# Circle of life **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, birds, weekly-challenge\ **Created:** [October 30, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767 "2026-10-30T16:37:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/1 "2026-10-30T16:37:35Z")
![Original - IMG_8898.jpeg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/3/737c12042071a3efc4d66d187c86ba091fbbe9dc.jpeg) ### Weekly Challenge Decay and Renewal 10/25/26 - 10/31/26 **Critique Style:** Standard The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic / Expressive ### About This Image We were in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia on a game drive when we came on this White Headed Vulture picking the last scraps of this Cape Buffalo skull. The vulture was very industrious and would repeatedly disappear and reappear behind the skull. I thought this photo was a bit humorous. ### Feedback Requested I would appreciate any thought about the composition and how to make the photo better. ### Technical Details Canon R5m2 RF 100-500 ISO 800. 270mm. f5.6. 1/2000 ---
**Author:** ![alice](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/alice/32/83370_2.png) [@alice](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/alice)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/2 "2026-10-30T16:51:22Z")
Timothy, this photo is so apropos for this Halloween time of year, It’s freaky, ghoulish, and yet intriguing . What a capture!! I have no nits. Alice. ---
**Author:** ![Nancy\_Sandy](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/nancy_sandy/32/90696_2.png) [@Nancy\_Sandy](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Nancy_Sandy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/3 "2026-10-30T17:53:28Z")
This is so good, on so many levels! It certainly tells a tale of Decay and Renewal but it also has the feel of carefully composed fine art. The position of the bird in the buffalo skull gives this image an eerie, mysterious vibe which I think is enhanced by the (nearly) monochromatic palette. Very well done! ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/4 "2026-10-30T19:30:43Z")
Excellent capture, Timothy. Quite a unique image. Definitely tells a story. Composition looks good; not sure how it could be improved. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/5 "2026-10-30T20:14:18Z")
Amazing and wonderful!! There is even detail around the bird’s neck that looks like it has pushed up through a tattered hole, leaving scalloped edges! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/6 "2026-10-30T21:05:02Z")
Fantastic. Definitely a candidate for the Comedy Wildlife Awards, I’d say. (Nothing wrong with a slightly tighter crop all the way around, IMO.) ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/7 "2026-10-30T23:47:49Z")
Thank you Alice ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/8 "2026-10-30T23:48:24Z")
Thanks Nancy ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/9 "2026-10-30T23:48:59Z")
Thank you Allen. ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/10 "2026-10-30T23:49:40Z")
Thank you Diane. Defy case of being in the right place at the right time​😀 ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/11 "2026-10-30T23:50:23Z")
Thanks Max. I’ll play around with the cropping a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 5:04am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/12 "2026-10-31T05:04:06Z")
What a great image! No nits here. I think we should have a comedy section here. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:40am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/13 "2026-10-31T08:40:28Z")
Belongs in Borges’ “Book of Imaginary Beings”. The buffalo’s teeth could be the bird’s feet even. Superb catch! ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/14 "2026-10-31T15:22:30Z")
Thanks Glenys 😀 ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/15 "2026-10-31T15:23:41Z")
Thanks Mike. It was one of those photos you take and don’t appreciate until you are reviewing all your photos later. ---
**Author:** ![Huw\_Thomas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/huw_thomas/32/87850_2.png) [@Huw\_Thomas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Huw_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/16 "2026-10-31T17:44:08Z")
Great humorous image @timothy3 very nice treatment, composition, capture.. Huw ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/17 "2026-10-31T19:02:23Z")
Thank you Huw​😀 ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/18 "2026-10-31T20:34:30Z")
Late to the show on this one, Timothy, but I couldn’t resist downloading it and cleaning up that vertebrae mess. While I was at it I boosted microcontrast in the head and vulture and cropped a bit tighter. Just a variation on a very fine image. ![Timothy-IMG_8898 copy](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/7/3/73321d9f09e064d87b352a05eadc5e78a91a0868.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/19 "2026-10-31T22:25:55Z")
Thanks Dennis I always appreciate your thoughts and suggestions ---
**Author:** ![Karl\_Zuzarte](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Karl\_Zuzarte](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Karl_Zuzarte)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767/20 "2026-11-01T00:34:31Z")
How lovely and even comical! I might consider reducing the contrast a tad and softening the background to tell the story better [Next page](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/circle-of-life/52767.md?page=2)