Black & White Award Editors’ Picks of January 2025

Following the results of the last Black & White Photography Award, judged by Malagasy Photographer Pierrot Men, the editorial team wants to share some of the competition entries that didn’t make it to the final selection.

The level of talent on display was truly inspiring! We were so impressed by the incredibly high quality of the submissions. Photographers embraced the theme with remarkable creativity, spanning everything from classic documentary and street scenes to fine art and thought-provoking conceptual portraits. These photos, though not finalists, are a testament to the timeless beauty and impact of monochrome imagery, and we’re thrilled to share them.

“Waterfowl Lakes” - Rocky Mountains, USA
At the edge of the Waterfowl Lakes campground. The morning mist rose up out of the trees with the majestic Mt Chephren rising high above the lake. The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. © Collin Toews
“Sandpile” - India
“I used to see this young girl in the development where I lived in India. She would accompany her Mother, a day laborer to job sites. I photographed her many times, never exchanging a single word between us. She was the last person I saw when I left India”. © Abbey Box
“An afternoon in Williamsburg” - Williamsburg, New York, USA
A regular day in Williamsburg. I noticed this scene through the rear window of a schoolbus. © Mania De Praeter
“The weight of words” - Rajasthan, India
In a stark display of traditional Rabari hierarchy, an elder contemplates matters of community importance while his audience - women and children cast in shadows against the wall - maintains their customary silence. The interplay of light and shadow underlines the unspoken social dynamics: those who speak and those who must only listen. His turban and jewelry mark his authority, while the shadows behind tell a silent tale of age-old power structures. © Sankar Sridhar
“The Passenger” - San Diego, California, USA
The light and shadows on this woman’s face created a sense of mystery as she sat in the back seat of a vintage car. November 2024. © Patti Lamm
“Guardians of the Savanna” - Solio Game Reserve, Kenya, 2024
A stunning view of free rhinos roaming a vast savanna under a dramatic sky. This serene scene highlights their vulnerability and the urgent need for conservation to protect them from threats like poaching and habitat loss, ensuring their survival for future generations. © Sandra Risi
“Milo of Kolkata” - Kolkata. India, 2023
This is on the famous New Market in Kolkata in November 2023. I emerged into the hustling and bustling of the traders and men carrying heavy loads of goods on their heads. It’s all teamwork and follows a precise choreography. © Susanne Bartels
“White Horse” - Gerês, Portugal
Candid shot of a white Horse walking alone on the street, in Gerês, Portugal. © Ãlvaro Martino
“Silhouette” - Milan, Italy, 2024
This image is part of a series called “ La Danse des lumières” where I utilized the technique of light painting to portray my subjects by crafting a light of my own, almost like a danse in the darkness to carve out the details. I am very fond of the vintage era, pictorialism, and past époques so I like to merge my passion of the vintage era with a touch of pop modernity in the lighting. The dress is also my creation. © Olivia Mazzola
“Dawn at Karo’s” - Omo River, Ethiopia
Breeding is still the main activity of the Karo people today. Despite the significant changes imposed by the contemporary world and anthropogenic and climatic modifications, the Karo shepherds every morning lead their cattle to graze, as their fathers, grandfathers, and ancestors have always done in this land bordering the Omo River. © Roberto Gennaro
“Michipicoten Stillness” - Michipicoten Island, Canada
My landscape work aims to reveal an intimate view of the natural world. © Jan Bell
“Purna Madonna” - Ghent, Belgium
Studio portrait of artist Purna Renault, shot digitally in November 2024, in Ghent, Belgium. I wanted to present a vision of her as both strong and vulnerable while highlighting her feminine beauty. I loved the use of a large black fabric as it adds contrast and enhances the sculptural aspect of the image. © Arber Sefa

Published February 17, 2025 - Congratulations to all selected artists: Collin Toews, Abbey Box, Mania De Praeter, Sankar Sridhar, Patti Lamm, Sandra Risi, Susanne Bartels, Ãlvaro Martino, Olivia Mazzola, Roberto Gennaro, Jan Bell, Arber Sefa,

Color portrait fashion photo of woman with sunglasses in red car by

2026 Portrait AWARD

Win $2,700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

Can you tell a story with a single glance? – in May, we invite all photographers to share portraits that narrate compelling tales, whether captured in the controlled environment of a studio, the vibrant chaos of the street, or the rich landscapes of travel.