Eye of the Sea by Hilda Champion.
Gold, Architecture category.Copenhagens marvelous aquarium looking at you.
The reFocus Awards has announced the winners of itsBlack & White Photo Contest.
“Eye of the Sea” by Hilda Champion. Gold, Architecture category.“Copenhagen’s marvelous aquarium looking at you.”
Images from 77 different countries were entered into the competition, which celebrates today’s most exceptional black-and-white images.
The contest awarded winners in both professional and non-professional categories, with professional photographerBill Packtaking home first place.
Pack’s artistic images that highlight the sensual curves of an automobile beat out the competition.
“Flock of Sheep” by Serkan Doğuş. Non-professional winner.“Every day, hundreds of sheep make a dusty journey to reach pasture in Tatvan district of Bitlis. Shepherd children make this journey fun. Participating in this dusty journey and photographing them was an indescribable feeling.”
His imagery also won a Gold award in the Fine Art and Minimalism categories.
Removing color from the scene reflects pure emotive feelings of my heart and what my eyes saw.
Winners were also named in 19 different categories ranging from Architecture to Fashion & Beauty to Domestic Animals.
“The last gigant of the hell” by Antonio Flores. Professional runner-up. Silver, Street category.“From the depths of hell emerges a gigantic and imposing horned beast.BOOM! sounds and everything is reached by the flames and sparks that burn the body of a couple of men who stay under it to receive the shower of sparks and the fury of the bull as part of its ritual and offering blood to the fire.”
Each category allows the contest to highlight the myriad ways that black and white photography can be used.
Here are the winners of the 2023 reFocus Awards' Black & White Photo Contest.
Flock of Sheep by Serkan Dogus.
“CarScapes” by Bill Pack. Professional winner. Gold, Fine Art and Minimalism categories.“The sensual lines and curves of the cars featured in ‘CarScapes' are not merely functional or utilitarian; they are transformed into objects of beauty and desire. I draw parallels between the artistry of car design and the beauty found in natural landscapes and the human body.”
Non-professional winner.Every day, hundreds of sheep make a dusty journey to reach pasture in Tatvan district of Bitlis.
Shepherd children make this journey fun.
Participating in this dusty journey and photographing them was an indescribable feeling.
“Queen of the North” by Sushil Chauhan. Gold, Wildlife category.“This beautiful Leopard poses in the evening above her den site looking for potential prey & treats to her cubs.”
The last gigant of the hell by Antonio Flores.
Silver, Street category.From the depths of hell emerges a gigantic and imposing horned beast.BOOM!
CarScapes by Bill Pack.
“The Last of the Eagle Hunters” by Rachel Rudwall. Gold, Travel category.“As senior Golden Eagle hunters age out of the hunting tradition and younger nomads head to the city for opportunity, the custom of eagle hunting risks dying out. But with the help of Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival, this Kazakh cultural practice might just stand a chance.”
Queen of the North by Sushil Chauhan.
The Last of the Eagle Hunters by Rachel Rudwall.
There were separate divisions for professional and non-professional photographers.
“The iron quest” by João Coelho. Non-professional runner-up.“This series depicts the conditions in which a group of young people work in a ship graveyard in Angola. After removing pieces weighing hundreds of kilos using only their hands and the strength of their arms, they have to carry them to the beach, fighting against the waves and currents of the sea.”
The iron quest by Joao Coelho.
Soatanana by Denys Kutsevalov.
Silver and People’s Choice, Event.
“Soatanana” by Denys Kutsevalov. Silver and People’s Choice, Event. Bronze, People.“Mystery unveils right in front of my eyes when I enter Soatanana village. It feels like I am an unwelcomed outsider, who will ruin the solemn moment by the sound of a camera shutter. Is it even possible to capture this divine light, this overwhelming feeling of being inside this sacral celebration?”
Bronze, People.Mystery unveils right in front of my eyes when I enter Soatanana village.
Is it even possible to capture this divine light, this overwhelming feeling of being inside this sacral celebration?
Moods by Pietro Luraschi.
“Moods” by Pietro Luraschi. Silver, Nature category.The apparent calm of the foreground, the utter chaos of the background. Stark difference in one scene, same herd, different moods.”
Silver, Nature category.The apparent calm of the foreground, the utter chaos of the background.
Stark difference in one scene, same herd, different moods.
PRAYER by Ben Yew.
“PRAYER” by Ben Yew. Gold, Portrait category.
Gold, Portrait category.
Essence of Huangshan by Kent Burkhardsmeier.
Gold, Landscape category.Chinas Huangshan range has inspired generations of poets, painters, and photographers.
“Essence of Huangshan” by Kent Burkhardsmeier. Gold, Landscape category.“China’s Huangshan range has inspired generations of poets, painters, and photographers. Song Dynasty artisans (1127-1279) established the classic style forlandscape painting: asymmetrical views, diagonally composed with prominent parts – foreground, middle distance, and far distance, and a field of mist.”
Buzzer midge by Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz.
Professional, 3rd Place.
This family is widely distributed in the world.
“Buzzer midge” by Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz. Professional, 3rd Place. Gold, Wildlife category.“Chironomus plumosus mosquito is a mosquito that does not bite, its mouthparts are very reduced and, in addition, it does not feed either. This family is widely distributed in the world. The name ‘plumosus' is referred to by the pair of feathery antennae that stand out in the male.”
The name plumosus' is referred to by the pair of feathery antennae that stand out in the male.
Commuters India by Sascha van der Werf.
Gold, Street category.From my series The Commuters' (international edition).
“Commuters India” by Sascha van der Werf. Gold, Street category.“From my series ‘The Commuters' (international edition).”
Living History Lincoln’s by Ruben Hamelink.
Aside from the overall winners, top images were selected in 19 diverse categories.
Symbiosis in South Sudan by Trevor Cole.
“Living History – Lincoln’s” by Ruben Hamelink. Gold, Film/Analog category.“The most recognized historical figure in the US, Abraham Lincoln, lives on after more than 150 years since his assassination. The portraits were taken at the Association for Lincoln Presenters annual convention, a weekend where dozens of Lincolns meet, learn, and teach about their past self.”
Gold, Travel category.
The dust and smoke intermingle to create an inimitable atmosphere.
I have rarely experienced such a sense of community where everyone is integral to life in the camp.
“Symbiosis in South Sudan” by Trevor Cole. Gold, Travel category. Silver,Photojournalismcategory.“The Mundari cattle camps in the dry season are found along the banks of the White Nile in South Sudan. The dust and smoke intermingle to create an inimitable atmosphere. I have rarely experienced such a sense of community where everyone is integral to life in the camp.”
Cary, Axiuli and Haytoo, Havana, Cuba, 2023 by James Clifford Kent.
Pearls by Olivia Mazzola.
Silver, Fashion & Beauty category.
“Cary, Axiuli and Haytoo, Havana, Cuba, 2023” by James Clifford Kent. Gold, People category.“Cary has lived at her home—formerly the site of a laundry run by Chinese Cubans—since the early 1990s. Her grown-up children have now left the island in search of a better standard of living and she lives alone with her animals—a goose (Axiuli), two dogs (Shimao & Tabey), and her cat (Haytoo).”
A Tributary In The Abstract by Pat Kennedy Corlin.
Gold, Abstract category.
I believe the details have enough impact to make the images complete.
“Pearls” by Olivia Mazzola. Silver, Fashion & Beauty category.
Tree of Life by Julie Kenny.
The overall effect is one of renewal, harmony and interconnection.
It’s a reminder of the complexity of nature, beginnings and endings and the cycling of life.
“A Tributary In The Abstract” by Pat Kennedy Corlin. Gold, Abstract category. Silver, Landscape category.“A Tributary In The Abstract, where the river meets the sea …”
Untitled by Drew Hopper.
Gold, Minimalism category.
The Last Turn by Laurie Thomson.
“Remnants” by Kris Desautels. Gold, Conceptual category.“For this series I leaned into my minimalist sensibilities by focusing on the small details of the human form and juxtaposed them against a more broad context to suggest that the subject isn’t whole. I believe the details have enough impact to make the images complete.”
Gold, Event category.Barrel racing is a popular sport for riders and spectators alike.
Quite the event and usually over in less than twenty seconds!
Bulls, Broncs and Barrels by David Zlotky.
“Tree of Life” by Julie Kenny. Gold, Aerial category.“This aerial perspective of a fallen tree captures the webbed network of sheep tracks which provides a sense of cyclical change and renewal. The overall effect is one of renewal, harmony and interconnection. It’s a reminder of the complexity of nature, beginnings and endings and the cycling of life.”
Gold, Domestic Animals category.Small town, open air rodeos in eastern Kansas are common in the summer.
They’re wonderful slices of Americana.
I appreciate their superb horsemanship.
“Untitled” by Drew Hopper. Gold, Minimalism category.
The Wait by Csaba Tokolyi.
Gold, Nature category.Polar bear waits for ice to form on Hudson Bay.
Instead of thick ice, heaps of kelp covers the shore.
“The Last Turn” by Laurie Thomson. Gold, Event category.“Barrel racing is a popular sport for riders and spectators alike. Three barrels are set up in a pattern and this is the last barrel before the rider and horse race back to see who has the fast time. Quite the event and usually over in less than twenty seconds!”
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Plastic Treasure by Alain Schroeder.
Gold, Photojournalism category.
“Bulls, Broncs and Barrels” by David Zlotky. Gold, Domestic Animals category.“Small town, open air rodeos in eastern Kansas are common in the summer. They’re wonderful slices of Americana. Cowboys and Cowgirls compete for prize money and bragging rights exercise the same skills used everyday on working ranches across the country. I appreciate their superb horsemanship.”
Silver, People category.Recycling plastic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a significant environmental effort.
The city faces challenges related to plastic waste due to its rapid urbanization and population growth.
Various initiatives and informal recycling networks have emerged to address the issue.
“The Wait” by Csaba Tokolyi. Gold, Nature category.“Polar bear waits for ice to form on Hudson Bay. But as a result of global warming, the ice melts up earlier in spring and develops later in autumn, leaving the bears in desperate lean times. Instead of thick ice, heaps of kelp covers the shore. Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.”
MIRAGE by Shunya Tomita.
Nature’s black and white by Fleur Scholte.
Silver, Domestic Animals category.Samoyed Atlas standing proud at Reynisfjara in Iceland.
“Plastic Treasure” by Alain Schroeder. Gold, Photojournalism category. Silver, People category.“Recycling plastic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a significant environmental effort. The city faces challenges related to plastic waste due to its rapid urbanization and population growth. Various initiatives and informal recycling networks have emerged to address the issue.”
His bright white coat created a perfect contrast against the black basalt columns.
Mayti Series by David Allan Brandt.
Gold, Fashion & Beauty category.Part of a project photographed in Havana, Cuba
Eternal March by Rick Lingo.
“MIRAGE” by Shunya Tomita. Gold, Still Life category.“This is a beautiful piece created from thousands of sheets of paper.It should just be a pile of papers, but its shimmering appearance resembles the light of the moon reflected on the surface of the water, or a mirage that disappears like an illusion.”
Non-professional, 3rd place.
Rebirth by Michael Potts.
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“Nature’s black and white” by Fleur Scholte. Silver, Domestic Animals category.“Samoyed Atlas standing proud at Reynisfjara in Iceland. His bright white coat created a perfect contrast against the black basalt columns.”
“Mayti Series” by David Allan Brandt. Gold, Fashion & Beauty category.“Part of a project photographed in Havana, Cuba”
“Eternal March” by Rick Lingo. Non-professional, 3rd place.
“Rebirth” by Michael Potts. Gold, Fine Art category.“In my ongoing underwater ‘Dreamtime' work, I seek moments of sublime peace (that fine line where the conscious and subconscious meet) and the creative chaos (where energy is released, that fine line is broken, and the potential becomes kinetic).”
