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In many ways, black-and-white nature photography is a more challenging art form than your standard color snapshot. It strips away the ‘easy’ beauty of color and forces the image to stand on its basic tenets: light, shape, texture, and timing. When it works, the results are no less than color photography. Instead, they feel more direct. More honest. Like you’re looking at a dark chocolate candy instead of the pretty wrapper.

That’s the whole point of the inaugural Black & White Nature Photography Contest by the Exposure One Awards. Photographers from around the world were asked to show what nature reveals when you take the obvious hook away. And the 2025 winners, nominees, and honorable mentions make a pretty compelling case that monochrome isn’t about removing something, but rather about perfecting composition.

Let us know in the comments which are your favorite animal photos here, and of course, check out submissions from this and other categories on Exposure One’s website and Instagram page.

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#1

"Black And White_elephant" By Sergey Gorshkov

Black and white nature photo of an elephant raising its trunk in a misty forest for Exposure One’s nature contest.

Nominee in the Animals category at the Professional level.

Exposure One Awards Report

Without color to guide your attention, everything shifts. Fur starts to read like topography. Dust becomes a physical thing you can feel in the air. Water turns into a sheet of metal, or a soft gradient of gray that feels endless.

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    #2

    "Sinister Eyes" By Faisal Zahir

    Black and white nature photo of a bird standing on wet ground with feathers covering its face in a high contrast style.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Nominee in the Wild Portraits category at the Non-Professional level. Nominee in the Minimalism category at the Non-Professional level. Description: Shot at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, New Jersey

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #3

    "Scar" By Titch Tetley

    Black and white nature photo of a giraffe with a bird flying nearby, featured in Exposure One’s nature contest.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category at the Professional level. Description: "The ox [private part] was coming in land and I wanted to capture him in motion. It wasn't until later that I noticed the scar down the giraffe's eye."

    Exposure One Awards Report

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    Even familiar subjects, animals, landscapes, and simple weather phenomena, can suddenly look unfamiliar and otherworldly. Contrast and shadow take over in the visual storytelling.

    #4

    "Eyes Raised High" By Laura Dyer

    Black and white nature photo of a cheetah resting with four cubs in the rain, showcasing wildlife in natural habitat.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category at the Professional level. Description: Cheetah cubs, snuggling on their mom in a rain storm notice something flying overhead. They are alert to all dangers, especially in the rain as it dampens sounds. Mom is relaxed, but she know aerial battles are not of concern to the small family.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #5

    "Drifters In Monochrome" By Christina Ford

    Black and white nature photograph of a translucent jellyfish with intricate flowing tentacles on a dark background

    Honorable Mention in the Underwater Category and the Animals Category. Description: 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.

    Exposure One Awards Report

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    #6

    "Deadly Fluff" By Wouter Van Hofwegen

    Close-up of polar bear paws on snow in black and white, showcasing nature in Exposure One’s black and white nature contest.

    Gold Award in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Description: Thick fur hides claws and power. The bear’s paws show both strength and comfort, made to endure the endless winter.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    You get a sense of weight, tension, and curiosity, captured at exactly the right fraction of a second. Close-ups feel personal rather than decorative. Wider scenes feel like you’ve stepped into a place where the air itself has texture.

    #7

    "Crowned In Dust And Shadow" By Mark Fernley

    Black and white nature photograph of a lioness standing near water with mist in the background from a nature contest.

    2nd Place, Overall Contest. Silver Award in the Animals Category at the Professional level. Description: A young male lion steps through a cloud of dust lifted by his own movement and caught in the back light. The night around him stays silent, but the glow reveals every contour of rising strength. A rare, intimate moment from the waterhole here in the Shompole Conservancy, southern Kenya.

    Exposure One Awards Report

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    #8

    "Evolution In Tandem" By David Volonte

    Black and white nature photo of a giraffe reaching for leaves under a large tree in an open savannah landscape.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

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    #9

    "Tiger" By Abdul Kader Kagalwala

    Black and white nature photograph of a tiger staring intently, featured in Exposure One’s nature photo contest.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Description: "He rules the silence of the jungle — unseen, unwavering, untamed."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    What connects the strongest photographs in this set is discipline. No visual noise. No gimmicks. Just a clear idea, a strong composition, and the patience to wait for the moment to line up.

    #10

    "Dreams Of Ice" By Douglas Sturgess

    Sleeping polar bear captured in black and white nature photography from Exposure One’s nature contest.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Description: A lone polar bear rests on a barren Arctic shore, its white fur glowing softly against the dark stones. In the stillness, there’s both peace and fragility, a quiet reminder of life enduring at the edge of a frozen world.

    Exposure One Awards Report

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    #11

    "The Trust" By Alena Kámen Jakubová

    Black and white nature photo featuring two close-up horses with contrasting dark and light coats in a nature contest entry.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Nominee in the Lights & Shadow category at the Non-Professional level. Description: "The calm face of the animal, sharing the present peacefulness, the rust in the eye of the horse."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #12

    "Clean-Up" By Jon Ehrmann

    Close-up black and white nature photograph of a praying mantis showcasing detailed textures and sharp features.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Nominee in the Wild Portraits category at the Non-Professional level. Description: "This voracious wild predator meticulously cleans up after a meal. The back and white rendering with steely texture articulates the power of the Praying Mantis. A bokeh halo completes the composition."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    It’s a kind of confidence, really, letting the subject carry the image without adding extra “look at me” energy on top.

    #13

    "Against A Quiet Current' By Michael Paul

    Black and white nature photo of deer walking through misty water with forest backdrop in Exposure One contest.

    Nominee in the Animals Category at the Professional level. "An elk and her yearlings ford a rocky mountain river as the morning fog burns off. The current was so placid, it neither impeded their crossing nor concealed the sloshing of their steady march to the far bank."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #14

    "Tails Of The Sea" By Anthony Brown

    Black and white nature photo of a whale tail splashing water, showcasing Exposure One’s nature contest imagery.

    Bronze Award in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Honorable Mention in the Ocean category at the Non-Professional level. Description: A large humpback whale had just breached. Just as a whale behind it started to tail slap. Making it look like this was just one big tailslap.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #15

    "The Open North" By Rachel Spencer

    Polar bear standing on snow-covered rocky terrain in a black and white nature photo from Exposure One's contest.

    Nominee in the Animals category at Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    Taken together, the awarded and honored shots are a reminder of why black-and-white still matters. It slows you down. It makes you look closer.

    #16

    "Through The Fog" By Evan Watts

    Two bears standing in misty water captured in black and white nature photography for Exposure One contest.

    Honorable Mention, Animals Category. Nominee, Light & Shadow Category. Description: "High in the Wyoming Rockies, a grizzly bear sow and her cub cross a mountain river. It was a cool morning, and thick fog hung overhead as steam rose from the river, creating an ethereal scene around one of nature's most respected predators."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #17

    "Skysurfing" By Xiaoping Lin

    Black and white nature photo of a bird catching a large fish in midair during a water splash.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category at the Professional level. Description: "When an egret was fishing, it happened to encounter a silver carp rushing out of the sea. One of the egret's feet pressed the silver carp under its feet, like an egret playing skateboarding in the air."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #18

    "The Giants Whisper" By José Miguel Angulo

    Black and white nature photo of a running elephant kicking up dust in a dramatic landscape.

    Nominee in the Animals Category at the Professional level. Description: Photographs of elephants made in Amboseli (Kenya) as part of a long project in support of this ecosystem and the maasai community in Africa, driving to the publication of the book "The Giants Whisper"

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #19

    "The Horses Of Camargue" By Laura Mommicchi

    Black and white nature photo of a horse peeking over another horse’s back under a cloudy sky.

    Nominee in the Animals category. Description: "Freedom at its finest. The white horses of Camargue, free, galloping in the wilderness. The Guardians, showing the care and the love that humans have for horses for centuries and generations in this region. A dance to witness. Complicity, Tenderness and Rawness."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #20

    "Exhale" By Richard Bagdasarian

    Black and white nature photo of a majestic elk exhaling breath in cold air, showcasing wildlife in stunning detail.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Description: Manitoban Elk during a cold and frosty morning in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S.A)

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #21

    "Bighorn Battle!" By Jeff Beatty

    Black and white nature photo of bighorn sheep locking horns, captured during an outdoor wildlife contest.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Description: Horns clash and rocks fly as two bighorn rams battle for dominance.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #22

    "Majesty In Focus" By Saleh Alshamali

    Black and white nature photo of a detailed falcon portrait featured in Exposure One’s nature contest.

    Bronze Award, Animals Category. Nominee, Wild Portraits Category. Nominee, Light & Shadow Category. Description: A striking black and white portrait of a falcon, symbolizing power and grace. The sharp contrast of light and shadow highlights every feather detail, capturing the bird’s regal presence and untamed spirit.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #23

    "Black And White_young Foxes" By Sergey Gorshkov

    Three young foxes standing on a rocky ledge in a black and white nature photograph from Exposure One’s contest.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #24

    "Don't Even Think About It" By Tom Raymond

    Black and white nature photo of a hippo emerging from water in Exposure One’s first nature contest collection.

    Honorable Mention, Wild Portraits Category Nominee, Animals Category. Description: Adult hippo strikes a menacing pose, as if to say don't even think about coming any closer. Photographed in the Northern Kruger, South Africa.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #25

    "Reverence" By Pam Dorner

    Black and white nature photo of a bear clutching a tree captured in Exposure One’s nature contest.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Honorable Mention in the Wild Portraits category at the Non-Professional level. Description: Baby bear looks up at Mom with such deep respect at Katmai National Park.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #26

    "Bear Shake Down" By Charles Janson

    Black and white nature photo of a bear walking with water droplets sparkling against a dark background in stunning contrast.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Description: In the last light of day, a backlit Brown Bear shakes his wet coat. He was foraging for salmon in a nearby creek and had just emerged onto land.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #27

    "Antarctic Storm" By Michel Groleau

    Black and white nature photo of a group of penguins on rocky terrain during heavy snowfall for Exposure One contest

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category. Description: Frozen for more than 30 million years, Antarctica is the coldest place on our planet. Antarctica plays a major role in regulating the climate of the entire planet. Less than 1% of Antarctica is not covered in ice. These rocky formations are the only places where penguins can lay their eggs.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #28

    "Začudno" By Lidija Novković

    Black and white nature photo of a horse’s neck and head captured in sharp detail for Exposure One contest.

    1st Place, Overall Contest Winner. Silver Award, Abstract Category. Honorable Mention, Animals Category.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #29

    "Classic" By Lidija Novković

    Spotted horse captured in striking black and white nature photo featured in Exposure One’s nature contest.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category at the Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #30

    "Ouch!" By Janet Gustin

    Black and white nature photo of two foxes showing affection, featured in Exposure One’s first black and white nature contest.

    1st Place winning image at the Non-Professional Level ⁠. While siblings nurse below, one kit fox pup demands attention the only way he knows how - by gently biting mom's face. The tender chaos of motherhood captured in a single frame. Even in the wild, kids compete for affection, and sometimes getting noticed means being a little bit bold. ⁠

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #31

    Aguila Mora (Geranoaetus Melanoleucus) By Alejandra Rebagliati

    Black and white nature photo of a bird of prey mid-flight above grass and rocks in a nature setting.

    Silver Award in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #32

    "The King" By Klaus Mayer

    Close-up black and white nature photo of a lion’s face, showcasing texture and intense eyes in wildlife photography.

    Silver Award in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Description: "This look. This expression. This confidence and showing of power. He looks like the real king of the plains. What a fantastic sighting. I'm still getting goosebumps watching him. One of the male lions of the pride that resides around the Mara Bush Camp."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #33

    "One Fine Morning" By Will Runk

    Pod of dolphins swimming underwater captured in a black and white nature photo from Exposure One’s contest.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category at the Professional level. Description: A pod a spinner dolphins surfaces and dives off the coast of west Oahu, HI.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #34

    "Mothers Love" By Kerrie Norrie

    Black and white nature photo of a chimpanzee mother holding her baby in a forest setting from nature contest entries.

    Bronze Award in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #35

    "Ascend" By Titch Tetley

    Black and white nature photo of a giraffe reaching for leaves on a tree in tall grass during daytime.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Professional level. Desription: "Taken in the Masai Mara in the heat of the day. I had put my camera away but as we headed back to camp we saw this sight and I just had to capture it. The tree is such an iconic symbol of the plains and with the giraffe reaching up I managed to capture the image that I saw."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #36

    "Just A Little Swish" By Bayliss Ward

    Black and white nature photo of a bear shaking water, featured in Exposure One’s nature contest collection.

    Nominee in the Animals category.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #37

    "The Gentles" By Amit Armoza

    Herd of elephants walking across c*****d dry earth in a black and white nature photo contest submission.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #38

    "Taking A Bear Break" By Heidi Ferguson

    Black and white nature photo of a bear lying down, featured in Exposure One’s first nature photography contest.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals category at the Non-Professional level. Nominee in the Wild Portraits category at the Non-Professional level. Description: "This two year old was following mom fishing in Alaska, when it decided to take a little rest. We were supposed to have left that day but the weather was too windy, and as a result I got the chance to photograph mom and baby. This is the photo I had hoped to get and felt that B&W was best."

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #39

    "In Motion" By Rachel Spencer

    Two polar bears playfully interacting in a black and white nature photo from Exposure One’s contest.

    Nominee in the Animals Category at the Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #40

    "Textures Of Survival" By Saleh Alshamali

    Black and white nature photo of a chameleon climbing a leafy plant, showcasing texture and detail in a nature contest entry.

    Honorable Mention, Earth’s Textures Category. Nominee, Animals Category. Description: A black and white portrait of a chameleon clinging to a branch. The fine textures of its skin and the dramatic play of light and shadow reveal nature’s intricate design and the quiet resilience of wildlife.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #41

    "King Of The Night" By Diego Romero Sandoval

    Black and white nature photo of a lion silhouetted in low light highlighting Exposure One’s nature contest imagery.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category. Description: An Alpha Lion patrolling at night.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #42

    "Black And White_the Arctic Fox 2" By Sergey Gorshkov

    Two owls captured in black and white nature photo, showcasing Exposure One’s black and white nature contest entries.

    Honorable Mention in the Animals Category at the Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #43

    "Traffic Jam" In Tanzania By Tom Raymond

    Herd of wildebeest captured in stunning black and white nature photo from Exposure One’s nature contest.

    Nominee in the Animals Category at the Professional level. Description: A crush of thousands of Wildebeest at the Mara River, Tanzania

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #44

    "Under A Veil Of Algae" By Jana Hejzlarova

    Close-up black and white nature photo of a horse’s eye with detailed eyelashes and textured skin.

    Gold Award in the Animals category at the Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #45

    "Born To Soar" By Jason Marino

    Black and white nature photo of a bald eagle soaring above misty rugged mountains in Exposure One contest.

    Bronze Award, Wild Portraits Category. Honorable Mention, Animals Category. Description: An eagle soars among the mountain peaks of Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #46

    "Hawk" By Joe Dollens

    Black and white nature photo of a hawk mid-flight with wings spread against a dark background from Exposure One contest.

    Nominee in the Animals Category at the Professional level.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #47

    "The Thinker" By Stafford Robinson

    Black and white nature photo of a monkey sitting near water with falling snow, featured in Exposure One contest.

    Nominee in the Animals category at the Professional level. Description: Snow Monkey, Nagano, Japan.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #48

    "King Of The Coast" By Evan Watts

    Black and white nature photo of a bear walking through grass, featured in Exposure One’s nature contest.

    Honorable Mention, Animals Category. Nominee, Wild Portraits Category. Description: Alaska's Bear Coast stretches hundreds of miles and boasts some of the best brown bear habitat on earth. This massive boar was the largest and most dominant on his stretch of coast, and in this image, he is seen eyeing a sow, a potential mate, that might allow his dominant bloodline to continue.

    Exposure One Awards Report

    #49

    "Individuality" By Takayuki Nakamura

    Black and white nature photo of a deer skull with large antlers against a deep black background for Exposure One contest.

    Bronze Award in the Animals category at the Professional level. Description: "I collect and photograph the skulls of Japanese deer. It is difficult to understand the individuality of each animal. However, when they die and only the bones remain, their individuality becomes clear."


    Exposure One Awards Report

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