'Dog Photographer Of The Year' Contest Announces The Winners, And They're Pawsome

"For me, capturing real and candid moments is what photography is all about. This is one of those moments. My friend had just adopted Yzma and while we were chatting in the kitchen I was taking some photographs. The location and the light were far from perfect, but I ended taking one of the photos I’m most proud of."

“Joshua sat behind the bars of his cold cage at the shelter wondering why people kept passing him by. Every day, he held out hope, wagging his tail furiously as people would peer in curiously at him, and then move on. The hours turned into days, the days turned into months, and still, Joshua waited. For 8 long months, he curled up on that concrete floor, dreaming of the love of a family. Wasn’t he a good boy just like all the others? Then, one morning, on a day that started just like all the ones that came before, Joshua wagged his trademark tail wag right into the heart of passing stranger and suddenly, his story changed forever. That passing stranger was me, and in that moment, my heart was filled with more love, kindness and purity than I had ever known before. Joshua came home with me later that day and officially became a part of my family. The next morning after adopting him - only 12 hours or so since he left his well-worn place in his shelter cage - we went on our first walk together as human and dog, and I was lucky enough to capture this moment. This is the definitive, tiny slice of time in which the joy can only be measured by the size of his perfect smile. A moment in which Joshua realized that he had finally found freedom. A moment in which he had finally been given the second chance at life that he so deserved. A moment in which Joshua discovered he was finally home.”

“This image was taken of ‘Ray' after a long woodland walk. It struck me whilst sitting opposite him how majestic and regal Ray looked whilst taking up most of the sofa! Many people are drawn to him whilst out and about and frequently refer to him as a ‘tiger’ due to his beautiful brindle markings. ‘Sleeping Tiger’ seems an apt title for my image."

“I am a photographer originally from England but live in Co Galway, Ireland and volunteer for Madra, a dog rescue charity I take photographs of the dogs to help find them forever homes. I suffer with a chronic illness so when I am able to go to the kennels it is therapy for me as the dog’s courage and resilience inspires me.

Faye was a cheeky, tiny boxer cross puppy with a huge personality who was looking for her forever home. I’m pretty sure Faye was a world class super model in a former life. She knew instinctively how to sit and pose for the camera and demanded her fee (chicken) after every few clicks of the camera.”

“Petey and I stood there together on the water’s edge in awe as the day bowed out to the night and the sun slipped its yellow head behind the horizon. Pastel colours painted themselves across the Summer sky above our shoulders in stripes of pink and cobalt blue as we quietly revelled in that perfect, endless moment. Then, just as suddenly as the sky had lit itself on fire, Petey clumsily jumped into the water with a joyful little sparkle in his eye, beckoning me to come along. I followed him in and giggled until my sides hurt as he would push his paw down into the warm, salty water, sending little crystal droplets flying through the air all around him. With each happy splash came the realization of the perfection in those tiny moments, and of the unmatched purity of the canine heart.”

"This photo was taken a week before the camomile harvest, on a weekend we decided to look for new locations to photograph. The chamomile field is 50 km from Curitiba, in a rural location with several varieties of plantations. It was a day when Leica had a lot of fun and went back home yellow and smelling like chamomile."

“This image was taken as part of a commissioned shoot with three rescue dogs. It was a beautiful and bright November day and the Sun was creating an intense light through the windows, warming the client’s house. Kelly, an apprehensive 12 year-old collie-cross, found her spot in the God rays heating up the arm of a sofa and had a nap. She was a cautious girl with a sad backstory and had challenging behavioural issues prior to being adopted. Happily though, she has found rejuvenated life with her new family in Jersey who are giving her all the love and attention she sorely missed in her younger years.”

“This magnificent Afghan was incredibly nice to shoot - he is very expressive and emotional.”

“The photograph of Rita was taken during a training day in February this year on the moors in County Durham the weather hadn't been kind and the light was fading fast."

“This particular photo was taken after a long, very wet and stormy November Day last season where the dogs and picking up team were pleased to get back into the pickup for some respite from the weather after a wet but enjoyable day.”

“This photo was taken on a lazy Sunday afternoon walk in The Netherlands. The dog in the photo is Fenrir, my youngest dog. He is the perfect model, and the reason why I picked up the camera again.”

“I was just looking for her loving eyes to catch the attention of one of the residents, RAF veteran Mr Duncan Currie (a pilot for the Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, Dam Busters) who has Dementia, he is 95 yrs old.”

"I was asked to photograph the three month German Shepherd, Aiko, at the beach in Holland. Aiko had the time of his life. He was running and playing and tried to meet as many other dogs as possible. And after a half of a hour Aiko was sitting down and then is was able to shoot this picture."

“Fly was originally an unwanted family pet before being taken by a farm to be a cow dog. Unfortunately he didn’t take to such work and as a result endured a miserable life there, left tied up all the time without being walked. Happily he now has a much better life after being rescued by my sister, Anni and her partner, Alison who live in The Peak District. This photo was taken at sunset on a family trip to Hunstanton beach.”

“Bella is always ready to pose for me, so when I saw the fallen leaves at the top of the garden, I knew it was an opportunity too good to miss.”

"If I see something really, really special, I have to take a photo or video of it. I love taking photos and videos of Mosey because she is so funny, gentle and sleepy! I also like taking photos and videos of the birds at WWT (Llanelli), especially the Nene geese. I took this photo in my garden. We had some cake and Mosey came to sniff it. I took about twenty photos and this was the best and the funniest."

“I have studied photography obsessively over the last 5 years and love to experiment and push the boundaries of photography. Eight months ago I started 'freelensing' and this was how this image of my beloved Whippet Gus was taken, out walking in the Derbyshire Peak District.”

“I am a photographer originally from England now living in Co Galway, Ireland and volunteer for Madra, a fantastic dog rescue charity. I photograph the dogs to help find them forever homes. I suffer with a chronic illness so when I am able to go to the kennels it is therapy for me as the dog’s courage and resilience inspires me.
Red is an 11 year old Madra rescue dog who was adopted by my friend and fellow Madra volunteer. My own dear dog passed away last year so her mummy brought her for a visit to comfort me. I couldn’t resist photographing her. Red lives a life of luxury filled with love now.”

“This photo is of Marley, a dog who had a second chance at life, when a vet refused to put this healthy dog to sleep, and instead found a loving forever home for him with. He now enjoys oodles of time in the fields, doing what he loves most; herding!

“This photo was captured during a private commission. The image was taken on a ‘Muddy Good Hike’ (my name for the photo shoot adventures I offer to clients) I’m a big believer in photographing dogs in a natural environment - they love it and I think there’s nothing more fun than lacing up a pair of walking boots, packing a rucksack and setting off into the forest with your best friend! That’s where memories are made.”