Black and white photography doesn’t whisper — it speaks. And at the second Irys Photos Spotlight competition, it spoke loud, clear, and timeless. Kindly sponsored by Leica, with the iconic Leica Q3 Monochrom Camera up for grabs, this edition was a love letter to light, shadow, and pure visual storytelling.
This year’s theme was simple but demanding: black & white photography. No color safety nets. No distractions. Just vision.
The winner? Mateusz Kuca, whose perfectly timed image captured in snow-covered Krakow stopped the jury in their tracks. It’s the kind of photograph that feels effortless but isn’t — precise composition, graphic rhythm, and a moment that lands exactly where it should. Timeless, calm, and quietly powerful. Mateusz now takes home the Leica Q3 Monochrom, and honestly, we can’t wait to see what he creates next.
A huge shout-out goes to our judges, Nina Papiorek and Fred Mortagne, who reviewed hundreds of submissions with care, intention, and a deep respect for the craft of monochrome photography. Their eye shaped a selection that truly celebrates restraint, emotion, and form.
Congratulations also to the nine honourable mentions, whose standout images proved that black and white is very much alive — and evolving.
Irys wasn’t built to chase trends or play the tech game. It was built because photographers needed something better. In a world where social media often sidelines still photography and rewards noise over nuance, Irys exists to support image-makers — online and offline — through meet-ups, talks, exhibitions, and real community.
This contest wasn’t just about winning. It was about reminding us why photography still matters.
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#1. Winner: "Riding the Silence" by Photo by Mateusz Kuca (@mateusz.kuca)
"Mateusz Kuca masterfully uses rhythmic railings as a graphic frame, isolating a lone cyclist in vast negative space, where repetition, balance, and winter minimalism elevate everyday motion into visual poetry."
#2. Honorable Mention: "Winter Games on the Seine" by Victor Aries-Poinssot (@victor.poinssot)
"Victor Aries-Poinssot balances monumental Parisian architecture with playful human scale, using sweeping diagonals and soft atmospheric depth to transform a frozen riverbank into a cinematic study of contrast and spontaneity."
#3. Honorable Mention: "Between Rooftops" by Max Masters (@mmgoesgallivanting)
"Max Masters freezes peak action with impeccable timing, framing a suspended body against open sky, where architectural edges heighten tension and negative space amplifies the raw thrill of urban freedom."
#4. Honorable Mention: "Beneath the Threshold" by Yannis Rousounelos (@yannis_rousounelos)
"Yannis Rousounelos blurs surface and depth through poetic framing, using grain and tonal softness to suspend the figure between worlds, creating an intimate, emotionally charged meditation on vulnerability and stillness."
#5. Honorable Mention: "Shadow Crossing" by Siegfried Hansen (@siegfried_hansen)
"Siegfried Hansen transforms ordinary infrastructure into bold abstraction, precisely aligning shadows, grids, and diagonals to trap a fleeting silhouette, proving his signature mastery of geometry, timing, and visual tension."
#6. Honorable Mention: "Carrying the Unseen" by Enamul Kabir (@enamulkabirrony)
"Enamul Kabir’s surreal framing conceals identity beneath luminous spheres, using contrast and scale to question labor and anonymity, turning a mundane interior into a striking, thought-provoking visual paradox."
#7. Honorable Mention: "Silent Ascent" by Andrea Tunbridge (@andreatunbridgephotography)
"Andrea Tunbridge composes a breathtaking vertical dialogue, aligning two whales within cascading light rays, where symmetry, scale, and tonal restraint transform the ocean’s depth into a serene, almost sacred monochrome encounter."
#8. Honorable Mention: "Between Branches and Breath" by Another Statistic (@another__statistic)
"Photographer frames a solitary figure between sculptural trees, using natural arches, depth, and luminous mist to guide the eye, balancing scale and stillness in a contemplative, timeless monochrome landscape."
#9. Honorable Mention: "At the Edge of Conversation" by Quim Vilar (@q_vilar)
"Quim Vilar uses stark geometry and generous negative space to frame two distant figures, where light, shadow, and horizon align, transforming a quiet seaside moment into refined visual storytelling."
#10. Honorable Mention: "The Long Quiet Curve" by Eric Moerschel
"Eric Moerschel distills landscape to pure geometry, guiding the eye along a bold diagonal path toward evenly spaced trees, where restraint, balance, and negative space create profound visual calm."
What the 121clicks Editor Thinks
From an editorial standpoint, this year’s Irys Photos Black & White winners hit exactly where great photography should — emotionally and visually. The winning image by Mateusz Kuca feels destined for longevity, not likes. It’s restrained, confident, and deeply composed, the kind of photograph that grows stronger the longer you sit with it.
What truly stands out is the overall quality of the finalists and honourable mentions — a clear sign that Irys is curating with intention, not algorithms. Backed by Leica and guided by thoughtful judges, this competition feels meaningful, relevant, and refreshingly honest. These are images made to last.
