The negative space in an image can help to emphasise and balance the main subject, giving the subject room to breathe and preventing the image from feeling cluttered.

We had another seriously good set of submissions for this challenge, so well done to everyone and especially those who made the top 10.

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!

Ave Paasuke | Coastal Tails

The negative space here also leads towards the subject, who is also framed really nicely. So several elements of composition are used here, all in harmony.

Camilla Johannessen | Hundefoto.nu

What a gorgeous colour palette! The negative space somehow manages to increase the intensity of the dogs stalking pose.

Dawn McBride | Fuzzy Love Photography

What a unique take on this challenge brief. The sphynx peering out from the shadows of the open zipper is intense, yet quirky and with a little humour, showcasing the personality of the cat well.

Erica Harvey | Erica Lane Photography

Talk about impact! This is all about that fantastic pose and expression and the colour and texture in the fur only add to that. The negative space is well thought out, a sharper reflection would have overpowered it. But the abstract and indistinct holds some mystery.

Jill Blathwayt

There's a great sense of movement here, in those windswept ears especially. The colours work nicely with the subject and the negative space is well placed.

Jordyn Bobo | Golden Atlas Photography

Everything about this utterly drenched dog is fantastic, the expression, not just in the face, but the entire body is joyful. The negative space is used well in the direction the dog and board are moving in to.

Kate Maxwell | Kate Maxwell Photography

Great posing, this kind of light can be challenging to work with and here it has been done masterfully. The cloud leads the eye into the negative space nicely.

Krystal Annetts

There's a sense of longing and mystery in this image that is quite captivating. The moody sky and cool tones enhance that feeling perfectly and, most importantly, so does the negative space.

Sherry Glassman | Sherry Glassman

This is a beautifully posed portrait with the dog up front and centre. The negative space is perfectly balanced.

Vera Faupel | @everythingpawssible

The shallow depth of field gives this image a dreamlike quality, the dog looking out into the distance gives the perfect opportunity for some well-placed negative space.

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.