Monochrome Photography Awards 2023: 40 Images Captured By Talented Photographers From Around The World

"On a serene spring morning in Central Florida in 2020, a majestic Great Egret gracefully returned to its nest, where its young baby egret had patiently waited. I was privileged to observe and document the profound and tender bond between parents and offspring through my camera lens."

"This photo was taken at Daruji National Park Karnataka India. This photo was taken while the mother was walking down the rock, but the cub was not ready to get off her back. When she was coming down, she literally cried like a baby and quickly climbed onto her mother's back."

"A boy plays in the snow after sudden and intense snowfall following rather mild first month of winter. Kraków, Poland on February 3, 2023."

"I shot this humpback whale lunge feeding in Monterey bay, California the humpback lunge fed way to close from the boat and I was only able to get close details of the mouth."

"Lions have been momentous symbols to humankind for thousands of years. Their bravery, strength, courage, loyalty, and close family bonds have inspired millions of people in their day-to-day lives. My aim in Ndutu this year was to create a group portrait that would resonate with and connect us to this most iconic mammal and highlight their noble qualities.

For a worthy portrait to materialise, I needed the subject, location, composition, light, background, and sky to come together simultaneously, which, of course, is totally out of my control. These few and far-between split seconds have become what I search long and hard for. There is simply no better feeling than when it all pays off.

I am especially drawn to how the proud noble gaze of the lion represents the stability and leadership that dominant males bring to a pride and how the intent stare of the lioness reminds us of their loyalty to the pride and powerful hunting capabilities. It brings a subtle balance to the frame, highlighting the inspiring qualities of such a famous and highly regarded species."

"I came across this bubble thrower on my walk home one afternoon. For the small change they make from donations, they bring so much joy to children who jump and dance to pop the bubbles as they float into the air. It’s a magical feeling."

"Man seems to us to be a stable, uniform whole, hard as a rock, just like the title monolith. We forget, however, that, like rocks, we are often formed by erosion. We can get used to bad experiences, accept that they have become an inseparable part of ourselves and turn them into a strong side of our personality."

"Male California sea lions are distinct from female sea lions; they are larger in size, have thick necks and possess a protruding, grey sagittal crest. During mating season the dominant males become territorial and protect their harem, which can be up to 30 females. This male bursts through a shoal of sardines, with his harem seen behind him. At Los Islotes, in the Espiritu Santo National Park, Mexico, the California sea lion has been protected under Mexican law since 1994. As part of the Islas del Golfo de California Flora and Fauna Protection Area (APFF-IGC), the area is a no-take zone enforced by La Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP), which positively impacts predators’ food sources such as sardine shoals. Espiritu Santo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005 and was declared a National Marine Park in 2007. Thanks to these efforts, the sea lion colony at Los Islotes has expanded and is estimated at 400 - 800 individuals, making it now one of the most stable colonies in the area. While restricting direct human activity has hugely benefited the California sea lion population in Espiritu Santo."

"The entire body of work was taken along 4-5 months between April and August of 2022 in different parts of the Val Miñor region in Galicia, Spain. This photo in particular was taken at the Torroña "curro" in Pontevedra on June 5th, 2022. The "Rapa das Bestas" or "shaving of the beasts" is a Galician tradition that takes place every summer on different dates and places mostly along the Galician southern rural mountainous areas. Basically the horses are rounded up and locals in a comunal effort, drive them to the "curros" which are mostly stonewalled rodeo-like structures, where their manes and tails are shaved, dewormed and mandatory microchips are implanted on the newly born foals. After all these processes they are let go to roam freely for another full year. I wanted to document the entire process in different locations where different catching technics were applied. The picture shows just a part of "curro" where horses have been rounded up. For obvious reasons I immediately identified the white horse from the rest of the herd and snapped a couple of pictures."

"Camargue horses running through the marsh."

"This photo was taken at the Taal Monument located in Paarl, South Africa. The brutalist architecture of the monument is typical of the 70's. The monument commemorates Afrikaans being declared an official language of South Africa separate from Dutch.

The silhouetted person (who is my father) is demonstrating scale, creating a mood and story as well as contributing to making the image surreal.

In both the composition and post processing of the image I wished to convey an outer worldly feel. A place of importance, a central meeting point or perhaps a place of worship. In searching to further develop surreality, the processing of the images has been done in black and white."

"This is Inner Mongolia, China. The filming location is located in Ulan Butong Grassland. A horse stands in the early morning snowstorm, waiting for its owner."

"Mud ball wrestling."

"The Tenggerese people, known as 'The Horsemen of Bromo' in Indonesia, embody a captivating cultural legacy in the stunning landscape surrounding Mount Bromo. Their vibrant customs and role as horseback guides create an immersive experience for visitors exploring the volcanic terrains. These horsemen, with their traditional attire and deep-rooted rituals, offer travelers not just a ride but an encounter with the rich heritage of the region."

"Sometimes we tend to forget that we are an integral part of nature.

In my photographs, I create compositions where I blend man with nature. This creates a unified image where man and nature merge into one motif.
With this work I strengthen the current theme of man and nature."

"I was inspired to create a captivating photo series featuring a beautiful girl adorned with tin foil, as I found the combination to be intriguing. To enhance the dramatic effect, I crafted tin foil decorations specifically for the girl, transforming her appearance into a mesmerizing and striking portrayal."

"The name of this image comes from the Nabateans - an ancient culture you might be more familiar with for their Architecture sculpted in stone at Petra in Jordan. They also travelled to what is now the remote deserts of Arabia, where this photograph was taken. For this image shot on film, I used a vintage rangefinder camera. I wanted a similar feel as the historic black and white images from the time of the discovery of the great pyramids, the time of Howard Carter - that can only come from vintage lenses."

"Initially, the oyster mushroom captured my imagination and I have since added other wild varieties as subject material. My creative vision uses their bizarre and varied shape, alien textures, and intricate detail combined with composition and lighting to present crisp images with a dose of abstraction. Abstraction makes them unique and opens them to multiple interpretations depending on the viewer’s imagination to use their personal memories and life experiences to build content."

"An Acid Attack Survivor (Portrait at the Taj Mahal). In my work for my new book about women, I was in Agra, India, and I was able to meet countless women like Geeta, in the photo, who posed for me, a timeless and disturbing portrait, which shows a trace of the violence and intolerance of our time."

"Paris, France, 2021."