( CNN ) Every year , animal handlers travel throughout England and Wales to compete at agricultural shows . Jooney Woodward 's `` Best in Show '' is a documentation of those competitions , with photos that place a spotlight on the handlers and their animals . `` When you go to ( the shows ) , they tend to be all about the animals -- people photographing the animals , '' Woodward said . `` I just wanted to turn my attention onto the people because they 're so committed to what they do . They 're really devoted and hardworking . '' While those involved with the competitions are the focus of many press photographers , Woodward 's work stands out for its distinctive portraiture style . `` My work is a bit more composed . I use a medium-format camera and a tripod , so it is a bit more static in a way , '' she said . `` I think everybody is so proud of their animals that when I said to them that , ' I 'd love a portrait of you and your cow , ' everyone was more than willing to give up their time and help because they 're so passionate about what they do . '' The `` Best in Show '' portraits lead viewers down a winding pathway to ponder those inexplicable yet noticeable connections and bonds that exist between the handlers and their animals . Woodward 's photos also contain subtle details . For example , the symbols and signs on the wall behind Wendy and her Hereford yearling heifer Mandalay Juliette are just as significant as the handler and her animal . `` It 's just the way ( Wendy ) had gone through the effort of decorating the pen ( with Union Jacks ) where the cows were being kept , '' Woodward said . `` There 's also a sign behind ( her ) ... and there 's a picture of a gentleman with a cow , who is actually her husband who had died a few years ago . ... I just thought that was nice , something quite sentimental about that . '' There are not only sentimental subtleties within `` Best in Show , '' but also fun and interesting ones as well . This is especially evident in the photo of the traditional Welsh pigs being judged , as Woodward points out there is an advertisement for sausages behind the pigs . Regardless of what elements make up Woodward 's photos , the emotions and aesthetics remain particularly important . Woodward said that when photographing Jamie and his Jersey cow , his happiness and smile made her want to `` share that sense of enjoyment '' that handlers have when competing with their animals in the shows . What drew Woodward to Harriet and her guinea pig Gentleman Jack were the similar colors radiating from both of them . Her photo of the pair won the National Portrait Gallery 's Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize in 2011 . `` ( Harriet ) was like a steward , she was sort of judging the guinea pigs . And she also had her own guinea pig with her , which had red as well , '' Woodward said . `` I just thought that was incredibly striking . I thought , ' I 've got to get a shot of that . ' `` The dynamics of the competitions foster a community atmosphere in which everybody becomes acquainted with one another after having traveled to different shows for so many years . Woodward said this was an enjoyable aspect of her work because `` you get to see lots of familiar faces . '' Social media . Follow @ CNNPhotos on Twitter to join the conversation about photography . She has learned about the pride the handlers have toward their animals , and many of her presumptions about the competitions have now changed after having worked on `` Best in Show . '' `` I think when I first started going , I was sort of thinking the shows would be more novelty , fun things for these people , '' she said . `` But , actually , it is n't really ; it 's quite a serious thing , because they can make money from breeding . '' In addition to handlers earning significant money from breeding , they are also able to achieve recognition for their livestock . Those competing have a lot at stake when they make the decision to travel and compete , because the shows are just as much business events as they are social gatherings . The competitions are also rather family-oriented , and Woodward said that while adults compete , their sons , daughters and grandchildren are involved as well . The younger generations are likely to one day take over the responsibility of running the family farms , and everyone that participates seems to have a strong sense of pride and passion for agriculture . `` I think it 's something I will always document for the rest of my life , and see how things change , '' Woodward said . `` It was challenging , insightful and fun . '' Jooney Woodward is a British photographer based in London . You can follow her on Instagram .
Jooney Woodward took portraits of show animals and their handlers in the UK . The book was published by Penguin Books in Britain on April 1, 2011.