20 Stunning Black-and-White Wildlife Winning Photos from the 2025 reFocus Photography Awards

The 2025 reFocus Photography Awards has unveiled a breathtaking collection of black-and-white wildlife images that captivate with their emotion, detail, and timeless beauty. Among the many categories celebrated this year, the monochrome wildlife category stood out for its raw and artistic portrayals of animals in their natural environments.

Photo by: Tracey Dyer

These 20 winning photos, selected from thousands of entries submitted globally, offer a striking visual narrative that transcends color to emphasize form, texture, and mood. From majestic elephants emerging through misty savannas to quiet moments between predator and prey, the images explore the delicate balance between power and vulnerability in the animal kingdom. Each photo is a testament to the photographer’s patience, intuition, and technical mastery.

What makes this collection particularly powerful is its use of black and white to strip away distractions, allowing the viewer to focus solely on the subjects and their stories. These images evoke emotion and reflection—reminding us of the beauty, fragility, and resilience of wildlife in a rapidly changing world.

As part of the 2025 reFocus celebration, these stunning works stand not only as award winners but as a call to appreciate and protect the wild wonders of our planet.

Scroll down and inspire yourself. Check reFoucs website for more information.

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#1. Gold: "The Watchman" by Jacquie Matechuk

"Behind the brush I see a shadow drifting. I watch as he delicately weaves his burly fingers through the twisted branches. Gently pulling back the veil to reveal his face. He’s a young silverback, second in command. But loyal to his family, he is their guardian; the Watchman."

#2. Silver: "Regal Majesty: The Golden Eagle Unveiled" by Fernanda Narchi Harp

"In a sanctuary of golden eagles, I captured black-and-white portraits revealing their strength, beauty, and symbolic power. Each image honors their spirit and cultural legacy—an ode to freedom, nature, and the delicate details that make them truly majestic."

#3. Bronze: "The Conversationalists" by Preeti & Prashant Chacko

"Two visually contrasting figures meet: a towering behemoth of stone grey and a delicate wisp of white. The rhino slightly raises its massive head almost in acknowledgment of a secret whisper from the egret. In this fleeting moment, power and fragility coexist, bound by an unspoken understanding."

#4. Bronze: "Wait for MEEEEE!" by Vicki Santello

"A Chinstrap penguin tags along with three porpoising gentoos. It wasn’t until I reviewed the image on my computer that I realized there was a chinstrap penguin tagging along with his bigger friends, the gentoos for a total of 4 individuals. I got the image from the bottom of a Zodiac."