A photographer has revealed how he tries to ‘catch a dog’s soul through their eyes’ with his incredible action-packed shots of leaping pooches.
Italian photographer Claudio Piccoli, 48, specialises in the action-packed shots and captures the animals as they leap into the air.
In one photograph, a small dog with its ears poking up is caught focusing as he hurls over a branch in woodland, while in another, a leaping dog appears just like a fluffy cloud.
Speaking about the extraordinary images, Claudio revealed: ‘With running, flying dogs, I want to catch their soul through their eyes. I want to show people what dogs can do with the right motivation.’
Photographer Claudio Piccoli, 48, specialises in the action-packed shots of dogs appearing to fly through the air and captures the animals as they leap and run, including Peppi the puli
The photographer aims to ‘capture the soul of the animals through their eyes’ in the incredible photographs of the action-packed pooches, including Leep and Chester both border collies
Dashing through the water! Another of the images shows an extraordinary snap of Splash the Australian Shepherd joyfully running through a muddy lake
In another of the images, the adorable Toby appears focused as he leaps into the air and over a large branch in his path while running
The identity of the thick-coated pooch – from a breed of herding dogs knows as Puli – is only betrayed by the two black eyes emerging from its flying fur.
In another photo a small dog with its ears poking up is caught focusing as he hurls over a branch in woodland.
Two border collie pals are also pictured making the leap of faith together.
Claudio first got into dog photography when he was a young boy and now he specialises in getting action-packed pictures of daring dogs.
You can teach old dogs new tricks! Another canine appears to fly into the air like a superhero as he jumps over an enormous branch on the path
Dashing through the snow! One incredible photograph shows a border collie named Fox rushing through a snowy scene with sheer delight in his piercing blue eyes
Tongues out! One border collie, called Peach, was captured by Claudio as he catapulted himself into the air during an energetic outing
Another elegant bordier collie, called Jungle, almost appeared to float as he ran through the woodland path in another extraordinary pictures
Claudio believes the photographs can convey the joy of being outside and how it is possible to have fun just from going for a run (pictured, Jake)
Claudio said: ‘With running/flying dogs, I want to catch their soul through their eyes.
‘I want to show people what dogs can do with the right motivation.
‘They can teach us how to live better photographing them and how it’s possible to have fun just with a run.
‘I think every dog is expressing its best in the photo and it seems it’s flying fast.’
The photographer said he hoped the incredible images could show how powerful dogs can be with the right motivation, and believes his pictures capture dogs ‘expressing their best’
Wild thing! In another picture one dog, an Australian kelpie called Banjo, appeared to hover as he dashed along a dense woodland path
Claudio revealed he often finds the first image taken of the dog while out on their run is the best, so is determined not to waste time when out on shoots
Claudio lives in Piverone, a small village in the North West of Italy near the mountains.
He takes pictures all around the world in several different countries including Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Belgium, UK, Israel and Finland.
He previously snapped canine pets flying through the air like superheroes catching frisbees.
He said: ‘It’s important to be prepared with settings on the camera and on the field so we don’t waste time with dogs since usually the first performances are the best!
In another photograph, Fai, a border collie, can be seen almost levitating above it’s owners as it makes a dash for freedom over two people
In order to capture the perfect photograph, Claudio believes the dogs must be perfectly positioned, while their fur must also float exactly the right spot
Every dog is different as they rush through the woodland scenes, with no two shots the same and they are not posed for or manipulated in any way
The photographer aims to get the most dynamic snaps of the animals as they run through the outdoor scenes, and often appear as if they’re floating in the incredible pictures
Each of the photographs is perfectly composed to capture the animal as they fly through the air, including Chester the border Collie
‘It all depends on how the owner throws the disc, how the dog jumps, flies, takes the disc and lands.
‘I ask for small variations in the throws or in the positions of both to get what I think is the maximum athletic expressiveness of the dog in the air..’
Mr Piccoli has four dogs of his own.
He added: ‘The photo is always born only and exclusively if the dog is in the correct position.
‘An incorrect position completely cancels the effectiveness of the action as well as an incorrect environmental contour.’