Madrid – The timeless beauty of black-and-white photography has once again taken center stage with the announcement of the 2025 Black and White Photo Awards. Now in its fourth year, the competition has grown into a leading international platform, attracting entries from more than 90 countries and proving that the absence of color can sharpen focus on emotion, form, and human truth.
Portuguese photographer João Coelho was named Absolute Winner for The Kingdom of Flies, a haunting image of a man struggling amid swarms of flies over food scraps. Unflinching and raw, the photo was praised for its social resonance, a reminder that art often carries the weight of reality. Coelho’s award includes €1,000 in cash and a Thypoch Simera 35mm lens.
A newly introduced Runner-up Award went to Mark Seawell for Where the Shadows Lie, an evocative study of light and texture in Arizona’s canyons. His work, described as both sophisticated and poetic, earned him professional gear including a Benro tripod kit and Tenba Axis backpack, marking a milestone as the first ever recipient of this honor.
Special recognitions highlighted creative innovation. The Creativity Award, sponsored by Sandisk, was presented to Adebayo Rotilu for Electric Silhouette, a futuristic portrait lit solely by lasers. Meanwhile, the inaugural Master of Light Award, sponsored by Godox, went to Roberto Corinaldesi for No Words, a minimalist yet profoundly moving portrait of a woman in India.
Beyond the headline awards, category winners offered a diverse celebration of storytelling. Remuna Beca triumphed in Architecture with Brilliant Design, a staircase in Prague spiraling into the shape of a lightbulb. Willem Kruger’s Leopard Jump Mono, captured in South Africa, earned Fauna and Flora honors with its dramatic depiction of raw wildlife energy.
The Landscape prize went to Robert Bolton for The Wedded Rocks, a spiritual portrayal of Japan’s Meoto Iwa, while Nur Tucker’s Proud Artisan illuminated Anatolia’s pottery traditions to claim the Portrait award. Rounding out the list, Yanitsa Genova won the Street category with Trapped in a Frame, a visual statement on confinement and individuality within urban structures.
The jury, composed of acclaimed international photographers, praised the 2025 submissions for transcending technical mastery. Their reflections noted how this year’s winners used monochrome not only to capture images, but to reveal human struggles, cultural traditions, and new dimensions of creativity.
As the awards look ahead to 2026, organizers reaffirm their mission to expand opportunities and categories, ensuring that black-and-white photography remains a living art form. For photographers and audiences alike, the competition is a reminder that in the interplay of light and shadow, timeless stories continue to emerge.
The complete gallery of winning works from the 2025 Black and White Photo Awards is now available on the official competition website.
