Empower is back for 2026! The third and final course in the Unleashed Challenges series. We're kicking things off with a composition-based challenge, Along the Lines.

Leading lines are a powerful compositional technique in photography. They are created by the inclusion of visual elements within a photograph that guide the viewer's eyes toward a specific point of interest, drawing attention to the main subject.

In Along the Lines we take students though the challenges of handling dogs, working with light and the location to create images with leading lines.

We had some fantastic submissions from our challengers, but here, in no particular order, are out top 10. Well done to all of 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!

Beatrix Szekelyi | Kutyafotózás Szabadtéren Szécsényi Beatrix

The warm dappled light gives this image a really lovely evening cony feeling. The sweeping lines leading in from the left right to the subject are right on brief for this challenge.

Carol Mudra | Apawture Studios

Disco dog! What a great personality, the dog is nicely lit and the glittery lines leading in from all directions are super dynamic, real groovy!

Gabriela Ciobanu | LightStories

Leading lines from the step guide us straight to the subject, who is beautifully posed. The space on the right is well balanced with the leading lines on the left.

Jackie Searies | Photos By Jackie.S

Excellent use of the buttress roots to lead us to the subject. The low key style gives the image some drama and those gorgeous eyes peer out and really connect the viewer to the subject.

Julie Cork | J Cork Photography

The lines of the mountain take you straight to the subject, who rewards us with that little blep of the tongue and the cute little snowflakes on the nose!

Juliette Bercovici | Juliette Bercovici

What a great interpretation of leading lines, the 'Z' shape and red lines take you straight to the subject and the line leading up from the ramp adds an extra element to the composition.

Liz Dranow | TimePunk Pet Photography

This is a bit of a rule-breaking composition, with the subject placed high to the right and facing out of the frame. But it works brilliantly with that strong line leading you into the fantastic posing and expression of the subject.

Melissa Mattingly | Duke Dog Photography

A classic use of leading lines that has been beautifully captured and edited. The layers and textures all lead to the subject and that gorgeous expression.

Rebecca Labs

Strong lines lead to the highlight of this image, the sleeping dog! There's a strong secondary compositional element of framing here too, which gives the image a dynamic feel without overpowering the leading lines.

Samantha Alter | Samantha Brown Photography

Fantastic leading lines, great use of colour, the red getting more intense as it gets closer to the subject also draws the eye in. The expression is also really engaging.

Empower is the advanced 6-month interactive challenge-based dog photography course in our Unleashed Challenges series, investing you with the power to refine your creativity and explore new horizons in dog photography.

Empower is open to students who have previously completed the first and second courses in the series, Embark and Emerge.

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