Hello Friends! I am very humbled and honored to announce that I have been the recipient of a rather competitive international dog photography award. I am extremely grateful to have won the Rescue category in the Dog Photographer of the Year competition.
I’d like to share with you the press release from The Kennel Club to fill you in on all the interesting and fun details. (There’s also a link at the bottom to view the adorable and heart warming images of all dogs in all the categories!):
HOLMDEL PHOTOGRAPHER WINS AWARD AND CHARITY PRIZE IN INTERNATIONAL DOG PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
The Kennel Club has announced the winners of its annual Dog Photographer of the Year competition. Now in its thirteenth year, the international competition received almost 10,000 entries from over 70 different countries around the globe, including China, Israel, Russia, Argentina and South Africa.
Sonya Kolb from Holmdel, New Jersey, has been selected as the winner of the competition’s ‘Rescue Dog’ category. This particular award within the competition comes with a £500 prize for the charity of the winner’s choice. Sonya has chosen to donate the money to Monmouth County SPCA, an animal welfare organization and shelter in New Jersey. Sonya has been taking wonderful photos for clients and rescue organizations for seven years.
“We are so grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of the donation. Sonya is a very gifted photographer and avid supporter of animal rescue and the Monmouth County SPCA. This award comes well-deserved!” – Ross Licitra, Executive Director Monmouth County SPCA
The lovely dog in the photograph is rescue dog Cooper from Middletown NJ, who is described as a loving member of the family and particularly protective of the young daughter. Cooper’s family adopted him after their first rescue dog tragically died before they had even brought him home.
Rosemary Smart, Kennel Club Chief Executive said: “The judges and I were thoroughly impressed by the quality of this year’s competition entries. Selecting only ten winning images from thousands of remarkable photographs was an incredibly hard task. All of the photographs entered portrayed dogs and their many wonderful characteristics beautifully. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists and well done to everyone who entered.”
All of the winning images plus the photos that placed second and third for each category will be on display at the Kennel Club in London from 16th July until 5th October. The exhibition is open to the public and free to visit by appointment. Anyone wishing to visit, should contact the Art Gallery office artgallery@thekennelclub.org.uk.
To view all the winning images visit: www.dogphotographeroftheyear.org.uk.
International Press Includes: Huffington Post, Country Living, The Guardian, MSN, Daily Mail, NY Post and Newsweek.
Says Sonya of this special photo session: “I can remember every second of this photo shoot as if it were yesterday. This image (shown above) reveals what is so important in life – our emotional connections with others. Dogs fulfill our deepest emotional needs, giving us so freely an abundance of love, comfort and joy. I love creating images that spread happiness and connect us heart to heart, hand to paw, with our most positive emotions. It’s an honor to photograph these dear creatures and it is sheer joy, each and every day, to share dogs’ emotions with their parents through my photography.”
For more information on having your dog photographed by internationally-acclaimed Good Doggy Photography you can get in touch with Sonya here