The Black & White Photo Contest by reFocus Awards welcomes both individual image and series submissions that honor and explore black and white photography.

Black & White Photo Contest

1st Place

Girl with traditional hairstyle sitting in front of a house in Nima, Accra Ghana

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Nuerki

Maria Ehrlich

Germany

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2nd Place

This is an outdoor shot, depicting the relation between old and youngs

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AGELESS PORTRAIT

Asok Sengupta

India

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3rd Place

My approach to UV photography was the same as on land: using a small camera, without lights or flash, and shooting exclusively in black and white. (Leica Q2 mono)
This photo was taken purely on instinct—framed in the moment, with no need for adjustment afterwards.

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Hanging Divers

Jesper Bjarke Andersen

Denmark

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Gold

In this surreal dance of contrast, the potter emerges from the shadows, his gesture echoing through rows of clay vessels. The visual tension between light and smoke conjures a sense of timeless creation—a meditation on the relationship between maker and medium

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Between Light and Form

Muneera Hashwani

United Arab Emirates

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Silver

This series explores distortions in crystal glass and black and white stripes.  I feel the combination of lighting and shadows produced a unique set of images that I hope the viewer enjoys.  Simple items along with simple lighting resulting in abstract images.

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Crystal Distortion

David Sanches

United States of America

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While photographing Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone at sunrise one morning, I decided to opt for zooming in on small sections of the hot springs, highlighting the structure and patterns as the steam allowed.

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Layers

Jim Guerard

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Bronze

Shadows of tree branches dance on a blank wall, showcasing nature's impermanence. Scattered debris and a worn floor highlight the beauty of simplicity. Two asymmetrical blocks encourage reflection on the transient nature of existence in this serene meditation.

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Wabi-Sabi

Eagan Hsu

Taiwan

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People’s Vote Award

Sorrow is the night sky, lit with distant stars.
The tears we cannot hold become constellations of memory.
I believe in the truth of the universe:
even what slips through our hands can still shine across time.

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Unheld Stars

栩熙 林

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Taken in the glorious Scottish highlands, the bridge stretches like a graceful arc over shimmering waters, connecting the rugged hills to the horizon. Below, the river flows, the clouds above.A pathway through the wild beauty of this landscape, where nature and human ingenuity unite.

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Timeless Crossing

Steve Barnes

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This aerial photograph was captured shortly after sunrise a damp winter's day. I was fortunate that the streetlights were illuminating the wet tarmac, enhancing the overall effect.

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Snakes and Ladders

Bruce Fraser

Australia

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This photograph, taken in Bath, England, captures a seagull soaring above the waterfalls of Pulteney Bridge. The white water contrasts with the dark river, creating a yin-yang effect. The diagonal composition enhances movement, while the monochrome palette highlights balance and elegance.

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Wings of Contrast

Raphael Dezauzier

Switzerland

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Untitled

Hakim Kabbaj

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Simple forms, strict geometry, reduced colors, solid materials - these are the characteristics of Mario Botta's architectural style. To capture the geometry of this sacred building, I focused on the details of the architecture and photographed in black and white.

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San Giovanni Battista

Thomas Halfmann

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Multiple reflections of the self appear in a mirror, creating a labyrinth of identity. Light and shadow blur the line between seeing and being seen, questioning reality. The image asks: Is this the real me, or an illusion? A record of self, suspended in uncertainty.

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Fractured Gaze

Tomohiko Funai

Japan

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"Oh my homeland, so beautiful but lost Oh remembrance so beloved, but so painful. Golden harp inspiring the great Poets. Why are you so silent and abandoning yourself to tears? Rekindle memories in our hearts. Tell us again about our glorious past!" Giuseppe Verdi inspires the Italian glory in decay

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"Va, pensiero" ("Go, thought" from "Nabucco")

Christian Basetti

Italy

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Staircase in shopping centre, Austria / Vienna

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The Staircase

Manfred Gruber

Austria

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The weight of clothes

Ernult William

France

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Altrove is a visual journey through fog and silence. Black and white images, crossed by lights and signs, evoke introspection and felt absences. Fog is both medium and message. A tale of luminous solitudes and inner landscapes.

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ALTROVE

Filippo Belletti

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As the winter sun set, I wandered a quiet street, captivated by the intricate dance of high-tension cables against the sky. Their stark lines weaved a metallic web, contrasting the fading light. A simple yet mesmerizing reminder that beauty exists in the overlooked, waiting to be seen.

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Strings of Contrasts

Raghuvamsh Chavali

Canada

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Dream Home

Maria Castro

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