Professional Photographers of Canada 2026 National Image Competition

Now that the scores are official, I can finally share my images from the Professional Photographers of Canada 2026 National Image Competition! All five of my entries were accepted into the National Image Salon, with 4 receiving Merit scores (very good), and 3 are finalists for Best In Class!

A wolfdog passing behind a tree at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in Alberta.

Wolfdogs: In Between Worlds

This image wasn’t suitable to enter in the Wildlife class, but it didn’t fit in the Domestic Animal Portraits class, either …and I guess that’s the whole reason the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary exists.

These animals don’t really “belong” anywhere (except maybe the sanctuary). Too much wolf to be happy or safe house pets, too much dog to live in the wild. A perfect storm of irresponsible breeding without any regard for the life the animal will lead once the money is in the breeder’s pocket. When these dogs fail in pet homes, there are few options available for them, and they often end up being euthanized for behaviours that are only natural for them. The sanctuary does amazing work in caring for its permanent residents, who get to live in packs in large outdoor enclosures.

It was an amazing experience to visit and observe these animals, and see the similarities and differences between their behaviour and that of domestic dogs. Wolfdogs: Between Two Worlds is a hand-rendered, digital painting, based on a photo I took at the sanctuary while visiting Alberta a couple of years ago. The wolfdog, partially obscured by the tree, made me think of how they exist between two worlds, belonging in neither.

I ended up entering this image in the Fine Art Class, where it received a score of Merit.

Limited edition prints are available here.

Lady of the Lavender scored Merit in the PPOC National Image Competition, and is a finalist for Best in Class for Animals.

Lady of the Lavender

Chanel, the Italian greyhound, is always one of my favourite subjects, with her expressive eyes…and even more expressive ears! She makes me work to get those ears up, but I am always up for a challenge. I knew that Lavender at Ocean Breeze Farm would be a perfect location for a summer photo shoot with this pampered princess and her mom, and it did not disappoint.

Goofy, the golden retriever, waiting impatiently for someone to throw his ball on the beach at Cape Enrage, NB. This image scored Merit and is a finalist for the Terry Robertson Masters Award (open only to those who have achieved their Master of Photographic Arts designation) in the 2026 PPOC National Image Competition.

Throw It! Throw It! Throw It!

Goofy was giving some strong golden retriever vibes, as he willed me to stop messing around taking photos and just THROW THE BALL ALREADY!!! He was virtually indifferent to the spectacular Bay of Fundy sunset unfolding right behind him.

My photo of the Sawmill Creek Covered Bridge in Hopewell Hill, NB, under the Aurora Borealis scored Merit in the 2026 Professional Photographers of Canada National Image Competition, and is a finalist for Best In Class for Pictorial.

Bridge Across Time

During the incredible Aurora Borealis display in May of 2024, I took hundreds of photos and drove around all night looking for foreground elements that would elevate my images beyond just photos of the incredible sky.

It was after 3AM when I found myself at the Sawmill Creek Covered Bridge in Hopewell Hill, NB. At this point, my teeth were chattering and I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore, but still, I persisted. I light painted the bridge with a flashlight, cold and a little unnerved by the sounds of coyotes howling, echoing across the marsh.

Also, not gonna lie, I’ve always found covered bridges a little creepy since the Disney version of Legend of Sleepy Hollow, from my childhood. Anyone else traumatized by the Headless Horseman whipping that flaming jack-o'-lantern through the covered bridge at poor, nerdy Ichabod Crane?

I had trouble titling this image, tbh, because it was beautiful, but also more than a little eerie, in the moment, and I wanted to somehow convey that. Still not sure I got it just right, but it earned me a Merit score in the Pictorial/Scenic class, so I’m happy!

Limited edition prints are available here.

My image of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird was Accepted into the PPOC National Image Salon.

Emerald Dance

The pretty pink and purple lungwort are always one of the first flowers to bloom in my yard in the spring, and the ruby-throated hummingbirds love them. Especially the females, who drink their fill from the flowers, while the dumb boys fight over the feeders!

Limited edition prints of Emerald Dance are available here.

Together, these entries qualified me as a finalist for Photographic Artist of the Year, for the 7th year in a row!