Wildlife

What we love about this shot is that it's well thought out. The photographer has recognised that the vultures come back to roost at the same place each night and so has framed one roosting point in front of the setting sun. The clear backdrop means the purple and orange hues warm the background for a strong silhouette from the birds and the tree.

The timing of this shot is fantastic. The crab has emerged from the anemone which provides a soft, velvety backdrop. The frame is filled and all of the crab easily visible. A great mixture of warm, red tones in the crab’s shell are complemented by the cool blues and greens in the anemone itself.

Wildebeest migrations offer huge vistas, with wide open expanses filled with mammalian bodies. This dusty scene shows the commotion caused by so many individuals, and the inclusion of the water in the bottom right of the frame informs us why they have gathered in such large numbers in one area.

This striking image works due to its simplicity. The darkest part of the image is the subject itself. The high contrast blacks in the stripes of the zebra make it stand out against a high-key background. Some might be tempted to process the image and darken the blue sky behind the animal, but the fact this hasn't been done is key to its beauty.

At first glance this is a classic "you missed it" shot. The Egret's wings are in the forward position and cover the face. However, the strong backlight projects the Egret's head on its closest wing, which lines up with where we'd expect to see it if the wing wasn't there. The even black background is also a stark contrast to the bright white feathers of the bird.

This photo of camels walking through the sand is a new take on an old subject. We love the way the shadows, accentuated by the dust kicked up by the camels, elongate the already long legs. The shafts of light peeping through create warm, ethereal tones in an otherwise dark frame.

A frame within a frame, as demonstrated by this hole in a leaf, is a strong compositional tool to improve a photograph. The frog's bright yellow feet stand out against the green leaf, and it almost seems as if it's pulling itself through the opening just to pose for the photo.

Aside from primates, bears are arguably the most anthropomorphic large mammals on earth. Here a black bear cub slumps back against the tree in a posture we can all associate with. The eye contact, and golden light on the snout highlights the cub's face and draws the viewer into the photograph.