Black and white photography never fades—it hits harder with time. At the The Artist Gallery Awards 2025, monochrome ruled the frame, proving once again that stripping away color sharpens emotion, tension, and storytelling. This year’s Black and White category brought together powerful voices from across the globe, mixing raw human moments with cinematic drama and quiet visual poetry.
The Artist Gallery was created to level the playing field—giving both professional and amateur photographers a legit stage to show what they’ve got. With monthly competitions spanning architecture, portraits, street, wildlife, and more, the platform thrives on diversity of vision. But in 2025, black and white photography stood out as the soul-searcher of the bunch.
The 1st Place winner, Jelisa Peterson (USA), delivered a haunting image titled Outlook. A young girl stands behind a heavy metal screen at her front door, caught between safety and confinement. The geometry, contrast, and emotional weight hit like a quiet punch—simple, unsettling, unforgettable.
Coming in 2nd Place, Fabi Fregonesi (Brazil) stunned viewers with The Duo, capturing two Caribbean reef sharks gliding beneath a boat in the Bahamas. The image feels fluid and tense at the same time, transforming wildlife photography into minimalist art.
The 3rd Place winner, Kevin Painchaud (USA), showcased raw grit with Fireman Struggles. A firefighter battles a damaged hydrant after a car crash—muscle, motion, and urgency frozen in perfect grayscale.
Together with 22 other standout images, these winning photos prove that black and white isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about truth. Less color. More feeling.
You can find more info about The Artist Gallery Awards:
#1. 1st Place: "Outlook" by Jelisa Peterson, USA
"A girl stands behind a heavy metal screen framing her front door."
#2. 2nd Place: "The Duo" by Fabi Fregonesi, Brazil
"Two caribbean reef sharks swimming under a boat. Bahamas."
#3. 3rd Place: "Fireman Struggles" by Kevin Painchaud, USA
"A fireman struggles repairing a fire hydrant that was hit by a car."
Honorable Mentions
#4. "New York" by Christian Trippe, United Kingdom
"I took this picture outside Radio City Music Hall in NYC. It was shot with a Rollei AF 35mm on Ferrania P30 film. The double exposure was achieved within the camera."
#5. "Phantom of Lizard" by Leka Huie, China
"Phantom of Lizard."
#6. "Super Shades" by Jelisa Peterson, USA.
"A boy stands wearing sunglasses next to an open door flooded with light."
#7. "35c in the Shadow" by Michael Wirth, France.
"African men sleeping in full sun at Paris Belleville."
#8. "Susanne" by Susanne Middelberg, USA.
"Self portrait 9th of March 2025."
#9. "Stillness, Chicago Girls" by Liliana Caruana, Brazil
"A black-and-white portrait of a young girl gazing steadily at the camera. Her calm expression and soft light create a feeling of stillness, quiet strength and presence."
#10. "Dream" by Lindsey Prince, USA
"Dream in neighborhood."
#11. "Ignore" by JiaYing Lu, China
"After marriage, women in the East are still expected to be “dutiful wives and good mothers,” best not to express any opinions,and obediently take care of household chores for their husbands. They are ignored, expected to serve like furniture. Of course, more women are realizing: this’s impossible!"
#12. "De Gnarrenburg Birches" by T. Karl Stelling, Germany
"Dead Birches in the moorland."
#13. "Doomsday" by Judith Kuhn, Germany
"The other evening, a violent thunderstorm raged over the Lindau region. From a distance of about 25 kilometers, the spectacle could be observed and photographed in peace and safety. The storm was more or less stationary and lasted for quite some time."
#14. "Shaker" by Charles Janson, USA
"A subadult bear shakes out copious water that stayed in his coat while he was fishing for salmon just before sunset."
#15. "White Dress" by Gregor Reither, Germany
"Making use of the brutal midday sunlight, highlighting a white dress in the shadows at Messeplatz during 2025 ART."
#16. "La Tonna" by Sara Sterpa, Italy
"The Palio della Tonna is the most traditional and characteristic event in the town of Civita di Bagnoregio. The Palio takes place twice a year, on the first Sunday in June (in honor of the feast of the Madonna Liberatrice) and on the second Sunday in September."
#17. "Before the Storm" by Rebecca Paulus, Germany
"In the Lebanese mountains, an old house stands beneath a heavy sky, a small cross above its door catching the last light as the storm turns rain into snow."
#18. "Explorer" by Fabi Fregonesi, Brazil
"Diver exploring a shipwreck located in Recife, Brazil. The huge school of fish bring an extra magic for this moment, showing how a human made machine can work as home and shelter for underwater life."
#19. "Interchange" by Lee Fulmer, Ireland
"The intersection of motorway routes 11 and 71 in Dubai, taken from the top of the Burj Kalifa. Shot on a Panasonic Lumix."
#20. "Dozado Blackstories" by Jean-Marie Brodut, France
"The pre-evenings where groups gather to catch the night are also places of escape."
#21. "Lonely Walker" by Michiko Otomo, Canada
"A lonely walker on a snowy night…"
#22. "Undercover of the Light" by Robert Syvret, United Kingdom
"A reflection on the window of a barbers."
#23. "Summer" by Never Edited, Germany
"A tender summer moment captured in black and white — a parent and child lie entwined on a blanket, eyes closed, lost in rest. Scattered cards, snacks, and a newspaper frame the intimacy, while the soft grip of small arms speaks louder than words."
#24. "City" by Never Edited, Germany
"Under the blinding lights of Times Square, a chained, grinning clown stands with unshakable presence — a dark jester proclaiming, “I own this city.”"
#25. "Sebastiao Salgado" by Drew Forsyth, United Kingdom
"Portrait of Sebastião Salgado, captured in Manchester 2022."
In Summary
What are the Artist Gallery Awards?
- The Artist Gallery Awards are international photography competitions open to both amateur and professional photographers across multiple genres.
What is special about the Black and White category?
- It focuses on emotion, composition, and storytelling by removing color and emphasizing light, contrast, and form.
Who won 1st place in 2025?
- Jelisa Peterson from the USA won 1st place for her photo Outlook.
Are these awards held annually?
- The Artist Gallery runs monthly competitions with varying themes throughout the year.
Why is black and white photography still relevant?
- Because it strips images down to their emotional core, making stories feel timeless and universal.
