Mabel did it again! We placed in the Top 10 for the third challenge in Unleashed Education’s Embark Challenge. I am just over the moon with my results so far. This round was all about Composition 101. A perfectly centered subject and an image that feels balanced… and just enough pressure to make me question all my life choices.

With this challenge, I wanted to do something clean and striking. So naturally, I gave myself the ultimate headache: the courthouse. A beautiful, symmetrical building that only works if you nail the composition perfectly. No pressure, right?

To make things extra fun, I was running short on time and a storm was rolling in. Thankfully, Aunt Toni was back as my assistant (because clearly Mabel and I can't be trusted unsupervised). She held the leash and helped keep spirits high while I frantically adjusted lines and tried to beat the storm. Oh and as usual my friend "the wind" showed his annoying face.

Mabel, bless her, did her best. But let’s be real—posing dead-center on stairs while pretending to be a perfect statue? Not really her thing. I may or may not have done a little “creative reality bending” in post… because while Mabel is talented, she is not that symmetrical. 😂

Still, we pulled it off. Barely. And despite the chaos (or maybe because of it), the final image placed Top 10 out of more than 100 entries. The judges even thought I mirrored the image since it was so symmetrical. I’ll take that win and pretend I didn’t spend an hour liquifying a dog into geometric compliance.

These challenges are stretching me in the best way. They're pushing me to be intentional, to think more critically about how I shoot, and to capture not just a pretty picture, but a real moment—even if that moment involves wind, panic, and a dog who just wants to go chase birds.

Three challenges down, nine to go. And each one brings me closer to my goal: creating unforgettable, meaningful experiences for you and your pets—whether that's in the middle of the woods, beside a mountain lake, or (apparently) on the courthouse steps.

And if you're curious about all the winning entries, the official challenge results are posted here:
👉 https://www.unleashed.education/blog/embark-2025-composition-101-top-10

Ready for your own pet adventure session—chaos, treats, wind, and all? Let’s go make something beautiful together.

—Erica (and Mabel, who now demands symmetry in her contract)