Rachael Talibart, Winner – Black + White Photographer of the Year 2018
Celebrating the best of monochromatic photography, the Black+White Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) contest has awarded the winners of the 2018 competition. The biennial contest is organized by Black+White Photography Magazine in partnership with Fujifilm and is open to amateur and professional photographers.
Rachael Talibart was awarded the top prize for her striking image of a breaking wave captured off the southern coast of England. The ocean spray, frozen in time, is a dramatic shot that takes on even greater mystery in black and white. “With the right image, I find that shooting black and white can powerfully enhance the emotion I’m trying to evoke and, being one step removed from reality, it can offer a fresh perspective,” she shared.
Talibart, who is both an experienced sailor and professional photographer, beat out a field of talented international photographers to win the title of Black+White Photographer of the Year. Participants were asked to submit images across three categories: The World of People, The World Around Us, and The Creative World. The winners were judged by an expert panel that included Elizabeth Roberts (editor of Black + White Photography Magazine), Shoair Mavlian (assistant curator of Photography at the Tate Modern), and 2015 BPOTY winner Vicki Painting.
Talibart’s image was selected for its combination of technical skill and artistry, which tipped the balance in favor of the landscape photograph. In a field heavily peppered with imagery including people, Talibart’s win proves that this type of photography is just as powerful as portraiture or photojournalism.
Take a look at the other winning and shortlisted entries from the Black+White Photographer of the Year 2018 competition.
Eduardo Lopez Moreno, Second Prize
Aqua Lin, Third Prize
Patrick Dumont, Shortlisted
Carla Kogelman, Shortlisted
Saeed Rezvanian, Shortlisted
Szymon Barylski, Shortlisted
Richard Pilnick, Shortlisted
Nicola Davison Reed, Shortlisted
Joseph Chung, Shortlisted
Mark Bickerdike, Shortlisted
Andre du Plessis, Shortlisted