Dog Photo Competition 2012 : Results

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
this image is immediately striking, almost haunting. the deep shadows give the overall image such a rich, authentic feel ... the dog's expression and overall appearance are extremely unique, and the hand behind the dog is so suggestive. i definitely have to put this image as one of my top faves for its uniqueness and evocative feel. well done.
Photographers Comment
This is Bach he lives on the streets in Santa Barbara, CA with his owner. I was photographing them for a project on homelessness while in photo school. Bach is a great dog and it's an honor to be included with all these other great photographs. Photo by Mike Eckelkamp, San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Taken with a Canon 5d.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
this image rocks. the choice to convert it to b&w makes it a stronger image, accentuating the bare elements -- dog + ball. can't get a better combination than that! love the deep contrast, as well as the different textures, and the well-worn, distressed deck revealing years of faithful ball-fetching. well done! a definite fave.
Photographers Comment
This photo was taken while on vacation in NH. After a long day of playing at the beach, casing the ball, Toby was wiped out and slept on the porch. Photo by Fred Levy, Maynard MA. Shot with Mamiya 7ii 120 film camera and Scanned with Epson 4870. www.fredlevyart.com

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
oh, how to describe the million ways i love this portrait ... absolutely stellar light and brilliant color management, gorgeous dof and bokeh, and an expression that is beyond memorable. well done!
Photographers Comment
I took this photo of puppy June in October of 2011, during one of our hikes through the woods near where we live in Maryland. I used a Canon 50d and my favorite lens, the Canon 50mm f/1.4. This was probably shot nearly wide open, judging by the bokeh that was created. It was very minimally processed in Lightroom 2, as the minimum is all I know how to do. Later that day, June got to herd sheep for the first time... it was a great day all around!!

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
i just love everything about this image ... the two profiles, yet very different expressions and energies, beautiful handling of depth of field, wonderful bokeh, and although i'd love to see it in color (i'm sure it's dreamy!), this b&w conversion simplifies the elements and lets them stand out even more. absolutely wonderful!
Photographers Comment
This image shows two of our four rescued dogs - basenji-mix Django in the background and little Cocoa Rae Bean, who was born to a foster dog at our house in 2010. Every rescue dog has a story to tell, and these two are no exception. I took this last August with a Canon 50D, using a 100mm macro lens, and edited it in Lightroom 3, then Photoshop Elements. I love it because it shows the connection between these two very different dogs.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
there's simply no way a dog person could pass this image and NOT laugh or at least smile. we all know how demanding they can be when it comes to "the ball" ... and with the inclusion of this model's teeth, that demand seems even more to the point. the simplicity of elements and colors in this image make it extremely impactful. a definite fave.
Photographers Comment
I am honored and thrilled to have my photo here among all these creative and beautiful images. This photo is of my 8 pound dog, Flash, part Chihuahua part Klee Kai. The toy is actually larger than Flash, though don't tell him that because he'd disagree.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
i love so much about this image ... the perfectly centered framing, the compressed appearance of the field of focus, the variety of textures and lovely muted tones ... but mostly, the feeling that is evoked by this image, whether the dog is guarding or waiting for his owner's return home. well done!
Photographers Comment
This photo was taken during one of those perfectly unexpected moments. I was walking through my neighborhood on the East End of Portland Maine with my camera when something in the corner of my eye drew my attention. This beautiful dog and I locked eyes, he was smiling at me. I felt as though he was telling me, "Show me to the world." It was a moment that needed to be remembered.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
this is an absolutely adorable image ... so full of fun and whimsy. an awesome capture and great color control.
Photographers Comment
Hi, I am Randi Heimert. When I was seven, I became the proud owner of my first camera and my first dog. And ever since, the two have been inseparable to me. Various spots in my hometown of Libertyville, IL serve as a backdrop for my "Hometown Hounds" calendar which I do yearly to benefit local rescues and a way of giving back. This photo was in this years calendar. I feel so honored to be included in this group!

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
beautiful framing and tones ... and i can't help chuckling as i reminisce on the incredible number of dog models i've had which give me the cold shoulder as well. great job of making it work!
Photographers Comment
Thank you. This is my baby girl Zappa, my current model for Flickr group 52 Weeks for dogs. It's funny to see "making it work" as I asked her to look away, it's a complimentary seasons piece to an Autumn train track picture of her a few months ago. I love the train tracks, and this was a brand new spot for us. Granted my other 4 dogs wouldn't listen as well as her but that is why she's my soul dog. Congratulations to everyone who was chosen.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
this image has stunning light and soft tones. love the framing and the dog's peaceful expression. great job.
Photographers Comment
A combination of warm sun, slight breeze, soothing ocean sounds, and being held led to this moment. We were standing on top of a sand dune, admiring the ocean view, when I noticed that Flint was about to fall asleep. It was during his droopy-eyed blinking that I took this picture. I used a Canon Rebel T1i. Photography has been my passion for the past year and half and I'm so honored that this photo of Flint was chosen to be included in this group. Thank you! (Photo by Robin Yu)

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
how glorious is this image? i wish i could view it larger so that i could get lost in those eyes, made all the more riveting by the shallow dof and non-competing colors. beautiful management of light and depth of field, gorgeous tones, and of course, a gorgeous dog. an absolute definite fave.
Photographers Comment
It's such a great feeling to have 2 images win the Mark Of excellence in the competition. Meet my dog Cowboy who's here in the US all the way from Taiwan! He was part of the clip and fix program back in his home country. They neuter or spay the dog and then clip the ear before sending them back to the street so that they don't recapture them. Cowboy's a loving, vocal (in a good way) guy with a heart of gold. I'm so glad he found his way into my life.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
i love this a million ways to Sunday ... if that's even possible. great low angle, wonderful attention from the Brittany to the boss ... er ... owner, and gorgeous tones and light ... all resulting in an extremely memorable image. a definite fave.
Photographers Comment
It’s honor to be selected from many brilliant photos. The photo is by Helen Green, Victoria, Australia (www.helengreenphotos.com), inspired by a quote from Jo Winter "At work you may be bottom of the pile but to your pooch you're leader of the pack." Dogs hold their owners in high esteem, and rely on them for everything, so it is up to us all to treat our dogs well. This is a self portrait, they are my legs in the photo. We managed to entertain a few passing people on their way to work.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
this is a lovely and strong image ... great choice to present it in b&w. the conversion makes it even more striking. the framing is lovely, especially with the few tall strands of grass in the right the right foreground. very well done.
Photographers Comment
Firstly, huge congrats to all! I praise God for this blessing, & am grateful to the judges for recognizing my image amongst many outstanding works of art. Animals & photography have always been part of my life. Shortly after this was taken, 12 yr-old Hanna went out to hunt one last time with her owner...she’s retired to the position of “official couch warmer”! Captured with a Nikon D700; post-processing done in LR 3 & Photoshop. ~ Lesley Bailey, Manitoba, Canada, www.happytailspetphotography.com

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
the richness of tones and color in this image are truly inspiring. and there isn't much that beats a dancing dog. beautifully shot.
Photographers Comment
I would like to thank you for this distinction. It is a great honour. This photo was taken by me - Aleksandra Sypniewska - in Poland, Europe. It depicts a 12 years-old dog, which has been abandoned by her master at her late years. I've tried to capture her character - despite her age, she is very agile, amusing and… gourmand. She would do anything for a treat in my hand. In one hand I was holding my Canon EOS 1D Mk II, and in the other, just above the lens - a treat. It was quite cloudy and grey weather back then, so I filled the scene with light from a strobe on the left, and bounced some off a reflector on the right.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
the soft, almost monochromatic theme of this shot makes it a highly memorable image, and those deep amber eyes are almost hypnotic. great depth of field and framing.

Mark Of Excellence

Judges Comment
what a fun image! great execution and timing to capture the perfect expression. well done!
Photographers Comment
Hi I'm Randi Heimert. This is Wilbur who I shot for my "Hometown Hounds, Dogs of Libertyville" calendar. The proceeds benefit local rescues. It's my way of giving back to the dogs, who give me so much! I shot this with my Canon 5D and edited in Photoshop. His expression is priceless! I feel honored to be in this group of such beautiful photographs!