One of photography’s great superpowers is its ability to reveal what our eyes cannot. This detailed portrait of a bee emerging from its burrow is a perfect example. The framing is excellent—the circular opening of the burrow acts as a natural vignette, pulling all our attention straight to the bee and those extraordinary eyes. The lighting is skillfully controlled, producing an evenly lit subject with subtle highlights that make the eyes sparkle and draw the viewer in. The depth of field is also well-judged, providing ample detail across the frame without introducing distractions.
Swans are fascinating photographic subjects, and I’ve photographed them thousands of times over the years. Yet they never disappoint in their ability to invite fresh approaches and deliver unique opportunities. I love the shape this bird has created as it bathes in that typically energetic way, feathers and spray flying in all directions — something this image captures beautifully.
The scene is chaotic, yet the curve of the swan’s wings and body creates a pleasing flow for the viewer’s eye around the central point of the bird’s head. The contrast between the white plumage and the shaded background isolates the swan perfectly and emphasises the airborne droplets.
This image is a reminder that swans should never be overlooked as worthy photographic subjects — look closely, and you’ll always find new ways to honour their beauty and elegance.
What I love about this image is the deliberate exclusion of the entire face. The photographer has chosen to reveal only part of the fox, using that delicious light to highlight a single eye and a pair of ears in a beautifully controlled way. The underexposure has rendered the rest of the frame almost completely dark, stripping away any distractions and allowing the illuminated features to take full command of the viewer’s attention.
I also admire the bold composition. Placing the animal in the bottom right corner is unconventional, yet it heightens the drama created by the extraordinary use of light. There is no doubt about what we’re looking at, even though most of the fox’s features are hidden. Crucially, the exposed eye is tack sharp, and the tiny catchlight in it makes the whole image sing.
I love photographers who think outside the box — who create compelling images that not only express the character of the subject, but also reveal something of the photographer themselves. This is one of those images.
This is another image that delivers a compelling narrative. The photographer has cleverly used shallow depth of field to hint at the potential peril facing this rabbit as it crosses the railway track—the bokeh balls of light in the background subtly suggesting oncoming danger. I love how the rail itself forms a subtle but important element, leading your eye past the rabbit, which remains the only sharply defined subject in the entire frame.
Animal portraits are so much more than close-up studies of a subject; for me, a true portrait must also tell a story and reveal something of the animal’s character. This image accomplishes that brilliantly, which is why it stood out among the hundreds of fantastic entries in this contest.
Despite the mouse being so small within the frame, it immediately commands attention—it’s where your eye goes first. The composition is masterful: the stone kerbing anchors the bottom of the photograph, the open space above provides a simple, uncluttered stage for the mouse, and the bold, graphic railings add structure without overwhelming the scene. The brightly coloured bokeh of the city lights contrasts beautifully with the cooler blue tones of the fading light, reinforcing the urban setting and adding a layer of narrative richness.
A fabulous piece of work.
To stand out against so many other images, a portrait has to deliver something beyond solid photographic technique. A compelling portrait must tell a story—one that reveals the animal’s personality and hints at its life. Here, the photographer has delivered on every front. The technical elements are flawless: exposure, composition, timing, depth of field, point of focus—all perfectly judged.
But it’s the atmosphere that elevates this image to another level. You feel as though you’re right there with the fox in those freezing conditions. You can almost hear the wind howling and feel its icy sting as you lie in the snow, watching this animal push its way forward, eyes squeezed shut against the cold.
This is next level.
Squirrels were a popular subject in this competition, and there were many beautiful portraits to enjoy. Yet this image rose above the rest. I love the use of strong backlight to sculpt the outline of this red squirrel—the photographer has handled the light with real skill, taking full advantage of the exposure difference between the rim-lit highlights and the shaded background to create a striking silhouette. The squirrel remains instantly recognisable, which is essential for an image shot in this style. It has adopted that classic hunched pose as it nibbles on its food, with ears and tail upright, the backlight picking out the dense fur beautifully. The photographer has also cleverly hidden the light source behind the animal, preventing lens flare and distracting hotspots. A truly beautiful piece of work.
This photograph is a masterclass in the use of out-of-focus foreground and background elements to frame a subject. The simple, uniform tones of green and blue provide the perfect canvas for this delicate gannet portrait, allowing its striking plumage and strong facial features to dominate the frame with effortless elegance. The composition is deceptively simple yet extremely effective, showcasing a masterful interplay of light, shape, and colour.
There is something about this photograph that kept me coming back to it time and time again. I think it’s the fascination of seeing something almost other-worldly in those alien-like features. Photography’s ability to reveal things our eyes would never catch unaided is simply thrilling. I’m reminded of the creatures in classic sci-fi films — this could easily belong on the set of Dune.
I love the wealth of detail captured here, all held together within a masterfully composed frame. It’s an image I could explore for hours and still continue to discover new things.
You have to admire the technical skill involved in underwater photography at this level. This is a stunning portrait of a subject that most viewers will never have the chance to see. I love the use of light here—the sunlight streaming through the water, broken into individual rays that reach out to frame the cuttlefish and highlight the rich colours of the animal, colours beautifully emphasised by the subtle lighting.
4,320 Photographers
8,829 Images entered
203,944 Ratings
Successful portraits capture not only an animal’s features but also its personality. Creating an image that the viewer can connect with is a real skill, and that’s exactly what the photographer has achieved here. This portrait is bursting with character. The composition is beautifully judged—the shape of the animal guides the eye effortlessly through the frame, creating a natural visual rhythm. The surrounding hay forms an ideal contrasting border, enhancing the subject without overwhelming it. The muted tones lend the photograph a near-monochromatic feel, allowing the viewer to focus on the shape, form, and textures that make this image so compelling.
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As soon as I saw this photograph, I knew it would make my top ten. Capturing a bat in flight is extremely challenging, and to do so with such drama deserves real celebration. The use of backlighting to reveal the silhouette of the bat’s head through its outstretched wing is inspired—the timing required to achieve this is extraordinary. The exposure is perfectly balanced, providing strong subject separation, beautiful colour, excellent detail and clear definition. The smooth, out-of-focus background isolates the bat wonderfully, keeping all attention on that striking head shape. The airborne water droplets add an extra touch of drama that completes the image.
Brief
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We’re focusing on individual animals in this wildlife contest. Whether that’s picking one character out of a crowd, or an animal that naturally tends to make an appearance on their own. And we might ask what defines a wildlife portrait from any other wildlife image? Portraits usually show the subject quite prominently in the frame, and being the undoubted focus of the image, as distinct from shots of an animal at distance within their habitat. These can be some of the most challenging images to shoot, often requiring patience, knowledge of the animal’s behaviour, and in some cases a long, fast lens.
This photograph is as technically accomplished as you will find — the fact that it was taken underwater, at night, is testament to the photographer’s skill. There is so much to applaud here. The depth of field is spot-on: enough to deliver plenty of detail in the fish’s features, with the focal point placed perfectly on the eyes, which are pin-sharp. The focus extends through the mouth and teeth, giving us a wealth of intricate detail, yet the background remains soft and distraction-free, helped by the natural fall-off of the flash and the darker exposure values.
The lighting is exceptionally well judged. It almost feels like natural light, the usual harshness of flash beautifully subdued to create a gentle, believable illumination. I also love how the out-of-focus foreground sand helps frame the subject, working in tandem with the darkened background to draw all of our attention exactly where it needs to be.
The icing on the cake is the near-perfect symmetry formed by the shape of the mouth and the central composition.
Bravo.
I have seen thousands of hummingbird images over the years, but this shot ranks among the very best. What I admire most is not only the incredible detail captured in the bird itself, but also the subtle tones and textures of the out-of-focus background, which create a dreamy canvas upon which the bird is beautifully painted.
