“Close”: an authentic moment captured
Behind this image lies a love story in which the light of a sunrise accompanies a simple, authentic moment. Sarah explains that perfection isn’t necessarily the goal—rather, it’s the emotion and the beauty of the connection between a dog and its human, captured with care.
Where does your passion for dog photography come from?
It all started with my dog Faye. I wanted to capture what made her so unique, not only her appearance, but especially her character and all the little things that made her who she was. Photography became something we could enjoy together while creating memories that would stay with us. Later, when Koda joined us, it became something for the three of us. Over time, I found my own way of photographing. What I love most are authentic moments, the special bond between dogs and their people, and that little bit of magic that light can create. Backlight in particular has become a big part of my photography.
Was this photo taken during a photoshoot, is it a self portrait, or simply a friend of yours?
“Close” is a self portrait of me and my dog Koda. It was taken at a place I used to visit every year with both of my dogs. This year was the first time I returned without my girl Faye, who passed away last year. It was such a peaceful and magical morning. Even though she wasn’t physically there with us anymore, she somehow felt very close. In my heart, she was there with us.
Throughout the process what posed the greatest challenge for you?
Self portraits are always a bit of a challenge because I’m the photographer and part of the image at the same time. I have to set up the composition and camera settings beforehand, while also creating a natural moment with Koda once I’m in the frame. Unlike during a regular photoshoot, I can’t spontaneously adjust the composition when something changes. Shooting directly into the sunrise adds another challenge, as the light changes incredibly quickly and the perfect moment can last only a few minutes. But that morning, there was such a sense of calm and magic that everything simply came together.
What does winning this award mean to you?
It means so much to me, especially because this image is so personal. It shows the closeness and bond between Koda and me, which is something I value much more than perfection in my photography. At the same time, this image holds the memory of that special morning and of Faye. Knowing that an image that means so much to me also connected with the judges makes this award even more special.
Lastly, can you give us a glimpse into any upcoming projects you’re currently working on?
I want to continue creating the kind of images I love most: authentic moments, the bond between dogs and their people, and the magic created by light. I especially love working with backlight and turning real moments into something that feels just a little bit magical. That is definitely something I want to explore even further in my future work.
