The 2025 Monovisions Photography Awards once again celebrated the timeless power of black-and-white photography, showcasing how simplicity in tones can evoke the deepest emotions. Among the highlights were 20 extraordinary travel photographs that transport viewers across continents, capturing moments of culture, history, and human connection with breathtaking artistry.
These award-winning images are not just about documenting places—they are about storytelling. From bustling city streets filled with motion and energy to remote landscapes where silence speaks louder than words, each photograph invites us to step into a different world. The absence of color strips scenes down to their essence, drawing attention to light, shadow, and composition. This purity allows subtle details—a child’s gaze, the curve of an ancient structure, the play of clouds above a desert—to resonate with striking clarity.
The photographers featured in this year’s competition hail from diverse corners of the globe, united by their ability to reveal universal truths through travel. Their work demonstrates how black-and-white photography transcends language and culture, offering perspectives that are both intimate and expansive. Whether capturing sacred rituals, fleeting interactions, or the raw beauty of nature, these images remind us that travel is as much about connection as it is about discovery.
The 2025 winners underscore the enduring relevance of monochrome in an era dominated by digital saturation. Stripped of distraction, their photographs feel timeless, echoing the artistry of classic masters while speaking directly to today’s audience.
Together, these 20 award-winning travel photos create a journey not just across places, but also through emotions—curiosity, wonder, and reverence for the world we share. They reaffirm that photography, at its finest, is not just about seeing new landscapes but about discovering new ways of seeing.
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#1. 1st Place Winner: "Riders of the Volcano" by Mahendra Bakle
"The Horsemen of Bromo," epitomize a rich cultural legacy amidst Mount Bromo’s breathtaking landscape. are custodians of tradition, they provide visitors an immersive journey, blending vibrant customs with deep-rooted rituals, offering rides and a profound encounter with the region’s heritage.
#2. 2nd Place Winner: "Mundari cattle camp" by Svetlin Yosifov
"In the Mundari cattle camps, kids are doing most of the daily work. Kids collect the fresh cow dung and put it into piles which are then set on fire. Those fire are useful as they repel the (extremely) numerous and voracious flies and mosquitoes of the South Sudanese countryside. The Mundari also use the ash created by these fires to rub on themselves and their cattle, creating a protection against mosquitoes."
#3. 3rd Place Winner: "Rays of Tranquility" by Partha Roy
"Bathed in ethereal morning light, an ancient tree stands as the centerpiece of life, its branches casting intricate shadows on the earth below. A shepherd tends to their flock while a horse-drawn cart adds to the timeless charm of the scene. This black-and-white portrayal captures the quiet harmony of rural existence, illuminated by nature’s artistry."
Honorable Mentions
#4. "A trip with my horse" by Amal Alameer
"The photo shows a horse groom with his horse, which he rents to tourists to climb to the top of Mount Bromo, where tourists can see the volcanoes up close, while cars cannot climb the rugged mountain. The time of the photo was early in the morning."
#5. "Cutest schoolgirls" by Amal Alameer
"The picture shows a school in the Kargil region in the high Himalayas of India. The residents are well educated despite the area being almost isolated from civil society. They learn more than one language in addition to science and mathematics."
#6. "The Way to History" by Nader El Assy
"Group of Camels and Travelers passing by the Great Pyramids."
#7. "The Camel Man" by Massimo Barbagli
"In the hard life of those who live in the desert, any form of movement becomes fundamental, made very difficult both by the aridity caused by the torrid heat and by the sandstorms that take your breath away, for this reason the camel drivers, the men of the desert are the true protagonists of the desert itself."
#8. "A Sacred Ritual" by Thibault Gerbaldi
"Early morning to honor the river Gange,the aarti involves the lighting of large oil lamps, offering of incense, chanting of hymns, and ringing of bells.As the priest moves the candles and lamps in a rhythmic pattern,the ceremony is accompanied by devotional music, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere."
#9. "The Glow of Yangshuo’s Heart" by Alexandre Brisson
"At sunrise, golden light cascades over the iconic karst peaks of Yangshuo, China, illuminating the Li River winding gracefully through the valley. Villages and farmlands nestle at the base of the mountains, creating a harmony between human habitation and nature. The morning mist softens the horizon, giving a timeless and ethereal quality to the landscape."
#10. "Shadows of the Gobi" by Thibault Gerbaldi
"From above, a camel caravan winds through the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, the rising sun casting elongated shadows on the nearby dunes. The journey is far from over, with miles of sand stretching ahead in the early morning light."
#11. "Morning Prayer" by Sanghamitra Sarkar
"As the first light touches the earth, the world comes alive in perfect harmony. Under the vast embrace of an ancient tree, monks gather in prayer, their silhouettes blending with the rising mist. Elephants move gently, their presence a quiet tribute to nature’s grace. The golden glow of dawn casts peace across the land, bridging the sacred bond between humans, animals, and the earth. This serene moment captures the beauty of coexistence and the power of gratitude at the start of a new day."
#12. "Monolithic Human Figures" by Manfred Gruber
"Moai, Chile / Easter Island / Hanga Roa"
#13. "The Harvest Dance" by Erhan Coral
"During a serene morning in Vietnam, I captured these women harvesting vibrant water lilies. Their graceful movements and the floating blossoms created a mesmerizing blend of tradition and natural beauty."
#14. "Dans la brume des montagnes" by Axelle Dudouet
"Lors d’un séjour en Autriche, alors que la météo était plutôt capricieuse pendant les quelques jours que j’ai passé à Solden, j’ai profité de la beauté des nuages et de la brume pour immortaliser plusieurs photos de paysages.
Celle-ci, avec le couple de randonneurs qui s’éloigne, entrant bientôt dans la brume, me plaisait particulièrement par sa sobriété et le calme qu’elle dégage. Également, l’immensité de la montagne en fond renforce la petitesse de l’humain."
#15. "Arktyczny rejs" by Ryszard Zembrzuski
"Grenlandia , ogromna góra lodowa i "mała łupinka " podobnej wielkości ,a więc nie taka znowu mała z ,której robiłem to zdjęcie."
#16. "Stay with you until the end of time" by Wei Lian
"A couple walks in the Utah Badlands."
#17. "Casablanca The Walk" by Snjezana Coyner
"This image is of the Hassan II Mosque. Taken during my visits to Morocco between 2022 and 2024 , a single visitor walks the exterior wall, exploring the grounds of this monumental building. The mosque sits on the Atlantic Ocean and is considered a masterwork of contemporary Arab-Muslim architecture. I was drawn to its size, design, and the sense of awe that washes over you as you witness it."
#18. "Cowboys of Cappadocia" by Aga Karmol
"Aga studied art and earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree (MFA) from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk. Her passion for photography began with film cameras, when she started taking photos as a hobby. Later on, she cooperated with the biggest Polish national equestrian magazine Kon Polski, where she regularly published photo stories from horseback travels across the world. Her photos and articles with an equine theme were also printed in The Forbes and National Geographic Traveler."
#19. "Gondolas in the mist" by Helen Trust
"A dawn winter shoot was well worth the early start, the mist came down and isolated the two gondolas perfectly for long exposure heaven. Grand Canal, Venice."
#20. "Come and Go" by Esa Siltaloppi
"In the mystical Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, the afternoon sun began to set, and the shadows grew longer.
The last tourists were climbing up and down the stone steps of the temple. I used the backlight to my photographic advantage."
