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There’s something powerful about black and white wildlife photography. Take away the color, and what remains is texture, emotion, and presence. Every scar, every feather line, every intense stare becomes sharper. You’re not just looking at an animal, you’re meeting it.
The Exposure One Awards Nature Photography Contest 2025 (Non-Professional category) brings together 32 stunning black and white wildlife portrait winners from across the globe. These images highlight how contrast and light alone can tell stories that feel raw, intimate, and deeply human.
Why Black and White Wildlife Photography Feels So Powerful
Black and white wildlife photography removes distraction. Without color, your eyes focus on:
- Texture in fur and feathers
- The intensity of eye contact
- Patterns in skin, whiskers, and wings
- The emotion behind the moment
Monochrome portraits feel timeless. A lion’s mane becomes sculpture. A polar bear’s gaze becomes poetry. A fox pup’s playful bite becomes a story about motherhood.
While color-driven collections like the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards celebrate humor and vibrant wildlife moments, black and white photography shifts the focus from spectacle to emotion. It simplifies the frame, deepens contrast, and allows viewers to connect with expression rather than environment.
That simplicity is what gives monochrome wildlife photography its lasting power.
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1. 1st Place Winner- “Ouch!” by Janet Gustin
The winning image captures a kit fox pup gently biting its mother’s face while siblings nurse below. It’s lively, tender, and instantly relatable. Motherhood in the wild isn’t perfectly posed; it’s energetic, competitive, and full of personality.
Janet Gustin froze a split-second interaction that feels both playful and deeply emotional. It’s a reminder that powerful wildlife photography often happens when patience meets timing.
2. Silver Award- “King Of The Kopjes” by Zita Quentin
A majestic male lion sits atop rocky outcrops, briefly disturbed by flies. As he shakes his mane, the photographer captures the motion in a burst of frames. The result? A portrait that feels powerful and regal.
In black and white, the mane transforms into flowing texture. Movement becomes art.
3. Bronze Winners- “Charging Tiger” by Graeme Guy
A powerful black and white portrait captures a tiger charging straight toward the camera, water exploding around its muscular frame. Every stripe, whisker, and piercing gaze stands out in sharp contrast. The frozen motion and flying droplets create intensity, showcasing raw strength, focus, and untamed wilderness energy.
4. “Portrait of a Young Sea Lion” by Rick Francis
A striking black and white underwater portrait reveals a curious sea lion staring directly into the lens. Its wide, reflective eyes and long, delicate whiskers stand out against the dark water. Tiny suspended bubbles add texture, creating an intimate and almost playful moment beneath the surface.
5. “Puffin Portrait” by Joern Eilertsen
A beautifully composed black and white portrait captures a puffin in crisp side profile. The smooth curve of its beak, delicate eye detail, and layered feather textures stand out against the soft, blurred background. The monochrome tones highlight contrast and form, creating a calm, refined coastal wildlife moment.
6. “Clash of Kin” by Manish Nagpal
This intense black and white portrait captures two brown bears locked in a fierce face-off, jaws open and inches apart. Water droplets cling to their fur, adding texture and drama. The symmetry and frozen motion highlight both raw power and underlying familiarity, an explosive yet instinctive interaction between kin.
7. “Coyote Looking For Love” by Kasey Mueller
Set against a vast, snow-covered landscape, this black and white portrait captures a lone coyote moving quietly through the winter stillness. Its low posture and focused gaze suggest purpose and persistence. The minimalist composition emphasizes solitude, resilience, and the quiet determination of the wild.
8. “Long-tailed Macaques” by Graeme Guy
This intimate black and white portrait captures a mother long-tailed macaque holding her baby close. The infant rests securely in her arms, eyes wide and trusting, while the mother’s steady gaze reflects quiet strength. The fine detail in their fur and expressions highlights tenderness, protection, and deep maternal bond.
9. “Reverence” by Pam Dorner
This striking black and white portrait shows a young bear gently holding onto a tree trunk, its gaze lifted upward in quiet contemplation. The deep shadows isolate the subject, emphasizing the soft texture of its fur and the thoughtful expression in its eyes, creating a moment of calm curiosity.
10. “In The Arms Of Love” by Lori Metcalfe
This tender black and white portrait captures a young macaque nestled safely within its mother’s embrace. The baby’s wide, expressive eyes draw immediate attention, while the mother’s protective arms frame the scene with warmth and strength. The soft lighting enhances texture and emotion, highlighting an intimate moment of comfort and security.
11. “Majestic Lion at Londolozi” by Stephen Rauch
This powerful black and white portrait captures a lion in serene stillness, eyes gently closed as if absorbing the moment. The flowing mane cascades in rich texture against the dark background, creating depth and drama. The composition highlights quiet strength, dignity, and the timeless presence of a true king.
12. “The Messenger” by David Stine
This elegant black and white portrait features a great egret standing in poised stillness against a dark, muted background. Its pristine white plumage glows in contrast, while the sharp eye and elongated beak create a graceful silhouette. The composition conveys purity, balance, and quiet strength at the water’s edge.
13. “Lion” by Abdul Kader Kagalwala
This dramatic black and white portrait captures a lion mid-yawn, jaws stretched wide to reveal powerful teeth and curved canines. The flowing mane frames the scene, adding depth and texture against the soft background. The moment feels both fierce and natural, showcasing raw strength in an unguarded pause.
14. “Making a Wish” by Janet Gustin
This enchanting black and white portrait captures a young kit fox standing quietly in the shadows, its eyes softly illuminated. A delicate dandelion seed drifts nearby, adding a touch of quiet magic to the scene. The low light and gentle contrast create a mood of innocence, curiosity, and fleeting wonder.
15. “Beak Interrupted” by Tamara Rimpley
This bold black and white portrait captures a vulture in striking close-up, its powerful beak and intense eyes dominating the frame. Fine feather details and textured skin stand out against the clean background. The direct gaze feels confrontational, as if the bird is questioning the intrusion into its space.
16. “No Words Needed” by Lori Metcalfe
This striking black and white portrait captures a polar bear in a quiet, direct gaze. Snow dusts its thick fur, blending seamlessly with the pale surroundings. The minimalist composition and soft contrast draw attention to the bear’s steady eyes, conveying power, resilience, and silent presence in the Arctic wild.
17. “Keeping Up” by Karen Cohen
This heartwarming black and white portrait captures a newborn elephant stretching forward to touch its mother’s leg with its tiny trunk. The contrast highlights the delicate wrinkles of the calf against the sturdy texture of the adult. The moment beautifully reflects trust, guidance, and the first steps of learning in the wild.
18. “Brave Little Lion Cub” by Lori Metcalfe
This captivating black and white portrait captures a young lion cub baring its tiny teeth in a fierce, playful snarl. Though small in size, its expression radiates boldness and confidence. The surrounding pride rests in soft focus behind, making the cub’s spirited personality the undeniable center of attention.
19. “Love And Care” by Zita Quentin
This gentle black and white portrait captures a young langur carefully grooming its mother, a quiet gesture of affection and trust. The soft tones and minimal background draw attention to their interaction, highlighting tenderness, bonding, and the everyday expressions of care within the wild.
20. “Run or Always Regret” by Wolfgang Autexier
This intense black and white close-up captures a lion mid-snarl, lips curled and powerful fangs fully revealed. Every whisker and crease around the nose is sharply defined, amplifying the raw emotion in its piercing stare. The tight framing creates immediacy, confronting the viewer with untamed dominance and warning.
21. “Night Stalker” by Peter Ismert
This dramatic black and white portrait captures a great gray owl poised mid-landing, wings spread wide against a deep, dark backdrop. The soft highlights along its feathers and piercing eyes create a striking contrast. Suspended in motion, the owl embodies silent precision and the quiet intensity of a nocturnal hunter.
22. “Mother & Child” by Zach Parker
This breathtaking black-and-white underwater portrait captures a humpback whale calf gently riding along its mother’s head. Suspended in the open ocean, their graceful forms move in perfect harmony. The soft gradients of light filtering through the water enhance the tenderness, strength, and deep bond between them.
23. “At The Watering Hole” by Zita Quentin
This striking black and white image captures a line of zebras drinking at a watering hole under the cover of darkness. Their bold stripes glow against the black backdrop, mirrored perfectly in the still water below. The symmetry, reflection, and contrast create a dramatic and almost surreal nighttime wildlife scene.
24. “Side Eye” by Francesco Negri
This sleek black and white underwater portrait captures a thresher shark gliding through dim ocean depths. Its large, reflective eye becomes the focal point, watching with quiet awareness. The smooth curves of its body fade into the dark water, creating a sense of mystery, elegance, and controlled power.
25. “Nest Builder” by Rob Smith
This elegant black and white image captures a great egret mid-flight, wings fully extended in graceful symmetry. A small bundle of twigs held firmly in its beak tells the story of preparation and care. Against the dark background, the bright plumage glows, emphasizing motion, purpose, and quiet determination.
26. “Taking a Bear Break” by Heidi Ferguson
This touching black and white portrait captures a young bear resting low to the ground, its massive frame softened by a moment of stillness. The gentle expression and relaxed posture contrast with its strength, revealing vulnerability and calm. The muted tones enhance texture, creating an intimate and peaceful wildlife scene.
27. “Black Vulturine” by Anne-Marie Etienne
This dramatic black and white portrait reveals a black leopard emerging from deep shadows, its piercing eyes glowing against the darkness. The textured feathers of its prey stand out in sharp contrast, adding detail and tension. The composition feels mysterious and powerful, capturing a rare and commanding predator in the wild.
28. “A Puffin’s Beak, A Puffling’s Meal” by Maria Ciampini
This striking black and white portrait captures a puffin head-on, its bold beak holding several small fish with precision. The symmetry and sharp detail draw attention to the bird’s focused eyes and smooth plumage. The image beautifully highlights dedication, instinct, and the quiet determination of seabird parenting.
29. “Escorts of the Open Sea” by Gerardo Del Villar
This captivating black and white underwater portrait captures an oceanic whitetip shark gliding effortlessly through open water, accompanied by a small group of striped pilot fish. The minimalist backdrop isolates their forms, emphasizing sleek movement and quiet elegance. The composition conveys harmony between the predator and its companions in the vast sea.
30. “Two Icons” by Zita Quentin
This powerful black and white landscape portrait captures a majestic elephant standing proudly against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The detailed texture of its weathered skin and long tusks contrasts beautifully with the distant snow-capped peak. The composition celebrates grandeur, legacy, and the timeless spirit of Africa’s wilderness.
31. “Meal is a Meal – Size Doesn’t Matter” by Tp Anantheswaran
This striking black and white portrait frames a leopard beneath the massive form of an elephant, creating a dramatic contrast of scale and texture. The predator’s focused gaze peers through the folds of thick skin, emphasizing tension and survival. The composition highlights instinct, resilience, and the raw realities of the wild.
32. “Eye to Eye” by Lori Metcalfe
This compelling black and white portrait captures a great blue heron in sharp profile, gripping its catch firmly in its long beak. The fine feather textures and focused eye stand out against the dark background. The moment feels intense and precise, highlighting patience, skill, and the quiet drama of survival.
What Makes Award-Winning Wildlife Photography Stand Out?
After reviewing all 32 winners, a few patterns emerge:
1. Eye Contact
Images where the animal connects directly with the lens feel immediate and unforgettable. A steady gaze creates tension, intimacy, and presence. When viewers feel “seen,” the image becomes more personal and memorable.
Photographers featured in collections like Indian Wildlife Photography by Anupam Thombre consistently use eye-level perspectives to create that emotional connection. The closer the alignment between subject and viewer, the stronger the visual impact.
2. Texture & Detail
Wrinkles, fur patterns, feathers, whiskers, these elements come alive in black and white. Monochrome enhances contrast, allowing viewers to focus purely on form and structure without color distractions.
Interestingly, research analyzing 670 wildlife images from the Instagram accounts of 160 conservation organizations found that the most common visual elements included:
- Natural backgrounds
- Mammals and birds
- No human presence
The study also revealed that the type of animal featured and whether humans appeared in the frame did not significantly impact engagement levels.
3. Storytelling
The strongest portraits capture behavior, not just appearance. A cub bearing tiny teeth. A mother cradling her young. A predator mid-hunt.
Behavior transforms an image from documentation into narrative. Award-winning wildlife photography often freezes a decisive moment that reveals personality or instinct.
4. Patience
Many photographers wait hours, sometimes days for a single frame. Wildlife does not perform on cue. Light shifts. Subjects move unpredictably.
The difference between an average image and an extraordinary one often comes down to timing and persistence.
5. Emotional Timing
The best wildlife photography feels alive because the moment is real and unscripted. Whether it’s tension, tenderness, curiosity, or power, the emotion must be authentic.
When timing aligns with expression, the image resonates far beyond aesthetics it lingers.
About the Exposure One Awards 2025
The Exposure One Awards is an international photography competition celebrating visual storytelling across multiple categories, including nature and wildlife.
The Non-Professional category highlights emerging photographers who may not shoot commercially but demonstrate exceptional creative skill and timing.
This year’s black and white wildlife portrait winners show that you don’t need color to create impact; you need connection.
Final Thoughts
These 32 winning portraits prove that black-and-white wildlife photography remains one of the most powerful ways to tell nature’s stories.
When color steps aside, emotion steps forward.
From fox families and lions on rocky kopjes to sharks in deep water and elephants under African skies, each image feels personal. Honest. Timeless.
And that’s what great wildlife photography does. It helps us see not just animals, but presence, personality, and shared experience.
FAQs
What are the Exposure One Awards 2025?
An international photography competition celebrating excellence in visual storytelling, including wildlife categories.
Who won 1st Place in the Wild Portrait category?
Janet Gustin won with her image “Ouch!” capturing a tender kit fox family moment.
Why is black and white popular in wildlife photography?
It enhances texture, contrast, and emotion while removing color distractions.
Are these photographers professionals?
No, this category highlights non-professional photographers from around the world.
What makes close-up wildlife portraits effective?
They create intimacy, revealing expression and behavior often missed in wider shots.
English (US) ·