The International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards is an annual celebration of the artistry and skill of professional and emerging pet photographers from all around the globe by The Pet Photographers Club which began as a podcast in 2018.
This year, more than 2,500 pet portraits were submitted by pet photographers located in 52 countries.
The top 100 shortlisted images were released first, followed by the Top 25, then the category winners and now, the overall International Pet Photographer of the Year chosen by the prestigious judges, Cat Race of CatsDog Photography, Alice Loder of Alice Loder Photography, Craig Turner-Bullock of Furtography, Caitlin McColl of Ragamuffin Pet Photography and last years winner, Sara Glawe of Arts with Heart Photography is Veronika Šandorová from Slovakia.
The four main categories within The International Pet Photography Awards were
PORTRAIT: From the studio to outdoors, single pets to group photos, intimate closeups to wide environmental portraits. Photos in this category strive to capture the essence of the animal photographed.
ACTION: Running, jumping, swimming, playing - capturing movement is an important part of any pet photographer's job. This category is for pets in action.
PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE: The relationship between pets and their people is so beautiful -- a unique bond that deserves to be celebrated.
OPEN CATEGORY: The open category celebrates creativity and everything photograph can be, including (but not limited to) composites, conceptual themes and digital manipulation
Let us take a look at the amazing pet photographs by the winners
Please click on the images for a better look.
2021 OVERALL WINNER
INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL PET PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Veronika Šandorová, SLOVAKIA
Photo by Veronika Šandorová/The International Pet Photography Awards
Veronika lives and breathes for dogs, adventure and photography.
Her passion for dog photography started with her first dog, Nabu. She says "I quickly realized that I need lots of dogs around me and also I need to cuddle with every dog I meet."
Photo by Veronika Šandorová/The International Pet Photography Awards
She made that happen three years ago when she became a professional dog photographer, right after her most recent dog joined her family, Jada.
Photo by Veronika Šandorová/The International Pet Photography Awards
Her goal is to capture the uniqueness of each dog and transfer our love for them into photos.
Photo by Veronika Šandorová/The International Pet Photography Awards
The 4 images above were the winning entries by Veronika Šandorová
EMERGING PET PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
GINA SOULE, USA
Here are Gina's entries
Gina works in orthopedic surgery as a physician assistant and offers pet photography on the side.
Photo by Gina Soule/The International Pet Photography Awards
She says "I like to bring the same attention to detail I bring in the operating room, to my photography, ensuring that I capture and create special memories for my clients to have to cherish for a life time!"
Photo by Gina Soule/The International Pet Photography Awards
Gina also loves capturing, The relations ship of families with their pets
Photo by Gina Soule/The International Pet Photography Awards
The 4 images above were the winning entries by Gina Soule
Apart from the two top awards Here are the winning entries of the other categories
2021 PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR
Photo by JACKIE EKE, ENGLAND
2021 ACTION PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR
Photo by TRAVIS PATENAUDE, USA
Travis' entry also got selected in the JUDGES CHOICE Category by Judge Alice Loder
2021 PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR
Photo by KIRSTY ANTUNOVICH, NEW ZEALAND
Kirsty's entry also got selected in the JUDGES CHOICE Category by Judge Caitlin J. Mccoll
2021 OPEN PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR
Photo by ESTHER RYBCZYNSKI, GERMANY
2021 MEMBERS' CHOICE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR
Photo by NIKOL KOPPOVA, CZECH REPUBLIC
Each of the 5 judges too had their own favourites, Here they are
JUDGES CHOICE: CRAIG TURNER-BULLOCK
Photo by DANIELA HOFMEISTER, AUSTRIA
JUDGES CHOICE: SARA GLAWE
Photo by STÉPHANIE BARRACO, FRANCE
JUDGES CHOICE: CAT RACE
Photo by BRIDGET DAVEY, ENGLAND
Republished as a photo feature with permission from The International Pet Photography Awards and The Pet Photographers Club
Photographs curated by Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
