Emerge 2026 Feedback Videos and Awards Replay
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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Framing is a powerful and unmistakable way to draw the viewerâs eye directly to your subject. It also opens the door to adding interest to your shot â think colour, texture, and a sense of place or story. From natural surroundings to urban elements, doorways to foliage, the ways you can frame a subject are practically endless.
We were seriously impressed by this first round of submissions â what a way to kick off Emerge! Youâve set the bar high for the next 11 challenges and we can't wait to see what you hit us with next!
Challenge Brief
Create an image using the compositional technique of framing to bring attention to your subject. You can use anything as a frame, and it can be in the foreground, middleground or background of the image. The subject should be placed clearly within the frame and the image should feel balanced.
Timecodes
01:04 Amanda Friedrick
02:43 Ave Paasuke
04:42 Bonnie Logen
06:42 Brad Wilser
08:34 Camilla Johannessen
11:22 Cherie Weir
14:28 Connie Tamura
15:43 Danny Dohrmann
18:07 Dawn McBride
20:29 Debbie Bass
22:37 Diana Welsh
25:11 Diane Schlichting
26:37 Erica Harvey
27:25 Heather Huffman
29:34 Jeanne VanGorder
31:39 Jill Blathwayt
32:29 Jill Monroe
34:22 Joanne Wetzel
36:08 Jordyn Bobo
34:48 Julie Hutchinson
41:41 Kate Maxwell
44:11 Kristy Wallis
46:08 Krystal Annetts
47:51 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
49:47 Lyn Nye
52:51 Marie Lister
54:59 Mark Hughes
56:13 Marquee Maylum
58:28 Myra Kemp
1:01:41 Nikki Jennifer
1:03:49 Pam Wendel
1:05:52 Ranmali Dinwoodie
1:08:28 Rita Garcia
1:11:14 Shelly Cavallaro
1:12:52 Sherry Glassman
1:15:17 Tobi Smith
1:17:00 Vera Faupel
1:19:02 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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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.
Challenge Brief
Create an image using negative space that enhances the story, mood, or visual appeal. The area of negative space should be visually pleasing, but not distract from or overpower the main subject.
Timecodes
00:43 Yvonne Van Lieshout
02:19 Vera Faupel
03:39 Valerie Howes
05:44 Tobi Smith
08:17 Sherry Glassman
11:04 Shelly Cavallaro
13:27 Rita Garcia
15:41 Ranmali Dinwoodie
18:37 Pam Wendel
20:16 Nikki Jennifer
22:55 Myra Kemp
25:09 Mark Hughes
28:44 Marie Lister
31:20 Lyn Nye
34:04 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
36:42 Krystal Annetts
38:21 Kristy Wallis
40:31 Kate Maxwell
43:01 Julie Hutchinson
44:14 Jordyn Bobo
45:39 Joanne Wetzel
47:48 Jill Monroe
49:02 Jill Blathwayt
51:14 Jeanne VanGorder
54:08 Heather Huffman
56:08 Erica Harvey
57:26 Diane Schlichting
59:51 Diana Welsh
1:02:55 Debbie Bass
1:04:53 Dawn McBride
1:08:20 Danny Dohrmann
1:10:20 Connie Tamura
1:13:20 Cherie Weir
1:16:58 Camilla Johannessen
1:18:08 Brad Wilser
1:21:37 Bonnie Logen
1:23:43 Ave Paasuke
1:25:10 Amanda Friedrick
1:27:14 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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For challenge number three of Emerge, we asked our challengers to create images using high key or low key techniques.
The use of high key and low key imagery is very common in the world of art and photography. Their popularity can probably be attributed to them being a relatively easy way to create a mood and elicit an emotional response from the viewer.
High key imagery tends to bring with it more positive emotions. Its bright, airy, clean look is a perfect way to convey joy and happiness.
On the other hand, low key images tend to have a more serious or dramatic mood and can even go as far as feeling dark and ominous.
Once more, we were not disappointed with the results, and the submission standard was extremely high.
Here as always, in no particular order, are our top 10 images for this challenge. Very well done to the photographers who created these fantastic images.
Charlotte & Craig đś đ¸ â¨
Challenge Brief
Create a colour image using either high or low key lighting, where the posing of the subject and editing choices support the emotion and mood of your chosen style.
Timecodes
01:02 Amanda Friedrick
02:05 Ave Paasuke
03:47 Bonnie Logen
05:49 Brad Wilser
06:55 Camilla Johannessen
08:38 Cherie Weir
09:37 Connie Tamura
11:50 Danny Dohrmann
13:39 Dawn McBride
17:06 Debbie Bass
19:41 Diana Welsh
22:25 Diane Schlichting
24:42 Erica Harvey
26:09 Heather Huffman
28:13 Jeanne VanGorder
30:14 Jill Blathwayt
31:28 Jill Monroe
33:42 Joanne Wetzel
36:51 Jordyn Bobo
38:28 Julie Hutchinson
40:46 Kate Maxwell
42:40 Kristy Wallis
44:35 Krystal Annetts
47:37 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
48:34 Lyn Nye
50:42 Marie Lister
52:45 Mark Hughes
55:29 Myra Kemp
56:59 Nikki Jennifer
59:24 Pam Wendel
1:01:45 Ranmali Dinwoodie
1:04:39 Shelly Cavallaro
1:07:33 Sherry Glassman
1:09:57 Tobi SmithÂ
1:11:52 Vera Faupel
1:14:09 Yvonne Van Lieshout
1:15:44 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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They say a home is just a house without a dog (or other pet). Those of us with pets know this very well. If you're reading this, we wouldn't mind betting you canât wait to get home for those joy-filled cuddles after a hard day at work.
We had such a high standard in the images submitted for this challenge. Lots of great storytelling and emotional impact.
These images are our top ten picks for this challenge. Well done to all the photographers for creating such fantastic images!
Challenge Brief
Photograph a pet in a home environment, or somewhere indoors. This can be an environmental portrait, a documentary style image or any other style, as long as the setting is clearly under cover.
Timecodes
00:45 Andre Thibodeau
02:26 Ave Paasuke
05:04 Bonnie Logen
07:04 Brad Wilser
08:51 Camilla Johannessen
10:12 Cherie Weir
13:07 Connie Tamura
15:58 Danny Dohrmann
19:08 Dawn McBride
21:11 Debbie Bass
23:50 Diana Welsh
25:55 Diane Schlichting
27:38 Erica Harvey
30:19 Heather Huffman
32:20 Jeanne VanGorder
35:01 Jill Blathwayt
38:29 Jill Monroe
40:59 Joanne Wetzel
42:58 Jordyn Bobo
44:42 Kate Maxwell
48:30 Kristy Wallis
50:46 Krystal Annetts
53:17 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
54:46 Lyn Nye
56:56 Marie Lister
59:49 Mark Hughes
1:02:05 Myra Kemp
1:05:39 Nikki Jennifer
1:07:35 Pam Wendel
1:11:17 Ranmali Dinwoodie
1:13:25 Shelly Cavallaro
1:15:19 Sherry Glassman
1:18:37 Tobi Smith
1:20:31 Valerie Howes
1:22:03 Vera Faupel
1:23:52 Yvonne Van Lieshout
1:25:44 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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Panning is the technique of following the motion of something as it moves from side to side across the scene in front of you. Using a super fast shutter speed will freeze the motion sharply, but can mean the image lacks interest.
Using a slower shutter speed when panning gives you the unique ability to be able to combine frozen motion, with blurred motion, in one shot.
For this challenge, we wanted to see images created using this technique and, wherever possible, to introduce some motion blur to the images.
We had an incredible set of submissions again for this challenge. We know it's not an easy one, in fact, we think it's probably the most difficult of all the challenges!
Challenge Brief
Capture the subject running side to side across the frame. The subject may be completely sharp, however we encourage you to experiment with shutter speed to create motion blur. If motion blur is present, the eyes should be sharp and the image should not be completely blurry.
Timecodes
00:57 Yvonne Van Lieshout
03:42 Vera Faupel
05:49 Valerie Howes
08:24 Tobi Smith
11:10 Sherry Glassman
12:17 Shelly Cavallaro
13:20 Ranmali Dinwoodie
15:52 Pam Wendel
17:37 Nikki Jennifer
19:12 Mark Hughes
21:16 Marie Lister
22:55 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
24:07 Krystal Annetts
25:23 Kristy Wallis
27:05 Kate Maxwell
28:44 Julie Hutchinson
30:57 Jordyn Bobo
32:10 Jill Monroe
34:14 Jill Blathwayt
36:40 Jeanne VanGorder
39:21 Heather Huffman
41:46 Erica Harvey
42:56 Diane Schlichting
45:05 Diana Welsh
47:24 Dawn McBride
49:06 Danny Dohrmann
50:38 Connie Tamura
52:33 Cherie Weir
55:27 Camilla Johannessen
57:24 Brad Wilser
1:00:58 Bonnie Logen
1:03:23 Ave Paasuke
1:06:07 Andre Thibodeau
1:07:46 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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Since our pets are such unique looking creatures, they will always have particular features that their owners love.
You must have heard people talk about their favourite bits of their dogs before. The weird, quirky or cute parts that make them unique. Including shots that show off those details in albums and storyboards lends more depth and meaning to your work and gives clients a beautiful reminder of what makes their dogs even more special.
We absolutely love this challenge and getting to see these unique traits of every animal. It was another seriously impressive set of submissions and narrowing down our top 10 was tough.
Challenge Brief
Photograph details up close. Tails, paws, ears, noses and eyes, patterns, textures and colour, any part of a pet that you or the owners love. Make a clear decision on what youâre capturing, focus precisely on that part and make it the star of the show.
Timecodes
01:13 Yvonne Van Lieshout
04:08 Vera Faupel
06:01 Valerie Howes
08:07 Tobi Smith
09:34 Sherry Glassman
11:54 Shelly Cavallaro
14:11 Ranmali Dinwoodie
15:37 Pam Wendel
17:30 Nikki Jennifer
18:47 Myra Kemp
20:41 Mark Hughes
22:19 Marie Lister
23:55 Lyn Nye
25:19 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
26:53 Krystal Annetts
29:24 Kristy Wallis
31:02 Kate Maxwell
32:58 Julie Hutchinson
34:39 Jordyn Bobo
36:33 Jill Monroe
37:31 Jill Blathwayt
39:13 Jeanne VanGorder
40:50 Heather Huffman
43:10 Erica Harvey
44:31 Diana Welsh
46:05 Debbie Bass
49:40 Dawn McBride
51:46 Connie Tamura
52:53 Cherie Weir
54:41 Camilla Johannessen
57:21 Brad Wilser
59:27 Bonnie Logen
1:02:25 Ave Paasuke
1:04:16 Amanda Friedrick
1:06:05 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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We're up to challenge number seven of Emerge, Silhouetto. It's another of our personal favourites and it seems we're not alone! You created some incredible silhouettes for this challenge and we loved going through them all.
Silhouettes eliminate textural detail and black out facial expressions, relying instead on the pose and body language of the dog to tell the story.
The simplicity of a silhouette helps the subject stand out as the feature of the image, but the lack of detail in the shadows also creates a sense of mystery, leaving the finer details to the viewer's imagination and allowing them to create their own story.
Challenge Brief
Create a silhouette, using posing to depict story or emotion. Ensure your subject is well-defined against a brighter background. The subject should be completely black, but if details in the location are present, they should be minimal and intentional in semi-silhouette style.
Timecodes
01:04 Amanda Friedrick
04:07 Ave Paasuke
06:21 Bonnie Logen
08:33 Brad Wilser
11:31 Camilla Johannessen
12:59 Cherie Weir
15:04 Connie Tamura
17:19 Danny Dohrmann
19:08 Dawn McBride
22:50 Diana Welsh
25:24 Diane Schlichting
28:01 Erica Harvey
29:52 Heather Huffman
32:34 Jeanne VanGorder
33:48 Jill Blathwayt
35:39 Jill Monroe
38:21 Jordyn Bobo
40:31 Julie Hutchinson
42:18 Kate Maxwell
43:55 Kristy Wallis
44:38 Krystal Annetts
45:46 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
47:40 Marie Lister
49:12 Mark Hughes
51:36 Nikki Jennifer
52:49 Ranmali Dinwoodie
54:44 Shelly Cavallaro
55:45 Sherry Glassman
57:29 Tobi Smith
59:09 Valerie Howes
1:00:56 Vera Faupel
1:02:25 Yvonne Van Lieshout
1:03:45 Top 10Â
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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This challenge was all about capturing slow movement of the subject, somewhere between action and portrait. We loved seeing the submission and so many creative interpretations of the brief. Congratulations to our top 10!
Challenge Brief
Create an image that captures the slow movement of your subject. Walking or a static body position with some movement within the pose is what weâre looking for. Any movement should be captured sharply and the image should feel more like a portrait than an action shot.
Timecodes
0:47 Yvonne Van Lieshout
3:52 Vera Faupel
7:22 Valerie Howes
8:38 Tobi Smith
10:14 Sherry Glassman
11:38 Shelly Cavallaro
13:48 Ranmali Dinwoodie
17:03 Nikki Jennifer
19:16 Myra Kemp
22:03 Mark Hughes
24:35 Marie Lister
26:35 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
28:08 Krystal Annetts
29:57 Kristy Wallis
31:23 Kate Maxwell
33:19 Julie Hutchinson
35:49 Jordyn Bobo
36:51 Jill Monroe
38:51 Jill Blathwayt
40:28 Jennifer Mckinnon
41:53 Jeanne VanGorder
44:07 Heather Huffman
46:31 Erica Harvey
47:42 Diane Schlichting
50:20 Diana Welsh
52:11 Debbie Bass
54:47 Dawn McBride
57:58 Connie Tamura
1:00:53 Cherie Weir
1:02:28 Camilla Johannessen
1:04:02 Brad Wilser
1:05:36 Bonnie Logen
1:07:44 Ave Paasuke
1:09:07 Amanda Friedrick
1:11:25 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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Capturing an image with a full reflection is so much fun to do. You can use a mirror image in so many ways that enhance an image and add a little touch of magic to them. They can add symmetry and balance to a composition and they can even be used to trick our eyes. Whether reflections are a sharp mirror image of their real life counterpart or a softer, ethereal representation that loosely resembles the shape and colour, reflections rock!
For the Mirror Image challenge, we wanted to see you go out and shot reflections and WOW, you did a fabulous job.
Challenge Brief
Create an image that includes a reflection of the subject. The reflection can be clear and sharply defined or more abstract, and should include more than just the legs or feet. The subjectâs face, head or full body should be part of the composition.
Timecodes
1:50 Ave Paasuke
3:36 Bonnie Logen
5:44 Camilla Johannessen
7:43 Cherie Weir
10:07 Connie Tamura
12:07 Danny Dohrmann
15:46 Dawn McBride
18:39 Debbie Bass
21:31 Diana Welsh
24:02 Diane Schlichting
27:43 Erica Harvey
30:52 Heather Huffman
34:00 Jeanne VanGorder
37:22 Jill Blathwayt
38:38 Jill Monroe
41:48 Jordyn Bobo
43:43 Julie Hutchinson
46:09 Kate Maxwell
48:49 Kristy Wallis
50:59 Krystal Annetts
53:07 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
54:33 Mark Hughes
56:46 Nikki Jennifer
58:07 Ranmali Dinwoodie
1:00:27 Shelly Cavallaro
1:04:17 Sherry Glassman
1:07:03 Tobi Smith
1:09:30 Vera Faupel
1:12:23 Yvonne Van Lieshout
1:16:32 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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Whatâs better than one dog? Two, of course! Dogs are social creatures and many dog owners have more than one, so at some point, pet photographers will need to have some tricks up their sleeves to help capture pairs of pooches posing perfectly (say that fast after a glass of wine or two!)
So for challenge number ten, we share our best techniques for capturing images of canine duos and send you off to create images with Double the Trouble!
Challenge Brief
Weâre looking for two pets captured in one portrait, with the eyes of both subjects perfectly sharp. Our preference is for you to capture the shot in-camera, though we will allow composite editing techniques if your subjects donât co-operate.Â
Timecodes
1:00 Yvonne Van Lieshout
2:26 Vera Faupel
4:38 Tobi Smith
6:43 Sherry Glassman
9:02 Shelly Cavallaro
10:56 Ranmali Dinwoodie
12:27 Nikki Jennifer
14:10 Mark Hughes
15:57 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
18:20 Krystal Annetts
20:09 Kristy Wallis
22:46 Kate Maxwell
24:09 Julie Hutchinson
26:16 Jordyn Bobo
27:28 Jill Monroe
29:36 Jill Blathwayt
31:28 Jennifer Mckinnon
33:26 Jeanne VanGorder
34:54 Heather Huffman
38:46 Erica Harvey
40:17 Diane Schlichting
43:53 Diana Welsh
45:51 Debbie Bass
47:43 Dawn McBride
49:33 Danny Dohrmann
52:18 Connie Tamura
54:30 Cherie Weir
56:34 Camilla Johannessen
57:56 Bonnie Logen
59:04 Ave Paasuke
1:00:27 Andre Thibodeau
1:02:23 Amanda Friedrick
1:03:55 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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How we love a background brimming with colourful, sparkly bokeh! These bubbles of light create a beautiful effect and add interest and life to a soft, out of focus background.
Bokeh stems from a Japanese word translating to âblurâ, and refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus or blurry area of a photo, often in the background, but also possible in the foreground. Out-of-focus pinpoints of light, or specular highlights in the background, create the most obvious bokeh, as they are converted into well-defined, bright circles of light.
This is the penultimate challenge in Emerge and we are here to celebrate all that delicious, sparkly light.
Challenge Brief
Create a well-lit pet photo with bokeh present in the out-of-focus areas of the image. The bokeh must be distinct and can be natural or artificial in origin.
Timecodes
0:56 Amanda Friedrick
2:18 Ave Paasuke
3:19 Bonnie Logen
4:16 Brad Wilser
6:29 Camilla Johannessen
8:00 Cherie Weir
9:51 Connie Tamura
11:32 Dawn McBride
13:19 Debbie Bass
15:23 Diana Welsh
16:40 Diane Schlichting
19:22 Erica Harvey
20:29 Jeanne VanGorder
23:06 Jennifer Mckinnon
24:47 Jill Blathwayt
26:54 Jill Monroe
29:19 Jordyn Bobo
30:13 Julie Hutchinson
32:28 Kate Maxwell
34:05 Kristy Wallis
35:20 Krystal Annetts
36:45 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
39:13 Marie Lister
41:04 Mark Hughes
43:38 Nikki Jennifer
44:51 Ranmali Dinwoodie
46:54 Shelly Cavallaro
48:54 Sherry Glassman
50:52 Tobi Smith
52:15 Vera Faupel
54:11 Yvonne Van Lieshout
55:50 Top 10
Disclaimer: This video has been transcribed using AI. Click [CC] to access subtitle options. Subtitles may not be 100% accurate.Â
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We've made it to the final challenge of Emerge, Shake! Congratulations to you all.
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.
See you at the Emerge Awards ceremony!
Challenge Brief
Capture a pet shaking off water, preferably directly from the front for maximum impact. All or at least some parts of the image should be sharp, and the image should be humorous or visually interesting with plenty of texture and a dynamic feel.Â
Timecodes
1:23 Yvonne Van Lieshout
3:21 Vera Faupel
5:47 Tobi Smith
7:20 Sherry Glassman
9:34 Shelly Cavallaro
11:25 Ranmali Dinwoodie
14:39 Nikki Jennifer
17:06 Mark Hughes
19:54 Marie Lister
21:44 Linda Van Oeffelen-Brosens
23:16 Krystal Annetts
25:05 Kristy Wallis
27:02 Kate Maxwell
29:25 Julie Hutchinson
31:51 Jordyn Bobo
35:03 Jill Monroe
37:00 Jill Blathwayt
39:06 Jeanne VanGorder
41:34 Heather Huffman
43:57 Erica Harvey
46:41 Diane Schlichting
48:39 Diana Welsh
51:10 Dawn McBride
53:05 Connie Tamura
55:38 Cherie Weir
58:34 Camilla Johannessen
1:00:27 Brad Wilser
1:02:48 Bonnie Logen
1:04:37 Ave Paasuke
1:08:33 Top 10
