Predators

I love photographing big cats and I think the photographer here has captured this sprinting Puma superbly. The action is perfectly frozen and I like the sense of the expansive open space and the virgin snow. I also like the subtle highlight detail in the snow and the distant blurry foliage helps to set the scene.

I do find myself wondering as to why the Puma was sprinting as there's no sign of any prey species... maybe there was a Hare just out of frame!

This is a spectacular image and a deserved winner. It's an incredibly dramatic moment captured perfectly both aesthetically and technically. Seeing the two Gannets competing aggressively over their prey, amidst the chaotic water splash, makes for such a great picture. There's just the right amount of clarity amongst the flapping wings and splashing water to tell the story perfectly. It's also an example of how you don't need to photograph the more obvious and exotic predators to create a stunning composition.

I love this. Despite appearing cute and cuddly, the Leopard Seal is one of the fiercest ocean predators, so I particularly enjoyed this almost comedic portrait. Aesthetically, I like the muted monochromatic tones of the abstract background of snow and ice, contrasting with the intense colour from the gaping jaws, reminding us that this is indeed an apex predator. I'm sure this must've been quite a difficult image to achieve so kudos to the photographer for getting in the right place at the right time..

I love photographing Lions so this scene is very familiar to me. I understand the difficulties, especially when shooting at night. In this situation, from a vehicle, you've not much control over the light or composition as it's generally quite chaotic.

Therefore, I think this is an admirable effort and captures well the carnage and mayhem of a kill. Ideally, it would've been nice if the image had been a bit sharper and the light less severe, but it still makes for a striking photograph.

This is an interesting and unusual photograph as Cheetahs aren't natural climbers, so it's unusual to find one in a tree. Compositionally, it's a strong image. I love the positioning of the Cheetah and I also like the soft light and muted colours.

Unfortunately, the image quality isn't quite there and it's missing focus slightly. I'd love to have seen the texture of the trees and the Cheetah's fur in pin sharp detail. It would've also been great to see the cat slightly more animated but I realise that isn't always possible!

This is a striking abstract interpretation of what is a much photographed subject. I like how there is an element of the double-take. You're not immediately sure what you're looking at...and then it registers. The image manages to be both beautiful and sinister. You're given the impression that this is one large, mean salty!

Black and white really suits the subject matter. The harsh aggressive form around the eyes contrasts nicely with the soft muted tones under the surface. Great shot.

I know how difficult it can be to get a great shot of a wild Tiger. There are only 3200 left in the world, so credit to the Photographer here. Not only catching a Tiger out in the open but also with a fresh kill.

The composition, light and colour are good, however there's too much contrast and sharpening so the overall look is quite noisy. The background is also too busy and would benefit from simplifying to throw the emphasis more on the Tiger.

The beaching of these whales on the North Norfolk Coast was an incredibly sad and tragic event which saddened everyone who saw it. The photographer has managed to capture an image which is both poignant and beautiful. The soft colours and moody sky lend a sombre tone to an awful scenario. I think it's very delicately handled, evocative image. A picture which is very hard to look at without remembering the emotion and helplessness we all felt at the time.

This is another 'nearly there' image. All the elements are there: fabulous subject matter and fantastic action but missing the main ingredients that create a brilliant image. All the action is happening around the bear's head so ideally the photographer would've been on a longer lens and used a wide aperture to focus on the action area and simplify the background.

It's a case of right place, right time, but not quite capturing the moment that could have made a great shot.

On first viewing, I thought 'wow...this looks good', but on closer inspection I was left a little disappointed. I'm definitely not against compositing subjects into alternative backgrounds but this one is quite unsubtle and crude. The light direction doesn't match the sky and the edges around the Osprey's wings are a bit rough.

I really like the composition and pose of the bird and would have preferred to have seen a less manipulated version of it in it's natural surroundings.

I quite like this image but I'm left unsure as to what's really going on. I'm unsure whether this Tiger is leaping for prey in the wild (in which case it's extraordinary!) or whether it is performing or chasing it's dinner in a zoo or animal park. I find the vignetting a bit severe and leaving no sense of understanding the Tiger's environment.

Otherwise the action is dramatic and the moment is captured in sharp detail. Again, it's really hard to say for sure as the image size is too small.

This is a great shot which is very nearly an exceptional shot. The combination of the subject and moody environment make for an intriguing atmospheric composition. I like the soft pastel colours of the foliage and the fox is captured in a great pose.

It's just lacking that little bit of quality and clarity (probably due to low light limitations) that would have made this a contender. Saying that, you always have to compromise when shooting in low light so this is a good effort.