🎯 Perfectly Centered: My Take on the Composition 101 Challenge
This round’s challenge was all about nailing a simple but tricky concept: placing your subject smack-dab in the center of the frame so the whole image feels balanced and harmonious. Sounds easy, right? Let’s just say… not always! 😉
Once you start seeing the world through a “perfectly centered” lens, every door, bridge, and path starts whispering, “This could be the one!” 🚪✨
🧡 Shoot Two: Lexie, My Regal Aussie
Next, I brought my girl Lexie (with my ever-patient husband in tow) to a favorite park in Lynn Haven. Lexie has the most gorgeous, Sphinx-like “down” pose, and I was determined to capture it. There’s a little bridge there that I thought would create perfect leading lines to draw your eye right to her sweet expression.
Here’s how it turned out:
Mission accomplished on the pose — just look at that little smile! The bridge did its job as a visual guide… but oh, that background. It was all fences, buildings, lights, and people doing their thing. I did my best in post-processing to calm it down behind her, but sometimes a background just wants to party. 🎉
✨ Shoot Three: Meet Oswald!
Finally, Hailey (you might remember Porsche the Poodle from my Colourrific challenge!) brought the newest family member to Panama City — meet Oswald! 🧡 He’s adorable, mischievous, and absolutely does not have a poker face. His feelings about staying still, sitting, or doing anything that didn’t involve exploring were written plainly on that fluffy face. Naturally, one of my favorites was this portrait of him about to leap straight toward me:
Oswald, Rocking His Bowtie Like a Pro!
How cute is that little bowtie?!
In the end, Lexie’s shot felt the most true to the brief — centered, balanced, and with a touch of her signature Aussie sweetness. The judges agreed: we made the shortlist! Lexie’s photo landed in the Top 27 (out of about 80). “Top 27” isn’t technically a thing… but hey, I’m counting it! 🥳
I’m absolutely loving this journey — trying new ideas, hunting for the right spots, and seeing how other amazing pet photographers from around the world bring each challenge to life. My absolute favorite this round? This dreamy shot by Sherry Glassman — check it out here. That symmetry, that pose, and can we talk about that hair?! Is it weird that I’m jealous of a dog’s hair? 😂
Be sure to take a peek at the Top 10 images — they’re all so inspiring. Big congrats to everyone who placed! Onward to the next one… who knows what doors (or bridges!) we’ll find next. 🐶🚪✨
