Does this pitbull look “dangerous” to you? “No” says 2026 International Dog Photographer of the Year
Katie Brockman was this year’s overall Dog Photography Awards winner with a thought-provoking shot of her pitbull, Caldwell, questioning the “dangerous” narrative that often defines this breed
Katie Brockman, a US-based pet photographer, has been named the 2026 International Dog Photographer of the Year. The competition saw over 1,900 entries from 50 countries, with Brockman winning in the Studio category as well as the overall competition. Her winning photograph features her pitbull, Caldwell, wearing a collar and chain that represent the breed's bans and restrictions.
Brockman adopted Caldwell from a rescue center after three years, and she believes it's essential to highlight the "injustices" faced by bully breeds like his. She uses newspaper clippings in her work to convey society's mixed feelings towards pitbulls, showing the breed's "caught in the middle" status between critics and advocates.
While Brockman acknowledges that the path towards equal treatment for pitbulls is long, she remains optimistic. The 2026 Dog Photography Awards also featured stunning images of dogs in action, captured by Slovenian photographer Nika Kuplenk Golobič, and a touching self-portrait of a Swiss photographer with her late dog, by Sarah Ebner.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
