In a world the place political discourse appears to be eroding, and wars are breaking out left, proper, and centre, you’d anticipate a dramatic picture of chaos and battle to face an excellent probability of profitable a significant photograph competitors.
So after I first glimpsed Destroy collectively by Haikun Liang, the Absolute Winner of the Black and White Picture Awards 2024, I assumed this was one other grim doc of the discord and mayhem breaking out across the globe proper now. On nearer inspection, although, it turned out I could not have been extra incorrect.
In truth, the masked and hooded determine right here is neither a sufferer nor perpetrator of battle, however really only a child having enjoyable with firecrackers throughout the Spring Pageant in China. The dramatic scene really depicts the cultural custom of “frying lions” to keep off evil spirits and pray for peace and prosperity.
It is a stirring and breathtaking picture nonetheless, and stands testomony to each the ability of the photographer, and the affect that black and white pictures could make in a world the place we’re more and more surrounded by vibrant, neon, Gen Z-driven colors.
And there are loads extra evocative pictures to get pleasure from, as the competition dedicated to monochrome pronounces its 2024 winners.
Particular Prize winner
Spiral to the tower by László Tóth, received Particular Prize for Creativity (Picture credit score: László Tóth)
The Particular Prize for Creativity, sponsored by SanDisk Skilled was awarded to László Tóth for Spiral to the tower. He constructed this conceptual picture by combining a number of superimposed frames of a flock of birds, forming a spiral.
Greater than €5,500 in prizes got out in complete for these two winners, together with these awarded first prize, second prize and honorable mentions (golden, silver and bronze) throughout 5 classes: Structure, Avenue, Portrait, Panorama, and Fauna and Flora.
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They have been chosen from over 5,000 entries by a jury of photographers, together with Joel Tjintelaar, Julia Anna Gospodarou, Charles Paul Azzopardi, Kazutoshi Kawakami and Néstor Rodan.
Try the primary and second-prize winners in every class beneath, whilst you can see all of the 2024 winners in full on this web site gallery. The subsequent version will open on 1 January 2025.
