Wildlife Portraits

What makes this photo a winner for me is the water droplets. The subject alone is, of course, impressive. But the droplets juxtapose with the apparent stillness of the croc to imply movement. This creates a sense of danger and excitement that makes this image more than just a simple portrait of an animal.

Additionally, the focus is incredible, as of course it must be. That it's not fully black and white, but instead relies on subtle single color toning, adds to the drama. The cropping on this also contributes to the overall feel.

All around, an excellent photo, an example of the depth of composition that provides the meaning we all hope to convey in a single image.

The standout in the crowd for me was this incredible image.

Is it nonchalance? Or maybe melancholy. There's just so much that we, as human viewers, can anthropomorphically extract from this model's natural pose. It feels as if it could feature a human model in the same pose and be shot for a fashion editorial.

Technically, I appreciate the slightly muted colors and beautiful light. This clean, minimalist background fades from the viewers eye and keeps the focus of the photo right where it should be.

It's an image unlike anything I've seen while capturing wildlife. It's at once fascinating to look at, technically proficient, and invites the viewer to share an emotional experience with its subject.

A clear number 1 for me this round. Congrats!

It's all in the eyes! There is interest and intrigue in this image. Between the eye contact and the vivid colors in the face, I feel like I am looking at a human in a costume. This makes it easy for a viewer to connect with the subject in a meaningful way.

Additionally, the angle of the face and the viewer's relative position to the animal help add to the anthropomorphism that we bring to this subject.

Technically, the muted background colors add contrast and bring the texture and vivid colors to the front, drawing your eye in straight to the face.

Congrats to this photographer for making an image that reminds us how colorful of a world we live in.

This is such a creative take on this challenge and I really enjoyed this entry. Shooting this cub through a tube reminds me of a kid on a playground and creates a fun, playful image with relatable, childlike qualities.

The depth of field adds dimension and interest and the dark contrasts nicely with the cub's fur, drawing the viewer in and directing focus exactly as intended.

Normally, my instinct would be to want the subject centered perfectly in this style of shot, but I think the asymmetry makes this image more successful. It adds to the youthful and carefree atmosphere and emphasizes the fact that the subject is a cub instead of a full grown, intimidating adult.

The lightheartedness of this image makes it a standout against the seriousness of so many other wildlife subjects. I love images that remind me that the capturing play and fun are a great addition to a photographer's portfolio.

A high-key style works well for human portraits, as we know, but isn't widely used for animal subjects. In this case, it provides for a striking image whose subject isn't immediately apparent, and only after a few seconds does the full impact reach the viewer.

This image could be interesting with a much tighter crop as well.

Overall, this image has great contrast and composition and makes excellent use of white space. Kudos to the photographer for finding a way to shed a new light on animal portraiture.

A portrait doesn't always need to have a face in it. This is so easy to forget when shooting wildlife, and this image is such a great example of this.

There is so much conveyed in this photo: a sense of family, of big versus small, and the composition conveys the vastness of the empty space (no other animals and the sheer size and amount of the frame devoted to them).

I might suggest that the brightness of the grass on the right side draws the eye away from the subjects a little too much. Otherwise, great photo!