Featuring flying ears, long flapping tongues, and crazy eyes, action shots are hilarious and always front runners with dog lovers. A must include in any client image gallery!

Capturing animals in action would have to be one of the most demanding types of photography. They move erratically, they're relatively small, and they're different colours, shapes and sizes. And that's before you even consider the extra challenges you have in directing and influencing their movement. Once you have the know-how though it's all down to practice. And for these shots, you won't get many complaints about that from your doggy subjects!

We've loved looking through all the submissions for the Front Runner challenge, the 8th in our Embark course.

We're very happy to share our top 10 images, in no particular order. Congratulations to the photographers.

- Craig & Charlotte 📸 🐶 ✨

Anthea Proudfoot | Malone Photography Australia

What a dynamic moment really elevated (literally) by the photographer getting down so low to the ground giving the dog extra height in its run! Soft even light on the face allow us to connect to the subject.

Ashley Sherrow | Assorted Poppies Photo LLC

Gorgeous harmony between the dog and the environment, the moment is well caught and the dogs expression is great!

Claire Penno | Flagstaff Photography

May we present a wriggler, not a runner! Sometimes when dogs can't control their joy, they get super wriggly, and try running and this is one of those dogs! Well captured, tons of humour, lovely subtle colour palette.

Gaetane Marchand | Gaétane Lf Photographie

The darkness of this Front Runner is great, the moment is well timed at the peak of the dogs stride with all 4 paws off the ground. The eye contact gives a sense of how focussed the dog is.

Jill Blathwayt

This is one crazy dog to go and get THAT wet in pursuit of the best stick! Fantastic timing, great point in the stride, lovely soft colours and it's beautifully sharp.

Kaori Stewart | Kaori Stewart Photography

The backlit dog really stands out against the scene. Fantastic eye contact and a really great point in the action.

Melissa Mattingly

What a wonderful narrative. You can see the relationship between the dog and person. Even though you can't see their face, you can feel their connection. 

Polona Železnikar

This is another fantastic action shot with the dog coming directly towards the camera. Exactly what we want to see in the Front Runner challenge. The light is gorgeous, there is so much texture in the fur and the point in the stride is great.

Samantha Brown | Samantha Brown Photography

Double the fun happening here, and they both have their favourite ball! This is a really fun shot, well captured and edited. The front paws are at the same point in the stride which is a lovely little detail that adds harmony between these best buddies!

Szekelyi Beatrix

This colour harmony is sublime and it really makes you feel the warmth running through this image. The dogs direct gaze is wonderful and the mirrored shape of tongue and ear really take this image to the next level!

Are you ready to transform your pet photography in just 6 months?

The Unleashed Challenges are a series of 3 interactive challenge based courses, Embark, Emerge and Empower. Each one with 12 challenges running over 6 months. 

Much more than just a challenge, Then Unleashed challenges are an invaluable educational resource that will help you build up a go-to list of shots to help create variety in your work. Designed for anyone to be able to complete whether you just want to photograph your own dog or you are a professional pet photographer.

If you'd like to know more, head over here to register your interest.