Color can grab your attention, but black and white photography? That can stop you in your tracks.
The Black and White Monovisions Photography Awards 2026 Winners prove just how much emotion, drama, and storytelling can live inside a frame stripped of color. This year’s winning images take viewers across wildly different worlds, from striking architecture and abstract compositions to intimate portraits, raw photojournalism, sweeping landscapes, wildlife, street scenes, and travel.
The awards feature winners across 12 categories, with first, second, and third-place photographers recognized in each category. Together, these images show that monochrome isn’t simply about removing color. It’s about seeing differently.
The Black and White Series of the Year Award went to James Lewin from the United Kingdom for The Land That Made Us. His powerful series explores African communities whose lives remain deeply connected to nature, the seasons, and the animals around them, a reminder of a world where people aren’t separate from nature but part of it.
Meanwhile, Xidong Luo from China claimed the Black and White Photo of the Year Award for Isolation of Being. The haunting image explores solitude, identity, and existence through a mysterious veiled figure.
Put simply, these 34 winners show why black and white photography still hits different.
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#1. Black and White Series of the Year: The Land That Made Us One by James Lewin, United Kingdom
"In an era where technology defines our daily lives and the natural world feels increasingly distant, it may be difficult to imagine that there are still people in Africa living much as they did hundreds of years ago. Deeply connected to nature, their way of life remains woven into the land, the seasons, and the animals with which they coexist. They are not separate from the natural world, but part of it.
For the opening of this series, I chose to focus on the Maasai Tribe. Much of East Africa’s remaining wilderness and iconic safari destinations are Maasai ancestral lands, making this a natural starting point for a project that honours both traditional cultures and the natural world."
#2. Black and White Photo of the Year: Isolation of Being by Xidong Luo, China
"This work visualizes a fundamental state of existence: isolation as the precondition of being. The figure, stripped of identity by the veil, is no longer an individual but a vessel for pure presence—alone, yet complete in itself, suggesting that the most profound mysteries are encountered in solitude. It is not an image of loneliness, but of serene, absolute being—where the self, unobserved and undefined, touches the essence of what it means to exist."
#3. Abstract – 1st Place Winner: Black – The veil of ‘Mystery’ by Shannon Charvat, United States
"Mirage, The Conceptual Art Magazine (Volume 3) showcases my very own ‘Veil Series Portraits.’ This series depicts the colors of the rainbow and embodies the emotion that each color represents. I decided to bring my concept to life through veils. The ‘veil’ of emotion that someone presents to the world can vary, ranging from sadness to happiness to creativity. Many times, there is more underneath a person’s surface than we know. In this edition, I explore the relationship between the different colors of the rainbow and how each color can represent a different feeling."
#4. Abstract – 2nd Place Winner: Energy by Roberto Tavazzani, Italy
"View of Tokyo at night from the roof top of the Sunshine 60 building. The partial use of the camera movement allows me to recreate the mood of energy of the town even if it looks standing."
#5. Abstract – 3rd Place Winner: Translucent by Ylva Sjögren, Sweden
"The image was taken using a long exposure and motion blur. I want to convey a sense of the fleeting nature of life through an expressionistic style. The image aims to capture the essence of the human being."
#6. Architecture – 1st Place Winner: The Path by Louis-Philippe Provost, Canada
"The unique architectural elements of the National Holocaust Monument of Canada, particularly its angled concrete walls, create a powerful space for reflection on one of the darkest chapters in human history. For me, the path leading up the stairs symbolizes the journey of grief, leading toward hope for understanding, remembrance, and a brighter future."
#7. Architecture – 2nd Place Winner: Stop Before Geometry by Jaeseok Lim, Korea, Republic of
"A lone figure stands within the geometry of concrete, shadow, and reflection."
#8. Architecture – 3rd Place Winner: Inner Freedom by Grit Brune, Germany
"The black-and-white photograph depicts a monumental, white, minimalist building. Its façade is punctuated by a multitude of identical, dark windows, creating a strict visual grid. This grid represents order, structure, and collective presence. A single window is open. In its frame sits a young man with a bare upper body. Despite his exposed position in the public space, his posture remains calm and unaffected."
#9. Conceptual – 2nd Place Winner: Let’s Play by Szymon Brodziak, Poland
"Brodziak’s photograph was built around one seemingly simple element from the very beginning — a ping-pong ball placed in the model’s mouth. It becomes the true center of the entire story."
#10. Conceptual – 3rd Place Winner: Elysium by Vinci Weng, Taiwan
"My current body of work explores surreal landscapes and post-photographic aesthetics, rendered through evocative, painterly compositions that serve as artistic playgrounds for experimentation. The "Elysium" reimagines traditional notions of poetic fantasy and escapism. By blending the familiar with the fantastical, the work evokes a sense of wonder and curiosity, encouraging viewers to immerse themselves in the imagery and uncover its many layers of meaning."
#11. Fine Art – 1st Place Winner: At the Crossing by Martin Kocjan, Serbia
"A single human presence moves through a stark intersection, emphasising the relationship between form, direction, and choice."
#12. Fine Art – 2nd Place Winner: Despondence by Pamela Hymer, United States
"A falling Lily, a symbol of a state of hopeless dejection, profound loss of courage or hope, feelings of inadequacy, and gloom. The feeling just beyond simple sadness, arising when one faces difficulties and feels nothing is working out."
#13. Fine Art – 3rd Place Winner: Edge by Monika Zemojtel, Poland
#14. Landscapes – 1st Place Winner: Grumoscopie by Samuel Feron, France
"Faroe Islands 2025."
#15. Landscapes – 2nd Place Winner: Where light lingers by Claudia Barbera, Italy
"Val di Funes, South Tyrol, Italy."
#16. Landscapes – 3rd Place Winner: The tide of times by Robert Pilari, Germany
"Rock formations emerge from the sea, shaped by years of wind and water. The long exposure softens the movement of the ocean, creating a contrast between the solid structures and the passing flow of time. The image focuses on how constant change and stability exist side by side."
#17. Nature and Wildlife – 1st Place Winner: Perfect strike by Wei Lian, United States
"A great blue heron catches a trout."
#18. Nature and Wildlife – 2nd Place Winner: Grace! by Liwen Tao, United States
"This image was taken at Gould Bay Antarctica. There was a huge emperor penguin colony. Among the thousands of adult and young emperor penguins, I noticed this particular adult penguin. She was right in front me. She was calling and showing different postures. I felt that she was communicating with me and greeting me. The moment she bowed her head to me was so graceful that I was speechless and impressed. I pushed the shutter for the precious moment. Since there are no hunting of wildlife in Antarctica, penguins and other wildlife are not afraid of people. There is harmony between human and animals. The true enemy of emperor penguins is the warm climate. They will suffer from less ice. We must act together to protect them."
#19. Nature and Wildlife – 3rd Place Winner: Opportunistic Feeding by Camilo Diaz, Colombia
"During a sardine run, a humpback whale feeds opportunistically among seabirds, sea lions, marlins, and tuna. Although the species usually fasts in breeding areas, an exceptional concentration of prey triggers this rare encounter, where multiple predators converge in a fragile balance."
#20. People – 1st Place Winner: MahaKumbh – World’s Largest Gathering by Savadmon Avalachamveettil, Ireland
"This photo was a result of a mix of patience, respect, and intuition. At the Kumbh, I was very mindful not to disturb the rituals or step into the Sadhus’ spiritual world. That is why I chose to use a drone, staying at a distance yet close enough to follow their movements. From above, the entire scene unfolded like a living tapestry of rituals, tradition, and human energy. Then came the moment I had been waiting for. A Sadhu, carried by his own spiritual intensity, suddenly jumped onto the bonnet of a jeep. In that instant I knew ,this was the frame I had been searching for. It was raw, powerful, and completely unplanned, yet it held the essence of the Kumbh in one shot. I didn’t have to think twice, I just took the picture."
#21. People – 2nd Place Winner: Ahead by Douglas Hart, United States
"There is poetry in the motion and expression of movement artists. In all movements there is a curiosity for what lies ahead."
#22. People – 3rd Place Winner: Hyena Children by Philipp Schmieja, Germany
"In Nigeria, especially in the northern parts of the country, the practice of taming and domesticating hyenas is quite common. These animals are captured into the wild and then trained and brought to urban areas for street performances. The men employ ancient magic and traditional practices to bring these wild animals under their control. It is a tradition passed down through generations, with children being exposed to the animals from a young age to build familiarity and eliminate fear."
#23. Photojournalism – 1st Place Winner: Carrying the Sacred by Bart Rubik, Poland
"Women from the Escuela de Cristo brotherhood walk together during a Holy Saturday procession in Antigua, Guatemala, carrying a platform with the statue of the Virgin of Sorrows. In slow, measured steps, they sustain a tradition nearly five centuries old. The ritual becomes not only an act of penitence, but also a time of reflection, shared faith and remembrance of the ancestors."
#24. Photojournalism – 2nd Place Winner: Samburu on Ololokwe by Titch Tetley, United Kingdom
"Martin had guided me up to the top of Mt Ololokwe. We camped that night and at dawn we woke to the most incredible sunrise. Ololokwe is sacred to the Samburu people and Martin had not been to the summit in a while. He stood enjoying the view in his wonderful warrior dress as the world fell away beneath him."
#25. Photojournalism – 3rd Place Winner: Dreams by Luís Godinho, Portugal
#26. Portrait – 1st Place Winner: Iris by Pierre Burnaugh, United States
"Portrait of a woman, named Iris. This was made in natural light outdoors in front of a black backdrop."
#27. Portrait – 2nd Place Winner: Face of Displacement by Artur Gutowski, Poland
"The Rohingya are a Muslim minority from western Myanmar (Burma) who have been forced to flee violence and persecution for years. Many crossed into Bangladesh, where they now live in large refugee camps. Conditions there are very hard. Schooling, healthcare, and stable work are limited, and for most people life is really just about surviving from day to day. This photo of a boy was taken in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh, one of the largest refugee camps in the world, now home to around 700,000 people. I was there. I walked through the camp and saw what everyday life looks like in that place. It stays with me."
#28. Portrait – 3rd Place Winner: Weight of Power by Elena Sellberg, Norway
#29. Street Photography – 1st Place Winner: Between Worlds by Kailin Wang, Australia
"Outside a Turkish restaurant on a Friday night, two worlds exist simultaneously. Inside, a woman exhales smoke into the warm glow of the dining room, lost in her moment of leisure. Outside, a passerby waits, separated by glass and circumstance. I was drawn to this juxtaposition—the intimate versus the transient, indulgence versus anticipation. The smoke became an unexpected character in the frame, adding a layer of mystery and old-world atmosphere to the scene. The “TURKISH” sign anchors the moment in place and culture, while the reflections and layers of glass create depth and complexity."
#30. Street Photography – 2nd Place Winner: Shadow Play by Jason Au, Hong Kong
"A lamp post casts a soft glow over a quiet crosswalk at night, its light stretching the shadows of a lone pedestrian and nearby traffic lights across the textured facade of a building. The elongated silhouettes create a striking contrast against the wall, adding cinematic depth to the urban scene and evoking a sense of fleeting moment."
#31. Street Photography – 3rd Place Winner: Carrying Joy by Mozyro, United Kingdom
"Captured in the London Underground, this street photo breaks the monotony of the daily commute with a spontaneous burst of celebration from a hen party. A group of young girls share laughter and fun, their joy spilling into the usually muted atmosphere of the metro. Around them, strangers smile, clap, and watch with curiosity, while others remain quietly unaware—a reminder that even in the most ordinary spaces, people need moments of laughter, joy, and celebration to feel connected."
#32. Travel – 1st Place Winner: Beneath the Timeless Canopy by Partha Roy, Singapore
"In the quiet heart of rural Indonesia, morning light filters gently through the sprawling branches of an ancient rain tree, transforming the landscape into a dreamlike theatre of shadow and illumination. Captured during the first hours of dawn, this image reflects the timeless rhythm of village life where humans, animals, and nature continue to coexist in quiet harmony."
#33. Travel – 2nd Place Winner: Khiva. Uzbekistan by Adam Galazka, Poland
"One of the streets in the old town of Khiva."
#34. Travel – 3rd Place Winner: Aarti Under the Stars by Thibault Gerbaldi, United States
"Each evening in Varanasi—considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world—several thousand people gather on the ghats to attend the Ganga Aarti, an ancient ceremony combining chants, fire, and offerings to the sacred river. Population pressure and the limited space on the stone steps lead many devotees to follow the prayer from the Ganges itself aboard tightly packed boats."
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the Monovisions Black and White Photography Awards 2026?
The Monovisions Black and White Photography Awards 2026 celebrate outstanding monochrome photography from photographers worldwide. Winners are recognized across 11 categories, including fine art, landscapes, wildlife, portraits, street photography, travel, and photojournalism.
Who won the Black and White Series of the Year Award?
James Lewin from the United Kingdom won the Black and White Series of the Year Award for The Land That Made Us. His work explores African communities living closely with nature, traditions, animals, seasons, and their surrounding land.
Who won the Black and White Photo of the Year Award?
Xidong Luo from China won the Black and White Photo of the Year Award for Isolation of Being. The photograph explores isolation and existence through a mysterious figure whose identity is concealed behind a veil.
How many categories are included in the 2026 Monovisions Awards?
The 2026 Monovisions Photography Awards feature 12 categories: Abstract, Architecture, Conceptual, Fine Art, Landscapes, Nature and Wildlife, People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Street Photography, and Travel, with first, second, and third places.
Why is black and white photography still popular?
Black and white photography removes the distraction of color and puts attention on light, shadows, texture, composition, emotion, and storytelling. That stripped-back approach can make ordinary moments feel dramatic, timeless, intimate, or surprisingly powerful.
