Dog Photo Competition 6 2014 : Results

Judges Comment
this image was an instant fave ... and i think the more one looks at it, the stronger it becomes. while initially seeming like a rather simple image, there is just so much for the viewer's eye to take in, to come back to and examine, and to see again for the first time. the texture of the concrete, the mortar between the bricks, the contrast between the crack lines in the concrete vs. the straight, geometric lines of the vault/wall/monument or whatever it is this dog is perched on. the depth of shadows is bold against the light grey concrete, highlighting the main action of this image -- the dog sniffing a two-dimensional cat. very expertly seen, captured and executed. well done! bravo! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
First of all let me thank you for choosing my photo as competition winner among other great photos. I was on a walk with our dogs when I've noticed that someone painted this cat on a wall so I ran back to get a camera and something to attract dogs attention. Shot was taken with Canon 6D and Sigma 35/1.4Art. In weeks after I found some more of those street-art animals so if you follow my fanpage you can find more:)
www.facebook.com/LukasSkalicky.photos

Judges Comment
fabulous! there is just SO much about this image that is working for it ... the wind holding up the ears, the gorgeous cloudscape, the fabulous landscape, the wonderful little picture within a picture provided by the sideview mirror. if you wanted to really push this image to the next level, i would suggest some careful editing (shouldn't be too difficult) that would remove the other vehicle at the left edge of the frame and actually move the tree a little more to the left (more where the car is) ... leaving that area around the sideview mirror a little less cluttered. otherwise, a stunning shot. well done! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thanks so much for the kind words. illona! I really had fun shooting this image of my own dog, muji – enjoying the road trip as much as I do. I love that you really "got" the image and put the whole story together. And your comments about the car and bush are right on. All of my published images are highly photo-composed and designed in advance. This one was a welcome exception to that rule, and I was so happy to be able to use the in-camera crop with no composition changes at all. I guess I got carried away with not having to get carried away with it.
koudis.com

Judges Comment
superb! this is what comes out of great light, a super setting, a skilled photographer knowing their settings and how to set up a shot, and quality equipment ... not to mention an incredibly adorable little dog with ears that allow it the gift of flight! VERY well done! ~ illona

Judges Comment
i'm not sure if this image has received some kind of a 'painting' treatment, or if it's just the way it has been processed. I would love to see it a little cleaner/sharper, but setting this aside, the play of light and shadows in this image is magical. with so many splashes of light, the viewer's eye moves freely around the image, from texture to texture, but always ending up on the adorable terrier on the bed. nicely done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you very much for this honor and congratulations to all the winners here. You are correct, I did add a painterly effect to this image but I masked out my dog. This was a quick grab shot. Ozzie, my Russell Terrier, was mesmerized by anything that was moving outside. I shot this with my iPhone 6 and converted to B&W via Silver efxPro. I am Claudia Robinson in Charleston, South Carolina.

Judges Comment
the classic dog-in-a-cone rarely gets old ... at the same time, it is so rarely done with anything that is unique or at least somewhat refreshing. what makes this image stand out is its calmness ... the choice of black-and-white, the deep shadows, the minimal highlights ... and most of all, the steady stare of the dog. it is this steady stare which - i believe - speaks greater volumes than the usual maudlin looks one sees in so many images of dogs in cones. and of course, the added element of the ball, which we are left to believe this poor dog is unable to grasp within his cone, only adds to the 'story' quality of this image. wonderfully seen and executed. ~ illona

Judges Comment
i've certainly seen my share of photos of dogs at the table, but this one still has its own quiet presence within that crowd of images. the almost monochromatic, minimalist surroundings, and the sweet, calm little dog with the quiet but intense stare. nicely done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you so much for picking my photography out of so much talent here. I started photograph shelter dogs to help the adoption turnaround and help our Florida shelters become no-kill. From passion saving a life this has became quite journey. I foster, rescue, and photograph for fun or for some amazing clients. I truly appreciate you have picked photo of my 13Y girl who has been my biggest inspiration and my personal muse. My name is Pavlina Sanborn this was shot in my home without additional light source, just ambient light. I shot with my camera 6D, Sigma 35mm, ISO 800 1/100 f/1.4
www.pavlinasanborn.com

Judges Comment
i commend this photographer for seeing the possibilities in what was probably a rather drab setting ... there is not a lot of magic in the light of this image or setting, but the lines and the starkness work to allow the subject to stand out in a scene where we might not typically expect to find a dog. nicely seen and executed. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you very much. The picture was taken in Central Park, New York, right after a rainstorm. The camera was an Olympus OM-D E-M5 with the 25mm Leica DG Summilux f1.4 lens. Shot wide open. I was surprised that the dog sat still long enough for me to get a reasonably sharp exposure. He was staring at a squirrel.

Judges Comment
this is an absolute topnotch image ... stunning light, beautiful subject, wonderful framing, and expert post. the light is pure magic, and calm intensity of the subject makes the viewer want to climb into the scene and run their fingers through the ruff of fur on this magnificent dog's neck. beautifully seen and managed. ~ illona

Judges Comment
the soft, warm tones and rich, varied textures within this image keep the viewer's eyes moving throughout, even though it's the striking black and white Dalmatian standing in the middle of the receding tracks that always ends up capturing our ultimate attention. very nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
the wonderful low angle with which this image is captured allows us to get a glimpse of that true collie intensity, even in a puppy. beautiful depth of field to highlight the subject, framed wonderfully with the almost sweeping trees, and lovely post work. nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
the light in this image is almost perfect -- the depth of shadows inside the barn and that glorious, wide shaft of light flowing in around the dog, catching the dust motes (or early snow flakes?) around him. i'm sure i'm not the only one wishing that big blue tractor hadn't been parked there ... but with animal photography, unlike people photos, there are rarely do-overs, and asking this lovely senior collie to wait while someone moved the tractor obviously is not an option. however, in cases like this, when a killer shot can be the result, i've been known to take the shot, THEN ask to move the tractor, reshoot without the dog and tractor, and fix in post. just a suggestion for future shooting; with the strong framing and separation of planes in this image, it would be relatively easy to accomplish. still, wonderfully seen and captured. ~ illona