39 Stunning Black-And-White Photographs From The 2026 Mono Awards

There’s something special about black-and-white photography. Without color to draw the eye, details like light, shadow, texture, and composition matter even more. A simple expression can tell an entire story, an ordinary building can become a work of art, and a familiar landscape can suddenly look completely different.

Celebrating this timeless approach to photography is The Mono Awards 2026, presented by Synology. Organized by Australian Photography and Capture, the competition is now in its eighth year and showcases outstanding black-and-white photographs from Australia, New Zealand, and around the world. This year’s competition attracted more than 3,000 entries across three categories: People, Places, and Animals, with a total prize pool of $12,500. From intimate portraits and striking architectural compositions to fascinating wildlife encounters, the submissions show how much photographers can express using only shades of black, white, and gray.

We’ve gathered the top five photographs from each of the three categories, along with a selection of honorable mentions from the Top 50 shortlists. Scroll down to explore these remarkable monochrome images, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that impress you the most!

The top honors went to Carly Goldsmith in the People category for “Childhood,” a candid photograph of her two youngest children playing together; Andy Zakeli in the Places category for “De-Escalation,” an unusual perspective on an everyday scene at Sydney’s Gadigal Station; and Brooke Pyke in the Animals category for “Fever,” a mesmerizing underwater photograph of approximately 100 mobula rays in Baja, Mexico.

Reflecting on this year’s competition, Mike O’Connor, Editor of Australian Photography, said: “We’re always amazed by the diversity of work entered in The Mono Awards, and 2026 was no exception.” He also highlighted the different creative approaches photographers took to black-and-white work, with winning images captured in locations across the globe.

More info: themonoawards.com.au | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook

#1 “Childhood” By Carly Goldsmith

1st Place Winner in the People Category

Description: “Carly Goldsmith photographed her two youngest children playing together in her backyard one afternoon, capturing an unposed moment as the afternoon sun cast a defined shadow across the fence. Goldsmith says the ordinary moment took on greater emotional weight when she reviewed the image later.”

39 Stunning Black-And-White Photographs From The 2026 Mono Awards

39 Stunning Black-And-White Photographs From The 2026 Mono Awards

#1 “Childhood” By Carly Goldsmith

#2 “A Personal Meeting With MT. Fuji” By Keiko Ellis

#3 “Beached” By Shane Morris

#4 “Cathedral Of Steel” By Cushla Monk

#5 “F/0.58” By John Peters

#6 “Arion” By Ian Callaghan

#7 “Oxpecker Dialogues” By Abhik Basu

#8 “Keeper Of Storms” By Craig Turner-Bullock

#9 “Sniffing For Prey” By Leanne Silver

#10 “The Son Of Man Reimagined” By Jana Sokolovskaja

#11 “Warrior Woman” By Phil Duval

#12 “Incoming” By Mark Booth

#13 “Ocean Sentinel” By Eddy Delorie

#14 “Fishermen’s Friend” By Emma Parker

#15 “Orbit” By June Zhao

#16 “Fever” By Brooke Pyke

#17 “Stillness” By Benjamin Knight

#18 “Lake Shōji” By Craig Ford

#19 “Mordor” By Paul Briggs

#20 “De-Escalation” By Andy Zakeli

#21 “Wonder” By Gemma Cole

#22 “In The Footsteps Of A Master” By Dragoljub Zamurović

#23 “Vitelli Mafia” By Ben Connolly

#24 “Jin” By Ross Mclennan

#25 “Icy Dispute” By Alun Powell

#26 “Where’s Wally” By Brooke Pyke

#27 “Sydney Arbor” By Rachelle Mackintosh

#28 “Inner Circle” By Gergo Rugli

#29 “Hanging Solo” By Eric Wong

#30 “The Last Descent” By Erin Jacob

#31 “Urban Currents” By Dragoljub Zamurović

#32 “A Man Of The Mountains” By Beth Baker

#33 “Freewheeling” By Jodie Stallard

#34 “Hello, Heaven, Hello” By Jordan Newton

#35 “Christmas Day” By Leo Farrell

#36 “Shadow Play” By Fiona Bowring

#37 “Penguin Home” By Andrew Peacock

#38 “Rhino Landscape” By Debbie Hartley

#39 “Echoes Of The Silk Road” By Bruce Westerman

#40 “Sarah Alzoubi At Home” By Carly Earl