2023 International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards Showcase ‘Best Pet Portraits on the Planet’: PHOTOS

2023 International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards Showcase ‘Best Pet Portraits on the Planet’: PHOTOS
© Copyright 2023 Sabrina Theden
Anna Mason
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Man’s love affair with animal companions is laid bare in this year’s International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards.

The landmark competition attracted thousands of entries from 32 countries, with all manner of animals photographed by their adoring guardians.

Needless to say, however, the prize for the most entered animal went to dogs.

From leaping Alsatians, handsome huskies, and intrepid border collies to funny French bulldogs and graceful greyhounds, the unveiled images show our canine friends in all their varied glory. And whether dog, horse, or cat, all photos are an uplifting reminder of the way pets gleam with health and vitality when properly loved and cared for.

Winner, Documentary, An Di Prima. (© Copyright 2023 An Di Prima)
Winner, Documentary, An Di Prima. © Copyright 2023 An Di Prima
Winner, Creative,  Padraig Maguire. (© Copyright 2023 Padraig Maguire)
Winner, Creative,  Padraig Maguire. © Copyright 2023 Padraig Maguire
Finalist, Creative, Saskia Rosebrock. (© Copyright 2023 Saskia Rosebrock)
Finalist, Creative, Saskia Rosebrock. © Copyright 2023 Saskia Rosebrock
Finalist, Action, David Macias. (© Copyright 2023 David Macias)
Finalist, Action, David Macias. © Copyright 2023 David Macias

The stars of the competition, and their winning images, were revealed at a highly-anticipated ceremony in Las Vegas.

Prizes were handed to winners and finalists in five categories: Action, Creative, Documentary, Pets and People, and Portrait. Entrants submitted work into each category, scoring points for each image that were then tallied up to determine the overall finalists.

The overall winner of the 2023 awards was Sanna Sander, an experienced dog photographer from Sweden.

Winner, Action, Sanna Sander. (© Copyright 2023 Sanna Sander)
Winner, Action, Sanna Sander. © Copyright 2023 Sanna Sander
Winner, Portrait, Sanna Sander. (© Copyright 2023 Sanna Sander)
Winner, Portrait, Sanna Sander. © Copyright 2023 Sanna Sander
Winner, Portrait, Sanna Sander. (© Copyright 2023 Sanna Sander)
Winner, Portrait, Sanna Sander. © Copyright 2023 Sanna Sander

Former animal welfare worker Belinda Richards, from Australia, was named as an overall finalist for her humorous and creative portraits of both dogs and cats. Fellow finalist Renate Zuidema entered dream-like images of horses in her native country, the Netherlands.

Alicja Zmysłowska—who is accustomed to working with what she calls “wild souls”—Czechoslovakian wolfdogs, wolves, and American wolfdogs—was awarded for her breathtaking shots taken in dramatic natural locations in Poland. Ms. Zmysłowska was also the overall winner in the Pets and People category.

German animal lover Sabrina Theden scooped an overall finalist prize for her touching images depicting the unbreakable bond between dogs and humans.

Finalist, Portrait, Renate Zuidema. (© Copyright 2023 Renate Zuidema)
Finalist, Portrait, Renate Zuidema. © Copyright 2023 Renate Zuidema
Winner, Pets and People, Alicja Zmyslowska. (© Copyright 2023 Alicja Zmyslowska)
Winner, Pets and People, Alicja Zmyslowska. © Copyright 2023 Alicja Zmyslowska
Finalist, Portrait, Sabrina Theden. (© Copyright 2023 Sabrina Theden)
Finalist, Portrait, Sabrina Theden. © Copyright 2023 Sabrina Theden

An Di Prima, who comes from Scotland, won the top award in the Documentary category for her picture of a podenco dog being hugged by a rescuer.

Ms. Di Prima has fought to raise awareness of podencos, the most abused dog in Spain, for years. Her winning photo was taken at the Hope For Podencos rescue center. The photographer and animal activist watched the Las Vegas Awards live on Facebook from her hometown, Greenock.
“I started crying when they called out my name. It means so much,” she told the Greenock Telegraph. “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized among such a talented pool of international photographers.”
Check out some of the selected photos below:
Finalist, Creative, Belinda Richards. (© Copyright 2023 Belinda Richards)
Finalist, Creative, Belinda Richards. © Copyright 2023 Belinda Richards
Finalist, Pets and People, Udo Kraub. (© Copyright 2023 Udo Kraub)
Finalist, Pets and People, Udo Kraub. © Copyright 2023 Udo Kraub
Finalist, Action, Julia Hasselkuss. (© Copyright 2023 Julia Hasselkuss)
Finalist, Action, Julia Hasselkuss. © Copyright 2023 Julia Hasselkuss
Finalist, Action, Karin Bruhin. (© Copyright 2023 Karin Bruhin)
Finalist, Action, Karin Bruhin. © Copyright 2023 Karin Bruhin
Finalist, Action, Safoura Reza. (© Copyright 2023 Safoura Reza)
Finalist, Action, Safoura Reza. © Copyright 2023 Safoura Reza
Finalist, Portrait, Merlin Viir. (© Copyright 2023 Merlin Viir)
Finalist, Portrait, Merlin Viir. © Copyright 2023 Merlin Viir
Winner, Action, Sara Glawe. (© Copyright 2023 Sara Glawe)
Winner, Action, Sara Glawe. © Copyright 2023 Sara Glawe
Finalist, Portrait, Adam Coish. (© Copyright 2023 Adam Coish)
Finalist, Portrait, Adam Coish. © Copyright 2023 Adam Coish
Finalist, Action,  Andrea Wafler. (© Copyright 2023 Andrea Wafler)
Finalist, Action,  Andrea Wafler. © Copyright 2023 Andrea Wafler
Finalist, Documentary, Yannik Nagel. (© Copyright 2023 Yannik Nagel)
Finalist, Documentary, Yannik Nagel. © Copyright 2023 Yannik Nagel
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Anna Mason
Anna Mason
Author
Anna Mason is a writer based in England. She majored in literature and specializes in human interest, travel, lifestyle and content marketing. Anna enjoys storytelling, adventures, the Balearic sunshine and the Yorkshire rain.
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