sharp throughout, allowing the viewer to appreciate the fine detail and texture across its wings and body. This crispness is beautifully balanced by a smooth, softly blurred background. The contrasting colour and tone create strong separation, ensuring that attention remains firmly on the subject. The butterfly is also the brightest element in the frame, its colours appearing to lift from the image and giving the photograph immediate visual impact. A slightly tighter crop would strengthen the composition further. Reducing some of the surrounding negative space would concentrate the viewer’s attention and increase the overall sense of intimacy and presence.

This image has many of the ingredients of a very successful photograph. The light is attractive, the subject is sharply rendered, and the shallow depth of field creates pleasing separation from the background. The surrounding elements also work well in principle, helping to frame the bird and introducing a welcome pop of colour that adds vibrancy to the scene. However, the composition would benefit significantly from a tighter crop. The central placement of the subject, combined with the inclusion of excess surrounding space, lessens the overall impact. In particular, the heavy branch on the right-hand side and the out-of-focus car in the bottom right corner draw unnecessary attention and dilute the strength of the subject. Refining the crop to remove these distractions would concentrate the viewer’s focus, strengthen the composition, and elevate the image’s overall presence.

Tight portraits of elephants are not uncommon, but they can be highly effective when executed with care, as demonstrated here. The distinctive form of an elephant and the deeply textured quality of its skin lend themselves well to this more intimate, almost abstract approach. The lines within the frame work well, naturally guiding the viewer’s eye toward the animal’s eye, which acts as a clear compositional anchor. The folds and contours of the skin help define the head, ears, and trunk, creating a strong sense of structure and depth. That said, the composition could perhaps feel more balanced. A slightly tighter crop, positioning the eye closer to an intersection of thirds, would likely create a more dynamic and resolved frame. The black and white conversion is a thoughtful choice. By removing colour, the emphasis shifts to shape, tone, and texture — all of which are strengths in this image. A subtle lift in overall brightness would help reveal additional detail and reduce the visual weight of the darker shadow areas.

Rain can add an interesting element to a photograph - in this case, the light rain droplets provide a smattering of almost snow-like flakes across the image. The vertical composition suits the position of the bird and helps to reduce the distracting impact of the twigs. The overall exposure is slightly dark, the subject in particular could do with brightening in post-production. Also, the crop would benefit from adjustment to reduce some of the space at the top and better balance the frame.

Direct eye contact can produce images with immedaite impact, especially when shooting tight portraits as we see here. The whole image is anchored around the monkey's gaze at it stares out of the frame at us, the viewer. The subtle catchlights in the eyes also help to draw and hold our attention. The contrast in colour and tone between the monkey's fur and the surrounding foliage helps subject separation, while retaining the context of this animal's environment. The tight crop feels comfortable and well-balanced.