A world class line-up of photography and canine experts has been announced for this year's Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year competition judging panel.
The Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year competition boasts the highest profile panel to date, with this year's guest judges including the Press Association's Group Picture Editor, Martin Keene; professional dog photographer, Samantha Clark; and competition sponsor, SmugMug's European Manager, Alastair Jolly.
Looking forward to discovering the unique talents required for the competition, the Press Association's Martin Keene said: "I expect the competition is going to be very strong. I can't wait to see great pictures of man's best friend - at work, at play, or curled up in their basket blissfully unaware of the camera."
Guest judges in the past have included noted photographers Tim Flach and Martin Usborne; The Photographers' Gallery's Janice McLaren; international artist and 2012 Grange Prize Winner, Jo Longhurst; VCCP, the award winning agency behind O2's Be More Dog campaign; and famous dog lover, Dame Jenni Murray.
The guest judges will be joined by the Kennel Club's own representatives, Rosemary Smart, Chief Executive and Chairman, Simon Luxmoore and his wife Pauline Luxmoore-Ball.
Rosemary Smart said: "Each year we receive fantastic entries from around the world. The talent and skill out there never ceases to amaze me, and I am delighted to be able to share the experience of judging this wonderful competition with such a prestigious judging panel."
Previous finalists have gone on to huge success, including international photographer Andy Biggar, who will be sponsoring prizes this year; Pawscars nominee Will Harris; and Dutch photographer Alice van Kempen, known around the world for her work with Bull Terriers.
This year's competition is sponsored by photo-sharing and image hosting service SmugMug. Representing the company on the judging panel, Alastair Jolly said: "At SmugMug we are passionate about two things: photography and dogs. We are therefore thrilled to be involved with this year's competition. With such a variety of categories to be entered, we cannot wait to see how photographers take this opportunity to share and express their own passion for dogs."
For more details or to enter the Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year competition, please visit www.dogphotographeroftheyear.org.uk. The deadline to enter is 5pm (UK time) on 30th March 2016.