Animal photography has a way of showing the beauty, character, and mystery of the creatures we share our world with. It reveals sides of them we might not usually see, which is why it continues to be such a favorite subject for photographers everywhere.
Photocrowd’s "Animals" contest for new joiners invites members in their first 28 days on the platform to share their work. The contest closed once 100 entries were submitted, after which the community rated the photographs while an expert judge prepared their own reviews. The winners were announced on August 20, and here we feature the 50 crowd favorites—images that reflect the variety and creativity of new voices exploring the animal world.
#1 2nd Place: "Lilac Breasted Roller Showing Off Its Colors"
"The most photographed bird in Africa."
Report
57points
#2 21st Place: "Lion Tongue"
"A lion sleeping with its tongue out at the San Diego Zoo."
Report
56points
#4 10th Place: "Stag In The Grass"
"A stag calling out in the grass during rutting season. Captured with a Nikon D850 paired with a Sigma 150–600mm lens."
44points
#5 3rd Place: "The Passion Of The Pinnipeds"
"California sea lions duke it out for the best sunning spot. I love the expression on the sea lion on the right—it looks as if he’s stifling aggression. This is part of a series of four, and choosing which photo to enter in the New Joiners contest was a difficult decision."
42points
#6 9th Place: "Bee Eater Keeping A Watchful Eye On Partner Digging The Burrow"
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42points
#7 18th Place: "Clouded Leopard"
"A clouded leopard at the Nashville Zoo."
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40points
#8 8th Place: "Rainbow Starling"
"A starling showing its iridescent rainbow-colored feathers in the light."
37points
#9 6th Place: "Splash Landing"
"I took this photo while out for a walk in the local town park. I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I’m very proud of it."
37points
#13 36th Place: "Beautiful Mountains But The Sheep Said Hi"
"In the Lake District, surrounded by beautiful mountains on a dull afternoon, the sheep seemed to want to say hello."
34points
#14 32nd Place: "The Queen Of The Pigeons"
"A Victoria crowned pigeon pottering around the Whipsnade Butterfly House."
33points
#17 43rd Place: "The Watchful Sentinel"
"A lone meerkat stands upright on a sunlit rock, scanning the horizon with quiet determination. Its pose is iconic—alert, balanced, and full of purpose. The earthy tones of the surroundings blend seamlessly with the meerkat’s fur, creating a warm, unified scene."
Report
31points
#18 47th Place: "Just Drying Off"
"This little rockhopper penguin is sunning itself after a dip."
30points
#20 1st Place: "Zebra In The Golden Morning Light"
"I took a morning trip to Rietvlei Nature Reserve (South Africa) and saw some zebras bathing in the morning sunlight, grazing on the grass. The zebras were enjoying the morning sun."
28points