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  • Katie Brockman won the overall award for a symbolic image of a pitbull named Caldwell that critiques breed-specific legislation and public perception.
  • Winners across six categories explored themes ranging from athletic performance in snowy landscapes to emotional self-portraits honoring deceased pets.
  • The competition, founded in 2021, continues to attract global participation, with jurors selecting top images based on technical skill and narrative depth.

The 2026 Dog Photography Awards have announced their winners, marking the sixth iteration of a contest that has grown to include nearly 2,000 submissions from photographers in 50 nations. The event, which began in 2021, aims to celebrate the artistic intersection of canine subjects and photographic craft. A professional jury evaluated entries across six distinct categories: studio, action, documentary, dogs and people, outdoor portrait, and an open category designed for experimental techniques. The competition’s structure allows for a wide range of visual storytelling, from controlled studio environments to candid documentation of shelter life.

The top overall prize, which includes a monetary award of approximately $800, a trophy, and feature placement in the annual awards book, was awarded to Katie Brockman. Based in St. Louis, Brockman is known for her work in pet portraiture. Her winning image, titled Loved and Hated, features Caldwell, a pitbull, wearing a crown made of newspaper clippings and a collar adorned with headlines about his breed. The composition visually represents the tension between societal restrictions on certain dog breeds and the advocacy efforts that support them. Brockman explained that the chain pulling the dog in one direction symbolizes bans and punitive measures, while the human hand pulling in the other represents love and support.

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Brockman’s connection to Caldwell is personal as well as professional. She had been volunteering as a dog walker at the shelter where Caldwell was housed when he was two years old. Although she wished to adopt him, her apartment building prohibited 'bully breeds.' Consequently, Brockman purchased a house specifically to remove this barrier and bring Caldwell home. The photograph serves not only as an artistic statement but also as a reflection of the real-world challenges faced by owners and advocates working against breed-specific stigma. The image seeks to challenge the historical narrative that labels pitbulls as inherently dangerous, a misconception that Brockman notes has made it difficult for these dogs to find permanent homes.

In the action category, Nika Kuplenk Golobič secured first place with a dynamic shot of Ori, an Australian Shepherd competing at the world-championship level in frisbee events. The photograph captures the dog mid-stride, eyes locked on the camera, against a bright, snowy backdrop. Achieving this perspective required careful coordination between the photographer and the dog’s owner. Golobič positioned herself low to the ground while the owner held the frisbee above the lens, creating an eye-level angle that emphasized the intensity of the chase. The owner then threw the disc away from the camera, allowing Ori to pursue it safely while maintaining the dramatic composition.

The dogs and people category winner, titled Close, was created by Sarah Ebner as an emotional self-portrait with her pet Koda. The image was taken during a sunrise at a location the pair visits annually. For Ebner, the photograph holds deeper significance because it marks their first trip together after the loss of her previous dog, Faye, who passed away the prior year. Faye had been a major inspiration for Ebner’s entry into dog photography. Although Faye is not physically present in the frame, Ebner described feeling her presence during the shoot, noting that the morning felt peaceful and magical despite the absence.

Elena Marchi took first place in the outdoor portrait category with an image titled Beyond the Track. The photograph features a galgo, or Spanish greyhound, standing amidst the urban landscape of London. Marchi noted that the elegance and soulful quality of the breed contrast effectively with the city’s architectural lines. She described the dogs as appearing almost sculptural within the metropolitan setting, highlighting how their physical forms interact with grander structures. This category is traditionally the most popular among participants, reflecting a strong interest in placing animals within broader environmental contexts.

Zhang Tianhang won first prize in the documentary category with a piece titled Waiting. The work stems from Zhang’s broader project to document conditions and emotions within dog shelters globally. He described the challenge of capturing suitable images in cluttered shelter environments, which require constant adjustments to angle, composition, and lighting. The award recognizes the effort to bring attention to the lived experiences of dogs in care facilities, offering a glimpse into spaces that are often overlooked by the general public.

The 2026 awards continue to demonstrate the diversity of approaches within canine photography. From the symbolic commentary on breed discrimination to the technical precision of action shots and the intimate portrayal of grief and companionship, the winning images reflect a wide spectrum of human-animal relationships. The competition remains a platform for photographers to explore both the aesthetic qualities of dogs and the social issues surrounding their treatment. As the sixth year of the awards concludes, the selected works underscore the enduring appeal of using photography to examine the bonds between humans and their animal companions.

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  • Smithsonian Magazine↗See the Impressive Winning Images of Adorable, Somber and Commanding Canines From the 2026 Dog Photography Awards