Valentine’s Day: Photographers capture ‘essence of love’ between parents, children and animals

Almost 12,000 photographers send photos to #Love2020 competition

(Agora / SWNS.com)

A global photography competition has challenged people to capture the “essence of love” in a single image ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Almost 12,000 people submitted entries to the #Love2020 contest, which is organised by mobile app Agora.

The prompt was to show what love means to them.

Now, 50 finalists have been chosen, and the shortlist features a range of photographs of couples, animals and children sharing adorable and intimate moments.

One of the most striking snaps features two Australian shepherd dogs hugging one another in a wooded area in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Photographer @Mondscheinfotografie said the two pets simply embraced right in front of them.

“My two Australian shepherds happily struck the pose for me!” they said. “These two are best friends who always go paw-in-paw.”

Another image features a mother holding her child under a blanket in the middle of a rainstorm on Samosir Island, North Sumatera, Indonesia.

”It started raining as I was heading home,” said photographer @jayeshvijuda. “At that moment I spotted a mother and her child trying to stay dry under a plastic blanket. They warmed my heart!”

The #Love2020 competition is now open to public voting. The winner will receive a cash prize of $25,000 (£19,100).

The winner will be revealed on 18 February.