Spooky Wildlife

I was never expecting to find a penguin photo so spooky but wow, I am converted. The dramatic lighting works brilliantly, especially focusing on those tongue spikes and eye. The expression is fierce and the contrast of light and dark really brings it to life.

Next time I see a penguin I'll definitely watch my back... just in case.

The pose of the eagle in this is wonderful. The slightly lifted foot and the outstretched wings. The simplicity of it being on one small branch against the dusty-coloured mist makes for a really eerie image. It creates a sense that you're lost and you hear the screech of the eagle before you see it. Awesome job.

This is simply adorable. I love that this is a wild chipmunk that was curious (and hungry). The completely black background makes the autumnal colours pop. There was lots of thought put into the setup, and this was the first image to really make me smile. A very fun take on the brief.

This image is perfectly timed. That little patch of light hitting the fox's direct eye contact is eery and powerful. I love the way you can't see the ground where the fox is treading, and the warm colour palette here plays to the sense of mischief. Great capture, well done!

Wonderful capture. Feels like the first vulture is watching me to warn me not to touch its catch. The colours work great here to highlight the red of the meat and on their beaks. The twist in the neck of the second vulture follows the eye to the bottom left of the image to the prey which is great.

I'm a big fan of vultures as they're natured 'clean up crew'. A nicely framed, perfectly-timed capture.

Of all the spider photos, this one really stood out for me. The green/grey colour palette, commonly seen in horror films, really adds depth to this. The focus on the eyes and that one lifted leg adds a menacing touch. And I really like just the hint of web framing at the bottom.

This image is beautiful. Whilst it may not have the spooky lighting and colours of some of the other winners - you can feel the solitude in the image and that itself adds a level of unease. As though if the wolf howled you wouldn't hear it for miles.

The framing is brilliant. The way the wolf is just coming over the rocks like it's silently sniffed out it's prey. The direct stare to camera is really powerful.