Portuguese illustrator Bruno Silva has struck upon a stylish effect for these animal face illustrations made of overlapping geometries.
The Sydney-based photographer Leila Jeffreys says, "As I've grown, I've watched the human population explode worldwide so I wanted to remind us all about the 'little people' that also share the planet. Like us they search for food and shelter, they form relationships, they raise offspring, they defend their territory, they play and they sing. They are magnificent creatures that enrich our lives if you stop to notice them and I believe it's our responsibility to ensure they will always have a home in the wild."
Bern Switzerland based photographer Sebastian Magnani blends his photographs of dogs with their owners digitally to make these humanized dog portraits.
See also Zoo Fashion Photos
In a forest near his home city of Berdychiv, Ukraine, amateur photographer Vyacheslav Mischenko has captured these surprisingly dynamic photos of snails.
"I spent a lot of my childhood out and about in forests as my family are big wildlife lovers so I'm always on the lookout for unusual animal shots which I can capture. I don't like taking just simple macro shots as you can find them everywhere so I always try to create pictures which I hope people will love."
Croatia - Dalmatian
Life on White, an animal stock photography site put together their ‘Soccer Nations Dogs’ project in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup in June.
Brazil - Brazilian Mastiff
US - American Staffordshire Terrier
Mexico - Chihuahua
France - French Bulldog
Portugal - Portuguese Water Dog
England - English Bulldog
Germany - German Shepherd
Argentina - Dogo Argentino
The Netherlands - Kooikerhondje
Spain - Spanish Galgo
Japan - Shibu Inu
Czech photographer Lukas Holas has created this astound series on Behance entitled, Portraits of Animals.
Exotic animal trainer Dr. Bhagavan Antle, as founder of The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) has developed this amazing and moving series of tiger portraits.
Dr. Antle:
"a stunningly beautiful animal like a tiger captures people's attention so they become more willing to learn about critical conservation issues. Tigers are an important living example of the environmental problems facing the world, which makes them the perfect wildlife ambassadors."
In the realm of animal art, these super simplified images created by Maine-based illustrator Josh Brill and his art label Lumadessa are some of my favorites. I am getting a print for each of my kids this christmas. just beautiful.
He has some gorgeous iPhone wallpapers for free download too »
photo by Penkdix Paime via National Geographic
Here Ulric Collette (we've seen his amazing Genetic Patch Portraits before) creates these creepy/awesome half-human/half-animal images in his project Therianthropes. Love them.
Continuing the stylish treatment of animals ( see Zoo Fashion Photos or Underdog: Humanized Dog Portraits), Madrid-based advertising and industrial photographer Miguel Vallinas styles the whole look, boots, scarves and all, for his project Segundas Pieles.
Australia-based photographer Birte Person took these astounding photos of the very rare big cats during feeding time at the Singapore Zoo
Person explains:
"They sit in anticipation on the rocks waiting for the first morsel to be thrown. Then it is a huge lunge into the water by all of them. It carries on at a frantic pace until they all get some food."
See also Portraits of Captive Animals
Hanging Around
A two year old Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) of the Sabinyo family, plays in the bamboo forest of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. In 1981, this population fell to 240 because of rampent poaching and habitat loss. Today the population is estimated to be around 800 and rising and this photograph represents the exciting turn around and hope for the next generation. Thank you to the conservationists, rangers and educators working to protect these magnificent cousins of ours and their habitat in the Virunga massif.
Photo and caption by Peter Stanley/National Geographic Traveler Photo ContestAmongst the many adventure and historic photos in the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest are an amazing collection of animal portraits.
Curious Whaleshark
Whaleshark encounter in the Bohol Sea, Philippines.
Photo and caption by Jonne Seijdel/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Gentoo Chicks
Two newly hatched Gentoo Penguin chicks get their first glimpse at the Antarctic wilderness.
Photo and caption by Richard Sidey/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Osprey Launching
I clicked this photo as the osprey was taking off from his perch.
Photo and caption by Mark Gottlieb/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Togetherness
A family of snow monkeys cuddling up together for security and warmth. They appeared very protective of one another and seemed unsure of my presence.
Photo and caption by Petra Bensted/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Unexpected Alliance
I have seen alligators and turtles together in ponds before, but never like this! I was at Bluebill Pond in Harris Neck NWR when I saw what I thought was an alligator sunning itself on a stump. As I got closer I realized that it was actually perched on the back of a turtle! I wish I had been there to witness how this surprising esprit de corps had came to pass!
Photo and caption by Mary Ellen Urbanski/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.
Looking Into My Eyes
This picture was taken on a game drive in the Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest national park in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The park contains a wide diversity of fauna, flora and landscapes and incorporates semi-arid landscapes all the way to a marine reserve. These zebra were so calm and you just got the feeling they wanted to be photographed!
Photo and caption by Natalie Murray/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
In the Rain
This photograph was taken while I was on vacation in South Carolina. It was a rainy miserable day until I happened upon this alligator hanging out in a local pond.
Photo and caption by Kandace Stroupe/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Ruffled Feather Inspection
A cafe outside of Aquas Calientes in the Cuzco region of Peru has perches for wild parrots that come and feed on seed and fruit left out for them. This curious little fella was peeking out from behind a leaf to get a better look at me. Apparently he was entertained by the odd human with the camera because he let me get only a few inches away, where my ring light could better illuminate his beautiful feathers.
Photo and caption by Adam Lichtcsien/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Oregon Lion
Sea lion on Pacific coast of Oregon.
Photo and caption by Gary Migues/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Fighter
Two vultures in action. From Massai Mara in Kenya, while they are fighting.
Photo and caption by Majed Ali/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
One Mothers Love
Photo and caption by Graham McGeorge
I love watching the affection and attention that Bonobos have for their young. They truly are a wonderful species of ape.
Morning Game Drive
Our first morning game drive on safari in South Africa brought us this magnificent leopard. He was bathed in the orange hues of the sunrise and it was breathtaking.
Photo and caption by Douglas Croft/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Nyango
Yesterday we looked at James Mollison's Where Children Sleep, and today, we are visiting one of his other amazing series: James & Other Apes.
He traveled to Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia to photograph orphans of the bush meat trade and live pet trade.
Kitwiti
Pumbu
Koto
Gregoire
Wendy
Ominou
Wazak
Simon
Tatango
Talliane
Lulu
Cally Whitham, a New Zealand-based photographer, snaps animal portraits in her series Captive. Emerging for the darkness, into the light of personality, the photos are moving and revelatory.
