Two small animal veterinarians who possess top-notch visual talent have won the British Veterinary Association’s annual photography contest.
Laura Caballero Pastor’s entry took first place in the One Veterinary Community category. Her photo, titled “One Shot, Two Lives,” showed a veterinarian and community members administering a rabies vaccination to a dog in Nepal.
Jennifer Dykes’ photo, “Conversations at Dawn (Sheep at Dawn Lakes),” caught two sheep in northwest England’s Lake District. She entered the “All Creatures Great and Small” category.
“The quality of this year’s images was fantastic, and it was great fun — but a tough task — selecting the winning entries, said one of the judges, BVA President Simon Doherty, BVMS, CertAqv, MRCVS. “I was pleased to see such a strong portfolio of entries alongside an incredible diversity of subjects.
“I hope it will inspire more BVA members to dust off their cameras, and go and capture some great images for next year.”
Dr. Caballero Pastor travelled to Nepal as a volunteer on a veterinary team.
“Receiving recognition for this picture enforces my belief in the responsibility that the veterinary sector has to promote animal health to global communities and society,” she said. “There is a thin line between humans and animals when we talk about diseases. Also, this photo encourages me to continue working on international projects and to be aware of all the amazing possibilities our profession has to offer.”
Dr. Dykes encountered the sheep during a misty morning.
“I dragged us all out of bed exceptionally early to try and capture the dawn,” she said. “The combination of the early light and the mist provided the perfect backdrop to the foreground scene; the sheep seemingly completely unfazed by the presence of a few bystanders. Capturing their normality, amidst such beautiful surroundings, was my intention when taking this photograph.”
The 2019 contest drew more than 400 entries from BVA members.
“Conversations at Dawn (Sheep at Dawn Lakes),” by Dr. Jennifer Dykes.