We're halfway through Embark already, can you believe it! So for this challenge, it's time to do a little soul searching.

This style of shot can be a great way to introduce variety into a session, especially if you usually shoot from a very low angle. The high angle and the expression are sure to tug at the heartstrings, and people really relate to this view of their dog.

They see it every day when they look down at them. These images can feature just the dog's face filling the frame, or they can be framed wider to include more of the body.

This shot really plays on the whole "eyes are the windows to the soul" saying with the eyes being big, bright, and sharp, and a shallow depth of field turning everything else into a soft blur.

So without further ado, we give you the fantastic images that made it into the top 10 of the Soul Searcher challenge.

Well done to all the photographers.

Charlotte & Craig 🐶 📸 ✨

We provide video feedback on all images submitted for the challenge, and from there, we select our Top 20 and Top 10. Without further ado, here are the Top 10 images for this challenge!

Birgit Zimmermann | Birgit Zimmermann Fotografie

It's lovely seeing this light coloured dog and those sharp orange eyes seemingly peering from the darkness. The background makes the dog stand out. The texture and detail in the wire-haired face and that eye contact give the viewer a connection to this lovely Soul Searcher portrait.

Dana Gookin-Owens | Studio D Portrait Design, LLC ~ Boutique Pet Photography

What a joyful expression! Lovely and sharp where it should be and a lovely centred composition gives the image balance.

Emma Coulter | Rustie and co

A very sweet expression and a nice story with the dog holding the rose. The background is visually appealing without becoming distracting.

Karen Dickinson | @kd_pet_photography

This is a super engaging portrait with immediate connection to the subject. Nice even light on the face and a background with neutral tones that ties everything together.

Michelle Osborne | The Spotted Tongue Photography

This feels like the life work of this greying dog. All the toys that they've loved. Such a wonderful story, and it's been captured well, the face is sharp and detailed and the composition is strong.

Natalie Clennell

This is a great storytelling image filled with personality. The background pattern and angles feel dynamic and flow well with the angle of the slipper!

Sam Rowe | Sam Coral Photography

A wonderful expression, up close and centre really draws you in to this Soul Searcher, what more do you need?! It's simple and effective, doing exactly what this challenge requires.

Samantha Smillie

There's a lot of life in the feel of this image, the youthful face, the dynamic lines of grasses giving a feeling of movement and acting as leading lines towards the centre. The eyes are nice and sharp.

Terri Jacobson | Terri Jacobson Photography

The humour of this little needle nose, from above and with a wide-angle lens, gives this image a sense of humour and helps to engage the viewer in this dog's whimsical world!

Valerie Bavegems | @valerie_rusty_luka

Gorgeous colour palette here that really evokes emotion, which is carried through to the dog's pose and expression.

Embark is the foundation 6-month interactive challenge-based online dog photography course in our Unleashed Challenges series, focusing on helping you to learn new shooting skills and create more variety in your work.

Want to be the first to hear when Embark opens for enrolment each year? Register your interest here.