The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year The Kennel Club has announced the winners of its annual Dog Photographer of the Year competition, with Senise Czichocki of Switzerland taking the overall winner prize (and top prize in the ‘Oldies’ category) with ‘Dreaming Merlin,’ the above photograph of her 14-year-old rescue Podengo, Merlin, as he's sitting against a backdrop of magnolias.
The Kennel Club's Dog Photographer of the Year competition pored over nearly 7,000 entries from over 70 different countries across the world to narrow down the best in ten categories: Portrait, Man’s Best Friend, Dogs At Play, Dogs At Work, Puppy, Oldies, I Love Dogs Because… (for entrants aged between 12 and 17 years old), Young Pup Photographer (for entrants aged 11 and under), Assistance Dogs and Rescue Dogs.
We're presenting the 1st place winners from each of the ten categories in the competition. To see all the winners in each category, head over to the Dog Photographer of the Year website.
Above:
Dog Photographer of the Year 2019 Overall Winner and Oldies Category 1st Place Winner
Title of image: ‘Dreaming Merlin’
Dog: Merlin, rescued Podengo, 14 years old
About this photo: I was lucky to find this beautiful magnolia tree near my home in Switzerland. And still more lucky to get the chance to take photos of wonderful dogs in these magnolia. Merlin was one of them. He is a 14 years old Podenco rescued from a shelter who is happy to live his life since two years in a lovely home in Switzerland. It wasn’t easy to take photos of him because of his absolutely deafness. So I couldn’t work with noises to get his attention. . . afterwards it wasn’t necessary. He gave me so many beautiful moments as you can see in this picture. This is Merlin, beautiful, dreamy and kind of wise. A wonderful old dog with so much charisma.
Technical specification: Canon EOS 6D Aperture - f/1. 4 ISO – 250 Focal length - 105mm (Sigma 105mm f1. 4 ART) Exposure time 1/800 sec (manual) Flash - No
Website / https://www. photo-passion. net
Instagram / photopassionnet
Facebook / photopassionnet
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
'Puppies' category winner: Monica van der Maden, Netherlands
Title of image: ‘The Little Twins’
Dogs: Macy & Vino, Weimaraner
About this photo: The breeder and I were in a shopping mall together where we had so much fun during this photoshoot. It can be very difficult to photograph two puppies together let alone a whole litter of puppies especially in a shopping mall (!). Everyone wanted to pet the puppies because they were so sweet and adorable.
But when Jose (the breeder) placed the two pups together they started to wash each other…
Technical Specification: Nikon D850 - Nikon 105mm 1. 4E ED •• exif: F1. 4 - S1/800 - ISO 320
Website / http://www. monoafotografie. nl
Facebook / MoNoaFotografie
Instagram / monoa_photography
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
'Assistance Dogs and Dog Charities' category winner: Angelika Elendt, Germany
Title of image: ‘Soul comforter’
Dog: Lilly, cross breed and rescued dog
About this photo: With my photography I am supporting as a volunteer the animal welfare association d old peoples with mental, emotional and/or physical disabilities and sometimes cause true miracles.
The picture was taken during the club's work with some assistance dogs, trained for animal-assisted interventions, in a retirement home. Whenever I looked at this old lady suffering on depression and dementia she was completely apathetic and seemed to be captured in her own world. Towards the end of the visit, Lilly was put on her lap and suddenly the lady woke up from her lethargy: She started stroking the little dog and bent her head down to it. Whereupon Lilly raised her head and pressed it to her cheek for a little while – a very touching and heartfelt moment which I managed to capture in my picture.
Lilly managed to get through to this old lady, who was beforehand always experienced as lethargic and utterly disinterested in social interactions. This once again shows the very special connection between dogs and human beings.
Technical specification: Canon EOS 5D Mark III; Aperture: f/4. 5; ISO Speed: 500; Focal length: 200mm; Exposure program: Manual Exposure; Time: 1/800 sec; Flash: No
Website / http://www. elfmet. de
Facebook / elfmetpictures
Instagram / elfmet
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
'Dogs at Play' category winner: Monica van der Maden, Netherlands
Title of image: ‘Dirty Dog’
Dog: Waylon, Australian Shepherd
About this photo: This particular picture is one in my series off “Dirty Dogs. ” I wanted to make something different instead of beautiful and clean dog portraits.
I searched for a dog that loved to play in the mud… and yes Waylon loved it, and what I also wanted to achieve is to make people smile when they see this picture. I also can tell you that Waylon wasn’t the only one that was dirty that day…. the owner Petra and I were also very dirty that day!
Technical Specification: Nikon D850 - Nikon 200mm F2 •• exif: F2 - S1/2000 - ISO400
Website / http://www. monoafotografie. nl
Facebook / MoNoaFotografie
Instagram / monoa_photography
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
'Dogs at Work' category winner: Dorine Scherpel, Canada
Title of image: ‘The loyal co-workers’
Dogs: Sam (L) and Laddie (R) (collie dogs, age 5 and 8)
About this photo: I was walking on this narrow country lane in The Lake District one February day this year when Laddie (right on the photograph) came happily barking towards me. As I have had dogs all my life and formed some extraordinary bonds with as well my own dogs as those of friends, I of course welcome any dog that wants to say hello. The owner (depicted on the photo) also greeted me and after a brief friendly exchange I continued on my route. Ten minutes later I heard this scooter notice behind me and turned around and saw this darling picture unfolding. To me this image portrays all you expect of a country dog’s life on a working farm. Their eagerness, their innocence and the way they so happily go wherever they may be needed makes them men’s best co-workers.
I am not a photographer by profession but rather passionate baker. This photograph was solely taken to bring joy to my friends at home as I was exploring the beauty of the English countryside which I have loved all my life almost as much as dogs. I enrolled this photo in the competition not to win but simply to share with others as I am sure the scene will warm many hearts as it did mine.
Technical specification: Photo taken with an iPhone 6
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
‘Man's Best Friend’ category winner: Cat Race, UK
Title of image: ‘Connected’
Dog: Inka, Munstalander (bitch)
About this photo: We had just wrapped up a warm June evening session with Annie-May and her Munsterlander Inka. As the two of them sat in front of the reservoir enjoying the summer air I could see a real moment unfolding between them. So I unhooked my camera from my Spider-Holster and released the shutter, forever preserving that heart-warming connection.
Aside from chilling with Annie-May, Inka loved nothing more than tearing round after her tennis ball. Annie-May picked up the ball and beckoned her furry friend to her side. Inka patiently sat before her as she reached out, lapping up the attention. Each time the ball flew into the air, Inka would up leap after it, loyally bringing it back in return for a pat and exclamation of ‘Good girl!’
As they sat on the bank with sparkling bright light reflecting off the water behind them, I knew there was something so universal about the unspoken bond between a little girl and her dog. It was for this reason that in that moment I decided to make the portrait of them a silhouette - a faceless image that represents a bond felt not only by Annie-May and Inka but also by a whole ton of dog lovers across the globe. That warm fuzzy feeling that rises up when we reach out and pat our furry friends is undeniably one of the best feelings in the world.
Technical specification: Canon EOS 5D Mark III Aperture - f/2. 8, ISO – 400, Focal length - 200mm, Exposure programme Manual, Exposure time 1/1000 sec, Flash - No
Website / http://catsdog. co. uk/
Instagram / @CatsDogPhotography
Facebook / catsdogphotography
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
‘Dog Portrait’ category winner: Anastasia Vetkovskaya, Russia
Title of image: ‘Honey saluki’
Dog: Jozelin, Saluki, owner Eremina Lesya
I love working with sighthounds! They are beautiful dogs but it’s not always easy to find an approach to them. Toys and treats - usual props of any animal photographer - are rather useless with these creatures. Each time I should come up with a new idea to make it work with particular dog.
This shot was taken in a wonderful August morning with one experienced model of mine - saluki named Joseline. We arrived to location to found out that the field was all harvested. We had to look for another location very quickly. Luckily we’ve found another field! I like how attentive look of the pet owner’s eyes gave this shot a special feeling.
Technical specification: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II EF 135mm f/2L USM 1/800s f/2,0 ISO 400 135mm
Website / http://www. vetkovskaya. com
Instagram / vetkovskaya. photo
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
'Rescue Dogs and Dog Charities' category winner: Anne Geier, Austria
Title of image: 'Finntastic"
Dog: Finn, Rescue dog cross breed
About this photo: I am a dog photographer from Austria. I have studied geography, but always knew that my true passion is the photography. Since 2014 I work as a dog photographer. The reason why I started to take photos was my first dog Cindy, she was also rescued from a shelter in Austria. First I just wanted to take photos of her to create moments for eternity but then a real passion arisen. Now I have two rescued dogs, Finn and Yuri. Both are from Rumania. Beside the photography I love travelling and hiking with my dogs. I think my assignment in life is to create living moments of dogs for their owners, try to show how beautiful beings dogs are and try to convince some people that rescued dogs are really awesome. For all those reasons I always try my best to show the soulful nature of the dogs in my photos.
This photo shows my own dog Finn. I took the photo during our holiday in the Dolomites last year. We rescued Finn from Rumania in 2014. Since that time he fills our life with so much love. I never met another dog who has the same patience and calmness. He is such a lovely dog . . . and I always hope that all the people can feel his special power through my photos of him.
I am nominating "Streunerhoffnung" dog rescue in Austria for the
Technical Specification: Nikon d850, Sigma Art 24mm 1. 4, aperture 2. 8, shutter speed 1/2000, focal length 24mm
Website / http://streunerhoffnung. at
Website / https://www. annegeier. com
Instagram / anne. geier. fotografie
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
'Young Pup Photographer' category winner: Sabine Wolpert, USA, Age 11
Title of image: “Sea Dog”
Dog: Georgie, Havanese, 4 years old
About this photo: My name is Sabine and I grew up in Northern California in a rural community. I wanted a dog for as long as I can remember and on my 7th birthday I got the puppy I’d been waiting for, Georgie. I started getting into photography when I was nine. I love capturing moments especially moments with Georgie. This photo is a perfect example. I took this picture on a beach near my home. Georgie had been running around. She brought a clump of seaweed to me and I put it on her head. I expected her to shake it off but she seemed to like it so I took her picture.
Technical Specification: iPhone 6S, 4. 15mm, f/2. 2, 2488x2488
Instagram / georgie_girl4
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year
'I Love Dogs Because…' category winner: Mariah Mobley, USA
Title of image: ‘Doggy Bed Time’
Dog: Koby, AKA Puppy Einstein, (Miniature Pinscher/Lhasa Apso cross)
About this photo: My Name is Mariah Mobley, and I am 12 years old. I live on the beautiful Oregon Coast, in a small town called Waldport, with my family and our three dogs, Koby, Hunter, and Roxy. I have always loved animals, especially dogs, because they are so sweet, cuddly, and always happy to see you. I started taking pictures when I was a very little girl, and have loved it ever since.
Taking photos of Koby is extra fun because he is my mom’s trick dog, so he knows lots, and lots of cool tricks, and loves to pose for the camera. He is really fun to play with too, we even do handstands together. He is a very sweet little love bug, who I love very much.
I took this photo of Koby in my living room. I used a black cloth backdrop, and my mom helped pose Koby for me and also held the reflector. I took lots of photos of him holding his toy while wrapped in his blanket. This one was my very favourite.
Technical specification: Canon EOS 70D Aperture: F6. 3; ISO 400; 55mm Exposure: Manual; Exposure time: 1/250 sec
Lighting: Insignia NS-DxFL2C shoe mount flash bounced off of a translucent reflector.
Website / https://kim-mobley. pixels. com/collections/art+by+mariah+mobley
Facebook / KobyAkaPuppyEinstein
2019-7-7 20:48
