Black and white photos have the ability to evoke profound emotion and thought. Therefore, today, we are happy to introduce you to the winners of this year's Exposure One Awards.
Both professional photographers and non-professionals could submit their photos, however, in this list, we only showcased the winners of the professional category; if you'd like to see the rest, make sure to visit the Exposure One Awards website.
Steven Benson was chosen as the Overall Contest Winner in the professional category with his photo series called "Resonance." As a photographer/videographer, his photos also won in the Film/Analog category.
These photographers serve as a reminder that, even in a world full with color, sometimes the most powerful stories are conveyed through the contrast of black and white.
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Fashion & Beauty: Seleen Saleh - Black Madonna
Photographer of the Year in the Fashion & Beauty category and People’s Vote Award in the Fashion & Beauty category.
"Black Madonna was a such a prominent figure that there are over 500 paintings and sculptures of her around Orthodox Countries in Europe from the 13th century. Black Madonna speaks to an ancient cultural memory of the African origins of humanity representing the original mother of Earth's children."
Landscapes: Michael Paul - Naturally Unfolding
Photographer of the Year in the Landscapes category.
"At the foot of Wyoming's Tetons the waning day brings a cast of characters together to mingle for a moment of refreshingly untouched nature."
Conceptual: Zili Zhang - Passing By No.5
Photographer of the Year in the Conceptual category and People’s Vote Award in the Conceptual category.
"A composite of 5 photos of walking people against the same window on Madison Avenue. Observe the seamless link at opposite corners and the aligned silhouettes, creating a visual harmony. The title has a dual meaning, they were passing by the window and also passing by each other."
International Photographer Of The Year: Steven Benson - Resonance
Overall Contest Winner and Photographer of the Year in the Film/Analog category.
Nature: Peter Jeschke - Frost On My Windows
Photographer of the Year in the Nature category.
"Nature creates ephemeral frost crystal art in winter on my old New Hampshire farmhouse windows. Artful frost compositions form overnight, are backlit by exterior light diffracting wondrously through the ice crystals, then disappear in the sun’s warmth. Flat grey winter light lends itself to B&W."
Fine Art: Sandra Cattaneo Adorno - Monochrome Ipanema
Photographer of the Year in the Fine Art category, Photographer of the Year in the People category, Photographer of the Year in the Travel category, and Bronze in the Street category.
"I have taken these pictures on Ipanema Beach, the place that I used to visit as a child. As I went back to photograph it after many years, memories rushed back to me and they mingled with the new scenes I was experiencing. The monochrome tone aligned perfectly with my childhood recollections."
Wildlife: Gary Cox - The Mane Man
Photographer of the Year in the Wildlife category.
"Khari the African lion shaking his beautiful mane."
Street: Paul Lukin - Parallel Realities: Glamour And Grit
Photographer of the Year in the Street category.
"A glamorous high-fashion model on a towering billboard looms imposingly, exuding luxury and wealth. Below, a solitary sweeper toils in silence, her humble presence dwarfed by the grandeur above. This Dichotomy invites viewer to reflect on the stark societal disparities."
International Photographer Of The Year: Steven Benson - Resonance
Overall Contest Winner and Photographer of the Year in the Film/Analog category.
Abstract: Rj Muna - Fleeting Gestures
Photographer of the Year in the Abstract category.
"How do we see something beyond its form, beyond what we know from our senses? How is its ephemeral nature best known? Could an abstraction or distillation of its likeness, reveal it more deeply and, in fact, more accurately? When do we stop seeing a bird and see only a fleeting gesture?"
Still Life: Bill Pack - Carscapes
Photographer of the Year in the Still Life category.
"'CarScape' 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."
International Photographer Of The Year: Steven Benson - Resonance
Overall Contest Winner and Photographer of the Year in the Film/Analog category.
Event: John Scheibe - Ballet
Photographer of the Year in the Event category, Silver in the Abstract category, and People’s Vote Award in the Event category.
An expressive pas de deux, captured in motion.
International Photographer Of The Year: Steven Benson - Resonance
Overall Contest Winner and Photographer of the Year in the Film/Analog category.
Nude: Jasmine Lord - Sand
Photographer of the Year in the Nude category and Silver in the Fine Art category.
Domestic Animals: Claudia Musal - Perspective Or Position
Photographer of the Year in the Domestic Animals category.
International Photographer Of The Year: Steven Benson - Resonance
Overall Contest Winner and Photographer of the Year in the Film/Analog category.
Aerial: Eva Berler - Companionship
Photographer of the Year in the Aerial category, Bronze in the Fine Art, and People’s Vote Award in the Aerial category.
Photojournalism: Peter Jeschke - Timeless
Photographer of the Year in the Photojournalism category, Bronze in the Travel category, and People’s Vote Award in the Photojournalism category.
"During rice harvesting and threshing in Bhoi, Meghalaya in Northeast India, two women winnow rice grains from chaff. Titled “Timeless,” this image could have been taken a thousand years ago as nothing much has changed since harvested grains were first separated from their dried husks."
Minimalism: Jay Tang - Everyday Landscapes: Lake At The Foothill
Photographer of the Year in the Minimalism category.
"Everyday Landscapes is a series of abstract photographs created from the shadows of everyday material, like paper and tissues, forming a perceived reality of a landscape painting."
Architecture: Antonio Coelho - House Of Music
Photographer of the Year in the Architecture category and People’s Vote Award in the Architecture category.
"Designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
The architecture of the building was acclaimed internationally. Nicolai Ouroussoff, a New York Times architecture critic, called it "the most attractive project that architect Rem Koolhaas has ever built"."