John Ashbey: Fifty Years in Focus

For 150 years, photography has been richly intertwined with The Westminster Kennel Club’s history, shaping the organization’s very beginnings and continuing to capture its legacy today. From news coverage to spectator snapshots to win photo archives, photographs offer the most accurate accounts of Westminster’s annual show and its canine competitors. This link between Westminster and photography even includes the historical creation of its famed “Sensation” emblem. In 1876, when the then Westminster Club inquired to England in search of a Pointer to bring back to the United States, the club received a photograph of a dog named “Don,” later imported under the name “Sensation.” From that photograph, a 150-year legacy was born. For the century and a half since, the story of Westminster has continued to be told through the lens. Yet, few realize that an official photographer has long been an essential part of this tradition, and that for the past 50 years, this role has been filled by legendary dog show photographer John Ashbey.

Photography can be a fickle, often finicky art form. It requires immense focus, intent, and vision to capture such treasured moments. But when the subject is canine, and the handler, judge, and ribbon must all exude a composed sense of pride, the challenge grows exponentially. Throughout his tenure as Westminster’s official photographer, John Ashbey has navigated this challenge deftly, capturing countless treasured moments with nuance, freezing them in time, and cementing them in history, much like himself.

John Ashbey has long been a pioneer in the world of show photography. His tenure as Westminster’s official photographer began in 1976, the year he captured the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in color for the very first time. In an era of darkroom development, and after decades of black and white captures, a new life pulsed through these photos. Like never before, the color of the dogs’ coats gleamed, the famed purple and gold rosettes were radiant, and the fashions of each judge and handler were fully realized. It was a revolution, transforming how the show would be remembered, and it unlocked a new depth of memory that now allows us to look back at half a century of Westminster in vivid color.

The Photo

John Ashbey’s five decades of photography at Westminster have been defined by his profound knowledge of dogs and their structure. For John, a proper win photograph is all about balance, prioritizing flexibility with the camera angle to bring out the best in the dog, while remaining mindful of the breed’s standard. Early in his career, he explained, “You have to take a picture of the breed standard in your mind and put it on the dog to capture the best angle and make them look like the Best of Breed winner of the day.” That philosophy guides his every shot, even today. He employs this skilled understanding to direct each photo, asking the handler to move a foot, change the angle of the dog, or lift the head higher. He may reposition the judge, ribbon, or handler as well, all while managing the lighting and navigating the bustling atmosphere of Westminster. The final step in his process is drawing out the dog’s breed-specific expression, which is often achieved by a practiced toss of a carrot toy or a well-timed treat. At that moment, the photo is taken, and a once-in-a-lifetime win is eternalized. This deep grasp of canine conformation and its nuance has become the defining hallmark of an Ashbey photo.

Since the beginning, little has changed. Ashbey still spends nearly every weekend at local shows, photographing everything from Best in Show to a puppy’s first points to a veteran’s emotional return to the ring. He captures each moment diligently, now frequently assisted by his daughter Andrea in his work. Together, they make a formidable team and have continued to adapt to the modernization of photography, including digitization. Nevertheless, John remains an institution. As he has for decades, John is most often seen in his signature khaki vest, trusted carrot squeakers tucked in his pocket, camera always within reach.

The Legacy

While Ashbey’s photos are cherished by the exhibitors they capture, they also represent half a century of Westminster Kennel Club history. They fill archives, history books, and articles. They are studied when researching pedigrees, revisiting historical powerhouses, or reflecting on great judges and handlers who shaped the past. His images offer what no story or written critique ever could: an opportunity to view a great dog frozen in time, exactly as it appeared on the day of its accomplishment. This collection of captured moments is one of the most accurate ways to view these great dogs of the past, unretouched and expertly immortalized, forming one of the most authentic and complete visual records of Westminster history.

Beyond a photographer, John Ashbey has become an institution of the show. When asked about his fifty-year tenure as The Westminster Kennel Club’s official photographer, he said, “It is a privilege I feel honored to have had all these years!” For the fanciers, the privilege is in having their photo taken by someone described as “a legend,” “a true icon,” and “in a class all by himself.” His enduring presence and remarkable collection of photographs speak for themselves. Those of us at The Westminster Kennel Club couldn’t agree more and are proud to celebrate such a historied pillar of our sport as we approach our sesquicentennial show.