Black-and-white photography has a timeless power—able to strip away distractions and reveal the soul of a scene. At the 2025 reFocus Photography Awards, this artistry was on full display with a stunning collection of winning black-and-white landscape photos that showcased nature’s grandeur through texture, light, and composition.
Photo by: Jeff Schewe
In this series of photos, we highlight some of the most powerful visual narratives submitted by photographers around the world. These images range from vast, stormy coastlines and mist-shrouded mountains to stark desert plains and dramatic skies. Without the presence of color, the emphasis falls on tonal contrast, shape, and atmosphere—elements that these photographers masterfully used to evoke emotion and tell a story.
Each photo invites the viewer into a world where mood and movement come alive through light and shadow. The winning entries are more than just beautiful—they’re meditative, haunting, and profoundly human in the way they connect us to the landscapes we often overlook.
The reFocus Awards continue to be a platform for celebrating innovation and excellence in photography. This year’s winners pushed the boundaries of monochrome imagery, demonstrating how the absence of color can deepen the emotional impact of a scene.
Whether you’re a lover of fine art photography or simply captivated by nature’s silent poetry, these 20 black-and-white landscapes are sure to leave a lasting impression. They remind us that sometimes, seeing the world in shades of gray can reveal the deepest truths of all.
Scroll down and inspire yourself. Check reFoucs website for more information.
You can find more info about reFocus:
#1. Gold: "Antarctic" by Jeff Schewe
#2. Silver: "Travail au champ" by Christopher Méthot
#3. Silver: "Lonely Tree" by Peter Fischer
#4. Silver: "Otherworldly" by Michelle Ranee Johnson
#5. Bronze: "Mist Trail" by James Bourret
#6. People’s Vote Award: "Melancholy" by Bryan Fēvōld
#7. Honorable Mention: "North Uist Landscape" by Jens Winkler
#8. Honorable Mention: "Snowy Rivers, India" by Kristine Clark
#9. Honorable Mention: "Obsidian Dragon" by Roksolana Baran
#10. Honorable Mention: "Spiritual Falls" by Peter Lik
#11. Honorable Mention: "She Has a Tale to Tell" by Thomas de Franzoni
#12. Honorable Mention: "Sierra Rains" by Peter Jeschke
#13. Nominee: "The Snowing" by Dongchun Lim
#14. Nominee: "Calm Before the Storm" by Jason Marino
#15. Nominee: "The Forest’s Whisper" by Doreen Mcgunagle
#16. Nominee: "Descent" by Joshua Smith
#17. Nominee: "Coastal Granite" by Jens Winkler
#18. Nominee: "Delicate Arch Contours" by David Fonda
#19. Nominee: "Above the Valley Floor" by Michael Paul
#20. Nominee: "Steps to the Sky" by David Fonda
