“In Great-Grandpa’s Hands” by Yvonne C. Krystovsky. First Place Winner.
“The photograph shows the hands of a great-grandfather holding those of his great-grandchild in a moment of tender connection. The wrinkles and scars on the old man’s skin tell of a lifetime of experiences, while the child’s soft fingers reflect the innocence and curiosity of youth. Photographed in black and white, the details emphasize the emotional depth of the moment and the contrast between old and young. Every line, texture, and nuance reinforces the significance of this intergenerational love. This photograph is a touching testament to the beauty and depth of the connection between generations.”
A touching photo of two generations holding hands has won Black & White Magazine‘s 2024 Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize. Yvonne Krystovsky‘s photograph of a great-grandfather holding his great-grandchild’s hands is a study in contrasts. The smooth skin of the child against the wrinkles of the elderly man makes us reflect on the passage of time and the power of intergenerational love.
Krystovsky’s photograph was judged against the 1,300 submissions to the annual competition and was one of three that placed in the contest. Daniel Zaleski was named runner-up for his look at a contemporary concrete staircase in a former slaughterhouse. His image emphasizes the sharp lines of the structure and plays with soft shadows for an aesthetically pleasing composition.
In third place, Alexandre Caetano‘s photograph of a desolate road in Spain leads the viewer’s eyes into the distance. He creates a striking image by playing with a stark contrast between the nearly black road and the hazy sky.
Alongside the winners, the judges have also awarded honorable mentions to a talented group of photographers who impressed with their ability to create minimalist masterpieces. Scroll down to see the winners and a selection of our favorite finalists.
Black & White Magazine has announced the winners of the Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize.
“Minimalist Concrete Staircase” by Daniel Zaleski. Second Place Winner.
“Newly designed and constructed concrete staircase in an old refurbished building (former slaughter house). I was immediately enthralled by the light, tones and simple lines.”
“On top of Serra da Capelada” by Alexandre Caetano. Third Place Winner.
“I am traveling through Costa da Morte, Galicia, 600m above sea level, where the mountains separate the Cantabria Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.”
“Presence” by Soma Szebelledi. Honorable Mention.
“The figure of a woman breaks the strict shapes of the composition and becomes the dominant presence in contrast to the immense mosque wall. Her presence there felt visually and metaphorically rebellious. The scene interchanges different zones of exposure and textures in a geometrical way while she is blissfully out of place.”
“Decisive Steps” by Rohit Rattan. Honorable Mention.
“The particular image was shot in the dunes of the Liwa Desert in the southernmost settlements of Abu Dhabi, which is an escape into the empty quarter stretching for almost 100 km of pure sand oasis. The image provokes thought for one to be durable against the adversaries of life and walk with decisive steps in the unknown oasis of life.”
“Baby Baboon Silhouette” by Turgay Uzer. Honorable Mention.
“There is a stand of baobab trees in Zambia’s Luangwa National Park where the sunset acts as backlighting. This image was taken at that time, using the last rays of the sun, which were illuminating a family of baboons.”
1,300 images were entered into this year’s contest.
“Making Tracks” by Roy Curtis. Honorable Mention.
“A roe dear crossing an alien landscape of plastic agricultural fleece, leaving faint tracks as it goes.”
“Quiet Time” by Andrew Whettam. Honorable Mention.
“Shingle Street in Suffolk, England.”
“Natural Light and Nude” by Jacinta Tomyn. Honorable Mention.
“‘Self-Portrait, Natural Light and Nude’ was captured in my home studio in Adelaide, South Australia, 2023, with myself both as photographer and muse. Using natural light only, I strived to subtly illuminate and present the nude with simplicity and elegance.”
“The Tree in the Winter Field” by Tomas Tison. Honorable Mention.
“My attention was captured by the solitary tree standing as a sentinel in this snowy scene. Its silhouette creates a strong contrast against the white background. I was also fascinated by the cloud structure above the tree, forming an almost poetic arc around it, as if nature itself wanted to emphasize its uniqueness.”
“Trilogy” by Gabrielle van den Elshout. Honorable Mention.
“Office building in Amsterdam.”
The judges named three winners and also recognized a group of talented finalists.
“Rotunda” by Claudia Arevalo. Honorable Mention.
“Thomas Jefferson designed this building to represent the ‘authority of nature and power of reason’.”
“Windows” by Manfred Gruber. Honorable Mention.
“Austria/Vienna.”
“Dried Wood” by Marleen Van Hove. Honorable Mention.
“A non-conventional view of the dried trees in Deadvlei, Namibia.”
“Dilemma” by Hadi Dehghanpour. Honorable Mention.
“The photo shows the footprints of two off-road vehicles in the desert. In the middle of this crossroads, a person stands and does not know which way to go.”
“Bridge Walker” by Klaus Lenzen. Honorable Mention.
“A pedestrian on a bridge over the Rhine in Dusseldorf (Germany). Captured below the bridge access.”
“On Light and Shadows” by Go Kochiya. Honorable Mention.
“In the plaza of a certain facility, several huge pillars were creating shadows. One of them was in a state of sharp V-shaped refraction due to a series of shadows, creating a flat composition of light and shadow. In order to make this composition appear three-dimensional, I photographed a man walking in a position that had both light and shadow in the landscape.”
“Island of Youth” by Dennis Schulz. Honorable Mention.
“The Insel der Jugend is a real beauty in Berlin. Especially in the colder seasons, it shows itself in different facets and is always worth a visit. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to take this photo on a thick foggy day.”
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My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by B&W Minimalism Magazine.
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