The images reflect the photographers’ artistic talent and the depth of the relationship between dogs and humans.
From animals in action to poignant portraits, the Dog Photography Awards highlighted the beauty, resilience and charm of dogs across five categories : portrait, action, studio, dogs and people, and documentary. Through these awards, photographers are celebrated for their ability to capture the essence of dogs in unique and exciting ways.
«Our mission is to celebrate the art of the best dog photographers, discover emerging talents and showcase the extraordinary diversity and charm of dogs ,» explained the organizers. The competition was created by Audrey Bellot and Claudio Piccoli , both professional photographers driven by their passion for man’s best friend. In 2021, they created the contest that opened its doors to photographers from all over the world, both amateurs and professionals, over 18 years old.
One of the standout images was Regine Jensen’s «Moving in time.» This photo shows a white whippet named Rebelle, wrapped in a flowing red cape that gives him the appearance of a superhero walking proudly after a heroic feat. The image won first place in the action category.
First Place Winners in Dog Photos
This heartwarming image shows a young girl with cancer posing alongside her dog in the hospital , recreating the tale of “The Princess and the Pea.” Thomson explained, “I wanted to bring children’s stories to life through my studio portraits for the 2025 BC Children’s Hospital Pet Therapy Program calendar.” She added, “Celebrating the strength of these incredibly brave young hospitalized patients alongside the beautiful dogs enrolled in the pet therapy program was the most rewarding project I’ve ever worked on.”
All of Kooki’s muscles are ready: he’s going to jump at any moment. «At first, we let Kooki stand in front of the museum, but he wanted to play ,» Rhea Nellen explained. «So his dog mom threw her frisbee in the air and I managed to capture this pose,» she added.
«Canine Metamorphosis» , first place in the Study category, by Valeria Barbara Barriera Cassina: a unique portrait of a dachshund behind a large magnifying glass, showing its expression in an ingenious way.
This photo was taken in the middle of a snowstorm in Siorapaluk , the world’s northernmost indigenous village, during a trek to Qaanaaq. Fabiano recalled, «We had no GPS, no cell service, and could only communicate with a few words of English. Our protection from the polar bears was a 1940s rifle and the strength of our 13 Greenlandic huskies.» The dogs watched and waited patiently until they could once again do their favorite thing in the world: run.
Second Place Winners
«Mila» , second place in the Study category, by Donna Victor: a profile portrait of a dog with a comical expression that caught the attention of many.
«Energy Burst» , second place in the Action category, by Anastasia Vetkovskaya: a German Shepherd jumping into a lake at sunset, captured in mid-flight.
This is 90-year-old Rune and his dog, Hajen. Rune is a man who suffers from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to his long-term work in a concrete factory and his only happiness in life is his dog. «If he loses Hajen, he will probably die soon after, as their bond is very strong and they truly love each other,» Ida Levin predicted.
Zora, a hunting dog from Lucerne, sneaks through the Maurerhalle in Basel as if she were hunting , a behaviour typical of her breed.
This is Safe, a podenco rescued by Hope For Podencos . “I visited them in Albacete, Spain, as part of my book project about podencos,” said Andi Prima. “Podencos are a breed of hunting dog that suffers terrible abuse in Spain. Every year, when the hunting season ends, thousands of them are abandoned and some lucky ones are saved by rescue organizations like Hope For Podencos. With my photographs, I try to help as much as I can: together, we are stronger,” she said.
Third Place Winners
This photo was taken at Leadenhall Market , a historic London landmark dating back to the 14th century, where it once thrived as a trading center for meat, poultry, and game. The wire-haired Vizsla, known for its role as a hunting dog, finds its place amidst the market’s warm glow and rain-soaked cobblestones, reflecting the breed’s heritage and the market’s rich past.
«I See You» , third place in the Studio category, by Regine Jensen: an intimate portrait of a stray dog who lost an eye.
Honorable mentions
When composing this portrait, Rachel Hendrie had a completely different image in mind. However, a magical moment was created when Henry’s hood slipped over his eyes and she quickly snapped the photo. «I love the juxtaposition of this portrait,» she said. «They say the eyes are the window to the soul and I find it amazing how just by taking that aspect away, it completely changes who he is and gives him a different personality. It just goes to show that you can’t always judge a book by its cover,» she commented.
«When I’m working with the world’s laziest breed of dog (and I can say that because he’s my lazy dog), there’s always a lot of nap time ,» Rachel Hendrie said. On this particular occasion, Henry decided to simply lay down on the floor in the middle of the studio and bury his head in a scarf. «Nice try, Henry, but being the typical dog mom and photographer I am, I just kept going regardless of whether he was asleep or not. Because who doesn’t love a photo of their baby sleeping!» she added.
«Flower Crown» , honorable mention in the Study category, by Nadia Itani: a portrait of a Great Dane with a flower crown, highlighting its majesty and gentleness.
This mysterious portrait was created on basalt rocks in a place reminiscent of the world of The Lord of the Rings and the dark Mordor. The white Swiss shepherd symbolizes the white spirit, the white wizard, the protector and eternal hope.
This photo was taken during a charity photo shoot for victims of severe flooding in Slovenia last summer . «We did a lot of action shots of dogs jumping in the water, and this 11-year-old Boston terrier named Bounty stole the show,» said Nika Kuplenk Golobič.
This photo was taken in Collarenebri, Australia. John Fabiano was documenting the country’s working dogs and visited a wool farm during shearing season. After shearing the sheep and spraying them with an aquamarine-colored anti-lice spray, the dogs led them to the other end of the 9,000-acre plot . This dog is a Kelpie, the most common and revered working dog in Australia.
These images reflect not only the photographers’ artistic talent , but also the diversity and depth of the relationship between dogs and humans. You can see all the winners and special mentions of the 2024 Dog Photography Awards on the competition’s official website.
