Down below the surface, where sound drops out and light starts acting weird, black and white underwater photography hits different. The One Exposure Awards 2025 – Nature Photography Contest (Underwater, Black & White) proves exactly that. These 17 images aren’t about flashy colors or tropical vibes. They’re about mood, mystery, and that quiet, spine-tingling moment when the ocean feels bigger than you.
This year’s collection strips the sea down to its raw bones—contrast, texture, movement, and emotion. Without color to lean on, every ripple, bubble, and shadow tells the story. You don’t just see these photos—you feel them in your chest.
The Gold Award went to Chris Gug for “Holy Waters.” Shot off Key Largo, the iconic Christ of the Abyss statue rests nearly 30 feet underwater. After years of coral growth—no longer scrubbed clean—Gug captured the statue at that perfect in-between moment. Not overgrown, not bare. Just enough nature reclaiming faith, time, and silence in one powerful frame.
The Silver Award belongs to Xaime Beiro for “Octopus Hugh.” It’s that split second when the ocean feels alive—an octopus stretching out like it wants a hug. Simple. Emotional. Low-key poetic.
Rounding it out, Bronze was claimed by Jodi Frediani for “Heads or Tails.” Three northern right whale dolphins slicing through glassy water. Even without color, the contrast of silver and coal turns this moment into pure visual rhythm.
Together, these award-winning images from the One Exposure Awards remind us: underwater photography isn’t about what’s visible—it’s about what’s felt.
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#1. Gold: "Holy Waters" by Chris Gug
"The iconic Christ of the Abyss statue lies in ~30′ of water off Key Largo. For decades, divers scrubbed it clean, but several years back, that became illegal, and set out for this shoot after several years of coral growth – not too much, not too little."
#2. Silver: "Octopus hugh" by Xaime Beiro
"That exact moment when the sea wants to embrace you."
#3. Bronze: "Heads or Tails" by Jodi Frediani
"Three northern right whale dolphins bow ride our whale watch vessel. Unusually clear, flat seas provided a colorful palate to showcase these slender, sleek and streamlined cetaceans. Yet, even rendered in black and white, this threesome provides a striking image of silver and coal."
Honorable Mentions
#4. "Drifters in Monochrome" by Christina Ford
"This series shows jellyfish glowing softly in darkness, their bells like lanterns and tentacles trailing like delicate strokes. Without color, they become pure form and motion, drifting like living shadows. Each image reveals quiet grace—slow pulses of light and gentle, weightless movement."
#5. "Flying in the water" by Risto Raunio
"Adelie penguin is coming out from deep water just before breaking the calm water."
#6. "The Cloud" by Giacomo Marchione
"Schools of sardines along the coast of Cebu Island, Philippines. They form schools so dense that they block out the sun."
#7. "Barracuda Shards" by Catherine Holmes
Schooling Barracuda blur Papua New Guinea."
#8. "Sea Puppy Gaze" by Remuna Beca
"With irresistible puppy-like eyes, an Endangered Australian sea lion playfully engages with the camera with curiosity in South Australia’s kelp forests."
#9. "One Fine Morning" by Will Runk
"A pod a spinner dolphins surfaces and dives off the coast of west Oahu, HI."
Nominees
#10. "Eclipse" by Remuna Beca
"A shark silhouette transforms the sun into an underwater eclipse."
#11. "Whale Tail Under the Surface" by Joaquin Fregoni
"The whale’s tail is still underwater but really close to the surface. It looks peaceful, just moving slowly below the light."
#12. "Deep Window" by Jonathan Allen
"Looking into the eye of whales and feeling them looking back at me, in moments of silent mutual recognition will forever be my most profound ocean memories."
#13. "Shall We Dance" by Chris Gug
"A mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) glides downward like a parachute after unexpectedly launching itself into the water column. After shooting it against the sand for the past 30 minutes, I had to rapidly adjust my exposure to aim into the sun."
#14. "Scratching the Surface" by Sofia Viegas
"With a gentle sweep of its fins, a young humpback whale traces delicate patterns through the water. In this fleeting moment, the calf’s quiet curiosity takes center stage — a reminder that even the ocean’s largest beings begin by simply exploring, just scratching the surface of a vast life ahead."
#15. "Alien Anchovies" by Jodi Frediani
"Northern anchovies, swimming with gills wide open, filter plankton from the water. Standing on the wharf and shooting from above provided a unique perspective during a rarely captured moment when the fish were actively feeding in calm water just beneath the surface."
#16. "Lurking danger" by Catherine Holmes
"American crocodile in Cuba"
#17. "Thorny Headdress" by Richard Condlyffe
"This image shows a Thorny Seahorse. I created this effect by back-lighting the subject and using a small amount of side light to further highlight its thorns. Taken in Anilao, Philippines."
In Summary
What is this article about?
- It showcases 17 award-winning black and white underwater photos from the One Exposure 2025 Nature Photography Contest.
Who won the Gold Award?
- Chris Gug won Gold for “Holy Waters,” featuring the Christ of the Abyss statue off Key Largo.
Why black and white underwater photography?
- Removing color amplifies emotion, texture, and contrast, creating more powerful visual storytelling.
Who are the other winners?
- Silver: Xaime Beiro (“Octopus Hugh”). Bronze: Jodi Frediani (“Heads or Tails”).
What makes these photos special?
- They capture rare, emotional underwater moments where light, life, and silence meet.
