Winners of the annual Dog Photography Awards have been announced, an annual competition open to professional, amateur and student photographers from around the world and (of course) their furry friends.
The competition, which is divided into four categories, received more than 1,400 entries from 50 countries. Portrait and landscape, studio, action and dogs and People. The participants competed for a prize fund of €2,000, divided between four categories.
Photographer from Melbourne Russell Charters was the only Australian representative in the honours, taking third place in the Dogs and People category for his image Walking the dog on the beach .
Category Dogs and People. 3rd place – Russell Charters – Australia. Walking the dog on the beach. Charters’ image is a photo of his partner walking their dog, Luna. DJI Mavic Air 2, 1/100s @ f/2.8, ISO1000.
The competition was judged by Audrey Bellot, Claudio Picolli, Iza Lyson, Heike Williams, Travis Patenaude and Anne Geier.
You can see all the category winners and runners-up below, along with several finalists at DPA website.
Promotion – 1st place winner – Francesco Junior Mura – Italy. “The first obstacle of the course is the moment I like the most. Where it all begins, where the bond between man and dog is expressed in such a clear way with such a magnetic look, where you see the power of the dog’s muscles contracting and releasing energy with every nod handler. Agility Dog is trust. Agility Dog is respect. Agility Dog is connection. This photo was taken during an Agility Dog competition in Italy.” Sony A9 + 70 200 2.8 GM2 1/2000 iso 3200 200mm.
Action – 2nd place – Kjara Kocbek – Slovenia. Canon 5D mark III, Canon 70-200 mm 2.8L IS II f/3.5, 1/1250, ISO 200, 200 mm Taken at sunrise in Slovenia.
Action – 3rd place – Julia Haßelkuß – Germany. ISO 80 f/1.4 1/2500 with Sony Alpha 7 MIV Sigma Art 35mm. “I took this picture during our holiday in Norway. It was very foggy that day, so I wanted to create a friendly and sunny look.”
Studio – 1st Place Winner – Su Kaye – United Kingdom. “I’m just trying to do something different from the norm and create something unique in my studio and a new style. Not something I’ve seen other people do and it’s created a great response and good reactions.” Title: Things are evolving Olympus EM1 II
Studio – 2nd place – Jane Thomson – Canada “Mimi’s backstory”. Fuji X-T3, Fujifilm 18-55mm (at 40mm) F11. 1/250s, ISO 160.
Studio – 3rd place – Daniela Schmid – Germany. Canon EOS 90d F/6.3 ISO 250 1/250 sec.
Portrait – 1st place winner – Dalia Fichmann – Switzerland. Avalanche rescue dog. “Away from the ski slopes, away from the hustle and bustle, enjoying the softness of the snow spray, untouched… The dark side of this: every year people get hit by an avalanche. Searching in rough terrain is usually very difficult. Avalanche rescue dogs are often the first responders who, on their four paws, with great persistence make their way through the avalanche cones and search for buried people, who are sometimes buried several meters under the snow mass. In Melchsee-Frutt (Switzerland) I accompanied rescue teams for one day. In order to capture the moment when a dog finds a buried person and digs through the snow, I lay down with the camera in a small dark ice cave and let the dogs search for me.”
Portrait – 2nd Place – Sophia Hutchinson – United Kingdom. “This shot of my dalmatian, Amber, is so special to me as it was one of the first walks we were able to take off-leash after her two leg surgeries. It fills me with emotion to see her so independent and captivated by the beauty of nature and the wild animals.” Sony A7R III, 85mm f/1.4 lens. 1/1000s @ f/1.4.
Portrait: 3rd place – Joanne Liu – Canada. These photos show Greenland dogs (Greenlandic: Kalaallit Qimmiat, Danish: Grønlandshund) in Ilulissat, Greenland, behaving naturally on government-provided land. There used to be 30,000 Greenland dogs, but now there are only about 15,000. In Greenland, they are used exclusively as working draft dogs. Climate change has reduced their use in favor of skidoos, which do better in marginal ice conditions. Puppies up to about 6 months of age are allowed to roam free to socialize, they are friendly and playful. Adults are chained and separated. Housing and veterinary care are provided by the government. All three photos were taken in September 2022 using a Canon R5 and a 100-400mm lens at f5 to f5.6.
Dogs and people category – 1st place winner – Sabrina Theden – Germany. Unconditional love. Canon EOS R6, lens Sigma 135mm f1.8 Art. 1/400s @ f1.8, ISO 1600. Taken at the Railway Museum.
Category Dogs and People. 2nd place – Sarah Ebner – Switzerland. Canon 6D Mark II and Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX DG HSM lens. 1/800s at f2.8, ISO 100.