Dog Photo Competition 4 2015 : Results

Judges Comment
this fabulous and mysterious image was an instant favorite. great post work and black-and-white conversion to increase the sense of intrigue. wonderfully managed conversion, with deep shadows and punches of highlight where needed, and the bold contrast adds to the drama. brilliantly done. congrats! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you for recognizing my work and rewarding me with the First Prize. I'm extremely grateful. My name is Alicja Zmysłowska and I'm a dog photographer from Poland. I took this picture this year, during my summer holidays at the beautiful polish seaside. This place captured my attention right away... I used Canon EOS-1D X and 35mm lens. In post-process I converted it to black&white, then added more contrast and clarity.
alicjazmyslowska.pl

Judges Comment
what a fabulously striking image ... the depth of shadows lead our eye right to this wolf's stare. wonderful use of shadows and light, great focus, and expert handling of black-and-white conversion. wonderful! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you for the Mark of Excellence on my second picture I posted in this competition, this is a great honour. I've been fascinated by Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs for a long time - they are very mysterious and austere creatures. They have this mesmerizing look in theirs eyes.. and It was what I wanted to capture. Working with this wolfdog was an amazing experience. I took this shot in Austria this summer, I used Canon EOS-1D X and 85mm lens. In post processing, after b&w conversion I added clarity and vignette.
alicjazmyslowska.pl

Judges Comment
this image was an instant fave. the wonderful textures from the old worn wood floor, the baseboard, the metal vent, and the hair of the dog keep our eye moving through the image to discover more with each viewing. great use of shadow and light to allow the subject to stand out, and the low angle makes us feel like we're right there in this calm, quiet setting. nicely done! ~ illona

Judges Comment
this image is an immediate favorite ... the simplicity of the setting draws our eye in to this wonderful little dog. beautiful depth of field and details, perfect framing, and the low angle makes us feel as though we are right there with this wet little dog. nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
this image is immediately captivating in its simplicity, bold shadows, and film-like quality. with its monotone treatment the viewer's eye wanders easily along the lines of light and across the details, from the dog's ears, whiskers, nails, and even the scratches on the concrete floor. nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
this is a fabulous image ... wonderfully framed with the dog in the lower corner and the receding lines of the tracks. the black and white conversion is nicely done, but i imagine this image would look great in either b&w or color. well done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you for the mark of excellence, I'm very humbled and honored. I am an amateur/hobby photographer in Massachusetts. This field in my town is called Half Mile Hill and is most beautiful in the spring when the grass is young and long. I was taking in the scene when I caught my dog doing the same, so I took some shots of her; I used my Fuji XT1 and Canon 135mm lens. I adjusted the horizon and composition in Photoshop and converted to black and white in Lightroom. Thank you for the kind words about it.

Judges Comment
what an absolutely dream and wonderful image. the starkness of the landscape allows this alert puppy to truly stand out in the snowy forest. minimal color draws the viewer's eye directly to the pup and gradually moving out to see the details like the frosted hair, the leaves, and then the ghost-like trees in the background. wonderful low angle as well. nicely done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thanks. Sony a7 and Pentax FA 31mm f1,8 limited.
atrejphotography.blogspot.sk/