Dashing Dalmatian photograph wins The TOG Awards 2022

(Image credit: Sophia Hutchinson)

Warwickshire, UK based photographer Sophia Hutchinson has been awarded the title of International PhoTOGrapher of the Year 2022, after achieving one of the top scores in the annual TOG Awards photography competition.

Winning Hutchinson the competition and crown was a beautiful shot of her Dalmatian, Amber. This adorable woofer looks regal surrounded by faded foliage and a sky backdrop that matches her fur in the subtlest way.

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The TOG Awards is an international photography competition that is organized and administrated by That Photography Spot, a tool created to provide members with resources, online and in-person training courses and insider tips from multi-award-winning portrait photographer Jessica McGovern.

Judges of the competition comprise Sigma and Profoto Ambassador, Meg Loeks, multi-award winning wildlife photographer Tracey Lund, and competition founder McGovern herself.

With an extensive background in pet photography, lots of images submitted and selected as finalists featured animal subjects, but it's worth noting that the competition is welcoming to any and all forms of photography that fit into the three core categories of Natural Light, Artificial Light, and Fine Art.

The TOG Awards website states that there is no subject restriction for entries, and submissions can be of any subject, genre, niche and style. Simply, "We are looking for the best of photography."

The winning image, originally entered into the Natural Light category, was the only image that scored more than 85 points, achieving a unanimous score from the trio of judges, resulting in a strong average in the high 90s.

The grand prize consists of $500 (approximately £380 / AU$665) in cash, a 20×16 Competition Class printed product of the winner's choice from Digitalab, an engraved overall The TOG Awards Winners Trophy, along with a certificate and PR trimmings.

Category and sub-category winners also receive a winner's badge, trophy and certificate, with specific category PhoTOGraphers of the year receiving a 1 x 16 x 12 printed product of choice from Digitalab. Entries that receive a Merit status and score will receive a Merit Certificate and badge.

For more information on the TOG awards visit its website and be sure to check out the image galleries and results archive to see the fantastic and highly commended entries from this year's competition.

Beth kicked off her journalistic career as a staff writer here at Digital Camera World, but has since moved over to our sister site Creative Bloq, where she covers all things tech, gaming, photography, and 3D printing. With a degree in Music Journalism and a Master's degree in Photography, Beth knows a thing or two about cameras – and you'll most likely find her photographing local gigs under the alias Bethshootsbands. She also dabbles in cosplay photography, bringing comic book fantasies to life, and uses a Canon 5DS and Sony A7III as her go-to setup.