Colour draws the eye — but black and white reveals something deeper. Without colour, light becomes the subject itself: the way it falls across a face, sculpts a landscape, or catches the edge of an object in motion. Shadows gain weight. Textures become tactile. Contrast tells stories that colour sometimes obscures. Black and white photography is not an absence — it is a different kind of seeing.

This international photography competition brought together photographers who understand that working in monochrome is not a stylistic habit but a considered decision — one that strips away distraction and reveals the underlying structure of the world. Through portraits that use tone and shadow to reveal character, landscapes transformed by the absence of colour, street photography where contrast defines the moment, and explorations of light and texture, these works demonstrate the enduring power and discipline of monochrome.

Grand Prize Winner: Gordon Jenkinson
Awarded a solo exhibition at Allora Gallery for his compelling black-and-white photography, using contrast, light, and composition to reveal both the dramatic scale and the more vulnerable moments of the natural world.

Honourable Mentions:
Arun Saha • Marcello Massaro • Phil Bixby • Stuart Royse
Recognized for their outstanding photographic vision and expressive use of monochrome to explore light, contrast, atmosphere, and form.

Exhibition Finalists:  
Adam Brown, Adrian L James ARPS, Alisa Kishchenko, Andreas Starke, Anita Mókus, Caitlyn Gold, Catherine Lynch, Catia Montagna, Facundo Barrueco, Gabriela Cordera, Gaurav Govil, Gilles Petit-Gats, Hao-Long Hsu, Iris Maynard, Kip Harris, Kouki Ogawa, Leila Prosperi, Marwan Tahtah, Michael Schwab, Norton Dudeque, Ray Weston, Scott Fecteau, Seppo Tuomaala, Sivan Swisa, Zichen Lan.

From dramatic landscapes to fleeting encounters, from bold graphic forms to subtle shifts of light and shadow, these photographs explore the many possibilities of seeing in monochrome. Freed from colour, each image draws attention to contrast, texture, shape, atmosphere, and the emotional weight of a moment. Together, the works demonstrate how black and white photography can transform the familiar, revealing details and relationships that might otherwise go unnoticed. Each image reminds us that black and white photography is not a limitation, but a choice — one that demands intention and rewards it.