Color is loud. Black and white is honest. Strip wildlife photography down to pure monochrome and suddenly there’s nowhere to hide—no flashy hues, no distractions, just instinct, survival, and emotion laid bare. That’s the power behind the Monochrome Awards International Black & White Photography Contest, and the 2024 amateur wildlife winners absolutely understood the assignment.
This collection of 35 images hits hard in the quietest way possible. Shot by passionate photographers from around the globe, these frames turn animals into icons of strength, tension, and vulnerability. Every whisker, feather, and scar pops through sharp contrast and deliberate minimalism. Shadows carve the story. Light does the heavy lifting. The result? Wildlife photography that feels raw, intimate, and almost confrontational.
Monochrome has a way of slowing you down. Without color pulling your eye in every direction, you’re forced to sit with the moment. A lion’s stare becomes more intense. A bird mid-flight feels suspended in time. An elephant moving through dust looks ancient, like it’s been walking that land forever. These images don’t just show animals—they let you feel their presence.
The Monochrome Awards have long been a stage for photographers who believe less is more, and the 2024 amateur winners prove that black and white still packs serious emotional punch. This is wildlife photography at its most artistic, where composition, texture, and timing matter more than spectacle. It’s not about the chase—it’s about the connection.
With the 2025 Monochrome Awards winners set to be announced soon, this gallery stands as a powerful reminder of why black and white will never go out of style. These photos don’t scream for attention. They command it.
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#1. 1st Place Winner: "King of the Forest" by Radosław Dybała, Poland
"I managed to capture a deer while hiking in the mountains on a foggy day."
#2. 2nd Place Winner: "Soaked Solace" by Bing Lin, Taiwan
"Soaked Solace captures a tender moment between a juvenile gelada monkey and her mother, huddled together for warmth during a frigid rainstorm in Ethiopia’s highlands. Taken during a year-long field research season in the Guassa Community Conservation Area—where I lived in a tent and followed a wild herd of geladas for behavioral ecology research—the image reflects the striking yet harsh realities of life at over 3,000 meters above sea level."
#3. 3rd Place Winner: "Phantom of the Sea" by Douglas Tjokrosetio, Indonesia
"In the tranquil waters of Padang Bai, a seahorse glides gracefully through the aquatic shadows, moving with an almost ghostly presence. Known for their slow, deliberate movements and exceptional camouflage, seahorses blend seamlessly into their surroundings to avoid predators. These creatures anchor themselves to corals with their prehensile tails. This scene captures the seahorse in all its mysterious splendor, perfectly embodying the essence of a phantom of the sea."
Honorable Mentions
#4. "All Ways on Alert" by Patrick Nowotny, United States
"This female Western Screech Owl would come out certain times of the day. Her eggs were laid and awaiting to hatch. Since she was somewhat predictable as to when she would appear – mainly around sunset – I would just have to arrive early and wait. She was very tolerant of me. I would take a few photos then leave so not to disturb her."
#5. "American Icon" by Jason Mirandi, United States
"This image was shot on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I found this eagle perched in evening light as the sun was going down. The setting sunlight was hitting the bird, but not the dark pine forest backdrop, and I knew exactly the shot I wanted to create. Exposing for the birds head allowed the rest of the scene to darken and fall away, highlighting the symbol of America with the perfect black backdrop, and bringing the viewer’s eye right to the head, and the piercing stare, of this incredible raptor."
#6. "Arctic Fox" by Mostahfiz Gani, United Kingdom
"Hornstrandir is Iceland’s Northernmost peninsula and the most remote place in all of Europe. It is also home to the Arctic fox Blue Morph, where I spent five days last winter photographing this elusive creature. It was bitterly cold, with temperatures getting as low as -20 degrees centigrade as biting arctic snow blizzards cut through the inhospitable and uninhabited region. It is in such conditions that the Arctic Fox has learnt to survive."
#7. "Arctic Fox" by Miles Hewitt-Boorman, United Kingdom
"An image of an Arctic fox on a ridge line in Iceland as the sun begins to set."
#8. "Avian Conversation" by Stefan Gerrits, Finland
"On the rocky precipice overlooking the tumultuous sea, two Common Guillemots (Uria aalge) locked eyes in a silent avian conversation. Their sleek black and white plumage glistened in the coastal breeze as they stood, poised literally on the edge of the world in the far north of Norway."
#9. "Baboon Baby Silhouette" by Turgay Uzer, United States
"There is a special stand of baobab trees in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park where the setting sun acts like a spotlight on the animals and produces rim lights just before disappearing. This image of a young baboon was captured there while a herd of baboons were using the tress as a jungle gym."
#10. "Ballet Dancer" by Kimio Kobayashi, Japan
"Ballet dance by the new born humpback whale calf captured by ultra wide 8mm lens, with a big respect to the mother nature,. Captured at Vava’u Islands Tonga while serial free diving."
#11. "Bear’s Delight" by Denis Ryan, Ireland
"Every summer, Grizzly and brown bears migrate to rivers across Alaska, Canada, and Russia to eat salmon. Adult salmon swim upstream from the ocean back to the freshwater river where they were born to lay their eggs and reproduce, ultimately dying after spawning. At this time of year, the bears are excited and energetic as they chase salmon in rivers."
#12. "Black Leopard Portrait" by Zita Quentin, United States
"The beauty of a black leopard is unparalleled. I have been intrigued by portraying this beauty with a dark background enhancing the mystery that this cat exudes. Photographed in Laikipia, Kenya in 2024"
#13. "Bliss" by Angela J Sanchez, United States
"A male lion shakes his full, thick mane after a light afternoon shower. He almost seems to have a slight smile on his face. Photo taken in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, March 2024."
#14. "Buddies" by Steffen Foerster, United States
"Elephant seals are impressive marine mammals. Breeding males can weight close to 9,000 pounds, which makes them one of the largest living carnivores on earth. To get to that size and successfully defend their breeding rights, males need to gain fighting skills. And to do that, they spend years with their sparring partners, often siblings or close relatives, practicing the right moves. These practice fights can look quite serious and even inflict wounds on their opponents, but may be interrupted by tender moments like the one I captured in this image, which give away the playful nature of the interaction."
#15. "Chimpanzee Daydreams" by Turgay Uzer, United States
"Young chimpanzees are hyperactive, making them difficult to photograph, especially in the dim light of the forest. This image captures a rare moment of repose when a youngster took a break from roughhousing, lay down on its back, put its arms behind its head and faced the light struggling though the forest canopy — a human-like pose. Who knows what thoughts were going through its mind? Taken in Uganda’s Kibale National Park while I was following a chimpanzee troop on foot, and action was swirling all around me."
#16. "Contend for hegemony" by Jian Hu, China
"Deer fighting is not just a competition for mating rights, but also a natural selection for survival within a population."
#17. "Curious elephant" by Jonathan Wosinski, France
"In the Maasai Mara, Kenya, a lonely bull was curious about us and came close to our car. A strong wind was blowing, adding dynamic action to a quiet encounter."
#18. "Drinking in the night" by Giovanni Frescura, Italy
"It was very difficult because giraffe is very suspicious. I spent Three night in the hide and for the slightest noise (even the shutter sound) made her run away. Only on the third night did she position herself right in front of me and allowed me to take this particular shot (a mix of nature and architecture of forms)"
#19. "Eagle owl in slow shutter" by Jian Hu, China
"The eagle owl shows its unique charm as a nocturnal raptor in flight. Its flight posture is elegant and steady, and each beat of its wings seems unusually slow, as if it is enjoying the process of flying."
#20. "Farewell" by luisa Lynch, Spain
"Photograph taken of two canaries in a small pool of water, where they usually go to drink water, in the protected landscape of La Resbala. These were lured to the place with some birdseed."
#21. "White Bear" by Malini Chandrasekar, United Kingdom
"Using a high-key approach, I shot this photograph in the hope to create a minimalist, stylistic and monochromatic portrait of a Polar bear in Svalbard. What I loved about this approach with snowy backdrops, was getting a fashion-style portrait, but with wildlife."
#22. "The Night Shadow" by Øyvind Pedersen, Norway
"A pine marten in the night"
#23. "Taxi For Two" by Jim Guerard, United States
"I captured this image of a lone male elephant in Amboseli National Park, Kenya in March of 2024. Amboseli is known for being home to some of the last great “Super Tuskers” in Africa. A “Super Tusker” is defined as a bull elephant whose tusks each weigh more than 100 pounds and there are estimated to be less than 20 of them left on the planet."
#24. "Spotted Hyena Reflection" by Zita Quentin, United States
"It is a really special experience to sit by a watering hole at night and observe all the animals come for a drink. This spotted hyena walked by kicking up some dust and stopped for a drink. I photographed this hyena in the Shompole Wilderness in Kenya."
#25. "Snow Prince" by Mostahfiz Gani, United Kingdom
"Hornstrandir is Iceland’s Northernmost peninsula and the most remote place in all of Europe. It is also home to the Arctic fox Blue Morph, where I spent five days last winter photographing this elusive creature. It was bitterly cold, with temperatures getting as low as -20 degrees centigrade as biting arctic snow blizzards cut through the inhospitable and uninhabited region."
#26. "Shark paradise" by Fabi Fregonesi, Brazil
"A reef shark swimming between a school of fish in Fakarava, French Polynesia. Fakarava is a stunning atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Known for its crystal-clear lagoons and vibrant coral reefs, it’s a haven for divers and snorkelers. The atoll is renowned for its diverse marine life, including sharks, rays, and a plethora of colorful fish species."
#27. "Shake it off" by Charlie Wemyss-Dunn, United States
"Each year around early August, large concentrations of brown bears congregate on the rivers and creeks of Katmai National Park in Alaska waiting for the annual run of sockeye salmon from the coast. It’s one of nature’s greatest migrations, filled with lots of action as bears swim, jump and dive for spawning fish."
#28. "Shadow Stalker" by Jacques-Andre Dupont, Canada
"A leopard prowls stealthily through the shadows in the Masai Mara, captured at the last light of day. Its keen eyes are focused and alert, with the fading light highlighting the intricate patterns of its spotted coat. The monochrome palette accentuates the intense concentration in its gaze. This photograph captures the elusive beauty and stealth of this magnificent predator, illustrating the quiet power and elegance that define the leopard’s essence as night falls."
#29. "Monument to Plough-the-Earth" by George Dian Balan, Belgium
"This image ticks all the boxes: an iconic specimen with the perfect body posture, captured from the best photo angle in a balanced composition, reflecting a conservation success story."
#30. "Lone Sentinel" by Jacques-Andre Dupont, Canada
"A solitary zebra stands silhouetted against a dramatic, stormy sky in the Masai Mara. The stark contrast between the dark clouds and the zebra’s silhouette captures a moment of tranquil solitude in the vast African landscape. This photograph evokes a sense of quiet resilience and the timeless beauty of nature’s untamed wilderness."
#31. "Last glimps of light" by Patrycja Dzianok, Poland
"I dedicated nearly a month to observing a group of young foxes, selecting a specific vantage point near their den situated close to a road in the dense yet compact forest near my village. The surroundings were abundant with shrubs, creating a shaded environment. Considering the prevalent cloudiness during this time of year, the appearance of sunlight was a rare occurrence."
#32. "Grus Grus" by Ewa Przeździecka, Poland
"The picture of common cranes was taken in a foggy morning in the marshes of central Poland. Late summer, after a breading season, cranes start to gather in flocks before the autumn migration to Western Europe. During the day they feed in small groups on the surroundings field and for the night return to shallow waters where they feel safe. Sometimes there are several hundred and sometimes as many as 1,500 or more."
#33. "Gathering of wildebeest" by Andrea Sighinolfi, Italy
"We are in Africa, in Kenya. When the first wildebeest takes courage, the crossing starts and all the others follow it."
#34. "Young Macaque" by Frances Fujii, United States
"The Japanese Macaque, aka "Snow Monkey", is a species of Old World monkey and are native to the harsh northern mountains of Japan. Until the early 20th century, they were considered a vulnerable species. Now, because of conservation efforts, their population has recovered and is classified as of "least concern." Macaques are highly intelligent, social animals whose thick, dense coats and ability to huddle together enable them to survive their habitat’s snowy, freezing winter conditions."
#35. "Fight to end" by Luc Beaudoin, Canada
"That morning, a thick fog enveloped the marsh. I could hear the geese bickering in the distance. Then, an hour later, they came out of nowhere to continue the fight in front of my hideout. For a wildlife photographer, perseverance and patience are two essential qualities for success."
