In a world saturated with color, black and white photography stands apart as a timeless, powerful medium. It strips away distraction, focusing our attention on form, texture, emotion, and the pure essence of a story. Celebrating this profound art form is the mission of the MonoVisions Photography Awards, and the newly announced MonoVisions Photography Awards 2025 winners are a stunning testament to the enduring power of monochrome imagery.
This year, the competition drew an incredible 3,440 entries from photographers across the globe, all vying for recognition in one of the most prestigious contests dedicated to black and white photography. The esteemed panel of judges—including Cyrille Druart, Vera Saldivar de Lira, and Arkadiusz Kubisiak, among others—faced the difficult task of selecting the most compelling works. The winning images are not just technically flawless; they are deeply personal, conceptually rich, and emotionally resonant.
From the prehistoric landscapes of Kenya to the intimate contours of the human form, the MonoVisions Photography Awards 2025 winners have delivered a masterclass in visual storytelling. Let’s explore the artists who took home the competition’s highest honors.
Black & White Series of the Year 2025: “Jurassic Park” by Alessandro Marena
The top prize for a cohesive body of work, the Black & White Series of the Year 2025, was awarded to Italian photographer Alessandro Marena for his captivating series, “Jurassic Park.” Marena receives a $3,000 cash prize for his work, which transports viewers to the Solio Game Reserve, a unique rhino sanctuary in Kenya.
The series captures the raw, almost primeval atmosphere of the reserve, where rhinos roam in an environment that feels untouched by modern time. Marena’s masterful use of high contrast and dramatic lighting isolates these magnificent creatures, making them appear as powerful, monolithic sculptures against an ancient backdrop.
Marena, a passionate amateur wildlife photographer who practices law by day, reignited his love for photography during the pandemic. “There’s no sensation quite like being in front of a lion, walking toward me with the perfect angle for a shot, or lying on my belly on the ground as a line of elephants approaches my camera,” he says. His work aims to convey the awe and wonder of these encounters, and “Jurassic Park” achieves this with profound success.
Black & White Photo of the Year 2025: “Balance” by Alena Khodar
Taking the coveted title of MonoVisions Black & White Photo of the Year 2025 and a $2,000 cash prize is Alena Khodar for her elegant and powerful image, “Balance.”
The photograph is a masterful study in tension and grace. It explores the delicate relationship between strength and fragility, using the interplay of light and shadow to emphasize the sculptural quality of the human form. Set against a minimalist background, the image draws the viewer’s focus entirely to the precision and elegance of the figure, inviting reflection on resilience and the timeless beauty of simplicity.
Khodar, a photographer from Belarus with an academic background in painting, seamlessly blends classical influences with contemporary photographic techniques. Her work often explores themes of vulnerability, intimacy, and the aesthetics of the human form, and “Balance” is a perfect encapsulation of her unique artistic vision.
A Showcase of Series Winners: Category by Category
Beyond the grand prizes, the MonoVisions Awards 2025 celebrate excellence across 12 distinct series categories. Here are the first-place winners who demonstrated exceptional skill and vision in their respective fields.
Abstract: “Quietscapes” by Kalle Saarikko
Saarikko’s series is a brilliant example of how intentional camera movement can transform a landscape into a graphic masterpiece. The images reduce winter to its essential elements, creating a powerful dialogue between pure white snow and the dark, skeletal forms of trees, a core principle in great abstract photography.
Architectural: “Gehry Staircase” by Mark Stevens
This series isolates the iconic Douglas fir staircase, turning it into a stunning study of rhythm, form, and texture. Stevens’ focus on detail and the interplay of light transforms a functional architectural element into a compelling work of abstract art, showcasing the building’s aesthetic value beyond its purpose.
Conceptual: “The Rite of Spring” by Xidong Luo
A visually poetic series that brilliantly translates the energy of Stravinsky’s music into a photographic narrative. Luo’s use of mirrors and flowers creates a multi-layered story about duality and renewal, a hallmark of sophisticated conceptual photography that invites deep reflection.
Fine Art: “In the folds of the night” by Pierre-Yves Cruaud
Cruaud’s work is a surreal and evocative exploration of entrapment and metamorphosis. The series uses fragmented human forms and natural elements to build a dreamlike, almost claustrophobic world, pushing the boundaries of traditional fine art photography into a deeply psychological realm.
Landscapes: “Lights, Shadows, and Glaciers” by Matthias Conrad
This series is a testament to the dramatic power of the alpine environment. Conrad’s technical precision, using filters and short exposures, captures the raw texture of the glaciers in stark contrast to the soft, moving clouds, resulting in landscapes that feel both timeless and intensely alive.
Nature and Wildlife: “Jurassic Park” by Alessandro Marina
The overall series winner also deservedly took first place in its category, demonstrating an exceptional ability to capture the monumental and ancient spirit of its subjects through a powerful monochrome lens.
Nude: “Body Shapes” by Irina Cheremisina
Cheremisina deconstructs the human form, focusing on lines, curves, and intriguing angles to create abstract compositions. By limiting the frame, the series encourages viewers to move beyond conventional notions of beauty and appreciate the body as a landscape of pure form.
People: “Inside Romania” by Ilona Schong
A profoundly moving documentary series that captures the quiet dignity of life in vanishing traditional Romanian homes. Schong’s portraits create an indelible link between the people and their environment, telling a powerful story of time, memory, and cultural change.
Photojournalism: “Israel’s Attacks On Lebanon” by murat Sengul
This series is a harrowing and necessary piece of photojournalism. Sengul’s unflinching documentation of the human cost of conflict is both devastating and vital, using the starkness of black and white to underscore the gravity of the situation without sensationalism.
Portrait: “Mental Garden” by Marzena Kolarz
Kolarz’s use of the historic ambrotype technique gives this fashion series a haunting, ethereal quality. The resulting portraits are not just about clothing but are deeply psychological, appearing as ghostly apparitions from another time, each telling a story of internal human experience.
Street: “Lagos city” by Christophe MOEC
This series is a masterclass in street photography, capturing the raw, unfiltered energy of Lagos. Moec’s analog approach lends a gritty authenticity to scenes of daily struggle and resilience, creating a powerful and humane portrait of one of the world’s largest cities.
Travel: “Shadows of the Sacred” by Lorenz Berna
Berna’s series goes beyond typical travel documentation, offering a meditative and spiritual journey into the ancient churches of Lalibela. His focus on the interplay between light, shadow, and quiet moments of faith creates a profound sense of place and timeless devotion.
The Power of a Single Frame: The Black & White Single Photo Winners
The awards also celebrate the immense impact a single photograph can have. Here are the first-place winners in the single-image categories.
Abstract: “Comoros” by Eric Lafargue
A brilliant exercise in minimalism and metaphor, this image uses found objects to construct a powerful statement on geography and fragmentation. Lafargue proves that the most profound ideas in abstract art can emerge from the simplest of compositions.
Architectural: “The Tokyo” by Shuchuan Liu
This photograph is a quintessential cityscape, perfectly balanced and beautifully composed. Liu’s masterful processing in black and white enhances the sense of scale and graphic beauty, turning a famous view into a personal and powerful statement.
Conceptual: “confrontation” by Ali Zolghadri
Zolghadri’s image is a stark, powerful visual puzzle. Its minimalist composition and ambiguous narrative demand the viewer’s interpretation, making it a highly effective piece of conceptual art that lingers in the mind.
Fine Art: “The Gathering” by Thomas de Franzoni
A breathtakingly atmospheric photograph that feels like a dream. The use of fog mutes the scene, creating a soft, ethereal quality, while the elegant forms of the flamingos provide a focal point of serene beauty. It is a perfect example of fine art’s ability to evoke mood over reality.
Landscapes: “The Looming Thunder” by Chao Feng
Feng captures the sublime and terrifying power of nature in a single, dramatic frame. The contrast between the dark, menacing storm clouds and the illuminated landscape below creates a palpable sense of tension and awe.
Nature and Wildlife: “Acacia Tree with Giraffe” by Xuejun Long
This is a beautifully composed and wonderfully lit wildlife photograph. Long captures a harmonious moment in the ongoing arms race between predator and prey, highlighting the elegant form of the giraffe against the graphic texture of the acacia tree.
Nude: “Balance” by Alena Khodar
The overall single photo winner also won its category, celebrated for its elegant composition and profound exploration of strength, fragility, and form through a minimalist lens.
People: “Le Chant de l’Aigle” by Apostolos Kaloudis
This is more than a portrait; it’s a deep cultural narrative captured in one image. Kaloudis expertly frames the two brothers to tell a story of heritage, individuality, and the mysterious nature of an ancestral calling.
Photojournalism: “Memories Amidst the Ashes” by Shinji Isobe
Isobe’s photograph is a symbol of resilience in the face of devastation. The single figure of the boy amidst the smoke and rubble is a powerful, heart-wrenching image that encapsulates the human spirit’s will to endure.
Portrait: “A espera” by Sandra Ventura
A deeply empathetic and moving portrait. Ventura’s photograph captures a world of emotion and history in the subject’s gaze, demonstrating the power of portraiture to connect us with the profound experience of another human being.
Street: “From Salute to Cheers” by Chris Mozyro
Mozyro captures a perfect “decisive moment” that tells a complete story. The image masterfully contrasts the formal world of military duty with the informal, universal human joy of camaraderie, a core theme in classic street photography.
Travel: “Riders of the Volcano” by Mahendra Bakle
This photograph is a dynamic and vibrant depiction of culture in a dramatic landscape. Bakle’s composition places the horsemen as heroic figures against the epic scale of Mount Bromo, creating a powerful image of tradition and place.
A Celebration of Vision
The MonoVisions Photography Awards 2025 have once again proven that black and white photography is a thriving, dynamic, and essential art form. The competition successfully fulfilled its aim: to discover the best monochrome photographers from around the world and provide them with a platform for recognition.
For photographers feeling inspired by these incredible works and eager to find a platform for their own unique vision, the world of photo competitions offers a fantastic opportunity. If you’re looking to elevate your work, gain recognition, and join a global community of artists, exploring our comprehensive list of the best photography contests is the perfect resource to find your next challenge.
Our heartfelt congratulations go out to Alessandro Marena, Alena Khodar, and all the talented MonoVisions Awards 2025 winners. Their work challenges us to see the world differently, to find beauty in simplicity, and to appreciate the profound stories that can be told without a single drop of color. To see all the winning images, visit the official competition website.