Winter Launch: The unstoppable Aussie
A dog racing through the snow at full speed took first place in the action category in 2026! In this interview, Nika shares with us how lucky she was to have captured that wonderful light one winter evening, even though the photo shoot was supposed to be canceled.
How did you get into dog photography?
When my husband and I adopted our first dog 10 years ago, my husband bought a DSLR camera to capture our memories. Little did he know that it would soon become a passion of mine—one that has lasted ever since and has brought me many amazing opportunities, including the chance to start my own business four years ago.
Can you walk us through your creative process for your winning image « Winter Launch »?
To be honest, it was a fairly standard client shoot during which I got incredibly lucky. The location and the light created a magical atmosphere, and when you combine that with an incredible dog like Ori, the stars simply aligned – that’s probably the perfect way to describe it.The straight-out-of-camera shot was already very impactful, so my only job in editing was not to go too far with it.
The interesting thing is that I almost canceled that shoot because I was coming down with a cold and had a nasty headache. But we had just gotten some fresh snow, the weather forecast was perfect, and the client was willing to drive quite a distance, so I decided to try to survive it and, well… it was definitely worth it!
Throughout the process, what posed the greatest challenge for you?
Probably positioning myself and the dog in the best possible way once I saw the light creating this magical scene. It was my first time shooting winter photos at this location, and the light caught me by surprise. I knew I only had a handful of those perfect minutes, so I had to think and act fast. Oh and not to freeze!
How did you manage to get Ori to run so fast toward you?
Ori is a highly trained frisbee dog—he’s actually competing in the World Finals right now!—so he has a very reliable stay and a very skilled owner. His owner positioned Ori in a stay, then came behind me and held a frisbee directly above my camera. She gave him the cue to run toward us while keeping the frisbee there, which is what made him look straight into the camera as he was running. Once he got very close to me, she threw the frisbee away from us so he could safely follow it. I’m very grateful that she helped me create this shot while also making sure I stayed safe!
Lastly, can you give us a glimpse into any upcoming projects you’re currently working on?
Haha, mostly just trying to survive the rest of my pregnancy! 🙂 It’s my first time, and I’m quite nervous, so my photography projects are currently on hold for a few months. I’m actually okay with taking a little break, while also really looking forward to coming back with fresh ideas!
More about Nika: https://www.nika-photo.si/
