Water Birds

This image really stood out to me. I like the clever use of the contrast in the scene, the white plumage of the egret really standing out from the darker background. The reflection offered a great opportunity for a memorable image, but waiting for the bird to raise its wing and position its head in this way turns it into something really special. The central positioning and the square crop work well - overall a very striking image.

The colours and textures of the background make this image work so well for me. I like images which give a sense of environment and this photograph achieves that. The white plumage of the egret stands out well against the background, providing good contrast and ensuring that it remains the focus of attention. Technically it is a good image with enough shutter speed and depth of field, and the whites are perfectly exposed. The placement in the frame is good, with sufficient space on the right side of the frame for the egret to 'fly into'. The trailing legs get a bit lost in a dark area of the background, but that is a very minor thing that would be difficult to avoid.

This is a technique I have seen before with species such as gannets and boobies, but this image is perfectly executed. The composition of the image is spot on with the bird in just the right place, looking into the space of the left hand side. The eyes are just submerged enough that you can see them clearly and the focus is right on them. The reflection of the bill on the surface of the water above is a nice touch. The feet are ideally spread and give good balance to the image. Amazing shot.

Mute Swans are one of my favourite photographic subjects. As they are common and confiding, the challenge is to photograph them in unique and different ways, and using different weather conditions is a great way to achieve this aim. The interaction between the birds is the first element which makes this a successful photograph. The birds are initiating a courtship routine, which is an extremely graceful, almost balletic thing to watch. This pose is one of my favourites from their routine, the intimacy this portrays makes for a really captivating image. But it is the falling snow that really seals the deal here and the photographer has exposed the scene perfectly. There are no distracting elements which divert your attention from the birds, and they are perfectly placed in the frame looking into the space on the left. This is a very beautiful and tender image.

I love this image! Technically it is very well executed with enough shutter speed to freeze the action, while the long focal length and aperture combination throws the background out-of-focus nicely. The water level perspective creates fabulous intimacy and connects the viewer. The cool tones of the water contrast nicely with the warmer background and the plumage of the grebes. The birds themselves are perfectly positioned and I really like the way the beak of the right hand grebe just cuts across above the left bird's eyes. I also love the fact the left bird is looking dead ahead, while the right bird is perfectly side on to the viewer. The water splashes absolutely make this shot as they frame the birds perfectly. The post processing is also very skillful - just the right touch. Bravo!

Three is always a good number in photography, and these three goldeneye work so well together. Technically, this is a solid image; the low angle of view creats an intimate connection with the viewer, and the shallow depth of field has been used well to keep attention on the foreground bird, while ensuring that the supporting characters also play a role. Exposure would have been a challenge with the side-lighting and black and white plumage - the white breasts of the right and left hand birds are slightly blown, but this is the trade-off for retaining the important detail in the dark heads. The behaviour simply makes this image, the birds in perfect time with each other. Not only would I have loved to have taken this image, but I would have loved to have been there to witness the behaviour too.

Some of the most successful images are the most simple too. The minimalist composition really makes this image as it concentrates the viewer on the stilt. the placement of the bird in the frame is very well considered, being in the left third intersect, looking into the space on the right, and centred on the horizontal to produce a tranquil and balanced feel, reflecting the scene. The colour of the sky and the clouds reflected in the water adds to the feel of serenity and calm, while providing subtle additional interest for the viewer. Another image worthy of some space on a wall. I would have tried to bring out a little more detail in the dark parts of the stilt, but that's a minor thing and down to personal taste.

I love images with a twist, and water birds taken from underwater is a great way to provide the viewer with a very different perspective. This is a great take on the category brief, and really well composed: the shafts of light, the position and relationship between the birds, and the presence of the fish in the frame make the image work so well. Even though this was taken in a tank as opposed to open water, it's still a very clever shot.

Using back-light is one of my favourite techniques - it can produce some great results with waterbirds when they are active, chasing each other around, taking off and landing, etc. As in this image, the displaced water and spray can add a dynamic edge to the image. I really like the energy in this image - just enough shutter speed has been employed to keep the bird's head sharp, but there is blur in the wings and water droplets to add energy. The dark background helps to highlight the spray and bring the colours out. I also like the eye contact with the viewer.

I love high key images and this is a good example of how the technique can be used to create images which are beautiful in their simplicity. It isn't that easy to get the exposure right when you are photographing a white bird against a light background, but this has been expertly achieved here. I really like the elevated position of the photographer to create a strong reflection, and the vegetation provides a splash of colour, adds interest, and anchors the image. I would have placed the subject centrally on the horizontal plane to create a perfectly balanced reflection with equal amounts of negative space at the top and bottom. Great image.

This image so nearly made it into my top 10. I love the dynamic nature of the photo, the egret nicely positioned on the right third intersect and looking into the space on the left, The boulder in the bottom left corner anchors the whole image and the small droplets of spray add an interesting element. I can almost hear the rushing of the water. The only thing that detracts slightly is the boulder behind the egret - easily fixed by moving a couple of feet to the right. Still an amazing photo and one of my favourites.

I have seen literally hundreds of images of diving kingfishers but this is so dynamic. What makes it different from the majority is the dramatic back-lighting which catches the water splashes perfectly and shines through the bird's wings. This image is full of energy and life. I also really love the bokeh in the background. a technically difficult shot which has been superbly executed.

Pelicans are another popular subject to photograph as they are large and generally relatively confiding. Therefore, it takes a very special image to stand out in a contest - this is one such image. The composition of this photograph is spot on and taken a split second before the bird makes contact with the water. The wings are in the perfect position and enable the viewer to enjoy so much detail in the plumage. The reflection simply makes this image and the the warm colours and uncomplicated background are a delight. A slightly faster shutter speed would have reduced some of the motion blur of the wing tips, but that is a minor issue only.

Puffins are one of the most common bird species entered into competitions and this contest was no exception. Therefore, it takes a really good puffin image to stand out from the crowd - so many elements need to work in harmony together, and this is one of those images. There are so many compositional elements here that I look to include in my own images, such as out-of-focus elements to frame the subject, such are the vegetation at the bottom of this frame. There is no substitute for great lighting, and this image has that, the light sculpting the features of the bird to give it depth and saturating the colours. The shallow depth of field has been used really well to isolate the subject. The whole scene has been considered, including the out-of -focus background area - the light reflecting off the sea producing some delicious bokeh to add extra sparkle. Beautifully done.

What I love about this is the complex simplicity of it! The interaction between the terns is something that I have seen photographed many times before, but the positioning and relationship between them is perfectly composed. I love the minimalist feel of the image with the perched bird on an isolated rock and the hint of a reflection anchoring the image. The use of over-exposure to create the high key feel is very well judged and difficult to do with light-coloured birds. The legs and beaks add that little pop of colour which adds to the overall composition. A really beautiful and simple image that would look good hanging on the wall.