We've made it to the final challenge of Emerge, Shake!

Shaking off water is a distinctly animal thing to do, and also a behaviour that can look super cool when captured in a photo. Water droplets flying, drool strings extending from flapping lips, ears askew and rolling eyes - capturing a dog mid-shake is the ultimate in freezing a moment in time.

Our top 10 images for this 12th Emerge challenge are incredible, so congratulations to all our photographers.

We'll be back in a few days to show you all the overall winners of Emerge 2025! Until then, enjoy these fabulous shots.

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!

Bonnie Logen

The dog's pink tongue immediately grabs your attention and takes you directly to the dog's face and expression. Lovely colours in the background and the off-centre composition works well. The stick is great inclusion!

Camilla Johannessen | Hundefoto.nu

The spiral shape of the water flying out from the dog has been beautifully captured here, and that sharp eye gives the perfect focal point. The splashes stand out well against the background and the dropped ball is a great addition!

Connie Tamura

Such a unique angle for a shake shot and not something we've seen before, it's very successful! The water's edge line takes you through the image beautifully.

Dawn McBride | Fuzzy Love Photography

Such a great breed to photograph for this kind of shot - those ears and the loose skin do not disappoint! A very well-captured studio shot and the inclusion of the wet floor grounds the image perfectly.

Jill Blathwayt

The low angle and slightly wider view create an immersive experience, and the sharpness and clarity in the face immediately draw attention. Lovely splash of colour in the background and the inclusion of the stick is perfect.

Jordyn Bobo | Golden Atlas Photography

Great clarity in this image - those splashes of water stand out so well against the darker background. Love the foreground layers and that stream of water off the tail is perfection.

Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens | Jinterwas photography

This one blew our minds! The slow shutter speed has given this an unreal appearance, but that sharp eye in the centre is the perfect focal point to the mayhem of the water movement. Perfect colour harmony too!

Nikki Jennifer | Nikki Jennifer Photography

The weird and wacky eye in this shot presents a strangely intriguing focal point, with the droplets and strings of water nicely outlined against the black background. Great capture!

Shelly Cavallaro | Wherever the Nose Goes

Such a great storytelling moment, this is something many dog owners can relate to when their dog hits themselves in the face with the toy when shaking! The closed eyes bracing for impact are the icing on the cake, and the clarity of the water is fantastic.

Vera Faupel | @everythingpawssible

A very well-executed composite, the joins between the individual shots are seamless and present no barrier to flowing through the image to enjoy all the different positions of flying ears, and the toy. A pleasure to view!

Emerge is the intermediate 6-month interactive challenge-based dog photography course in our Unleashed Challenges series, focusing on helping you to expand your shooting shot list and learn valuable new skills.

Emerge is open to students who have previously completed the first course in the series, Embark.

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