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.”

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

5th Place in the Place Category Description: “The Mt Fuji Heritage Centre at Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, provides visitors with the experience of a personal encounter with Mt Fuji. On arrival at the rooftop terrace, visitors are provided with a powerful view of Mt Fuji, including a reflection on the floor, which helps to make them feel they are meeting Mt Fuji 'face to face.'”

#3 “Incoming” By Mark Booth

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#4 “Beached” By Shane Morris

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#5 “Cathedral Of Steel” By Cushla Monk

2nd Place in the Places Category Description: “Cushla Monk captured Sydney Harbour Bridge emerging through fog after researching weather and sunrise conditions before making the early-morning trip to the harbor. She was drawn to the movement of the fog, changing sunlight and the patterns created by the bridge's steel girders.”

#6 “F/0.58” By John Peters

3rd Place in the Animals Category Description: “John Peters' image features a female Deinopis subrufa, commonly known as a net-casting spider. Peters photographed the spider shortly after it had molted, revealing an iris-like appearance in its posterior median eyes.”

#7 “Arion” By Ian Callaghan

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

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

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#9 “Sniffing For Prey” By Leanne Silver

2nd Place in the Animals Category Description: “Leanne Silver photographed a young female polar bear climbing onto an ice floe in the Arctic Circle. The bear spent time using the elevated position to gain height and sniff the air for prey, creating a distinctive wildlife moment in the summer sea ice.”

#10 “Orbit” By June Zhao

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

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

Honorable Mention in the Place Category

#12 “Warrior Woman” By Phil Duval

4th Place in the People Category Description: “A woman wearing an elaborate headdress is photographed at a Viking festival.”

#13 “Icy Dispute” By Alun Powell

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#14 “Oxpecker Dialogues” By Abhik Basu

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#15 “Fishermen's Friend” By Emma Parker

4th Place in the Animals Category Description: “A pelican sits high on Bouddi's sculpted rocks in a storm, waiting to see if it can get scraps thrown by rock fishermen.”

#16 “Stillness” By Benjamin Knight

Honorable Mention in the Place Category

#17 “Mordor” By Paul Briggs

Honorable Mention in the Place Category

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

Honorable Mention in the People Category

#19 “Lake Shōji” By Craig Ford

Honorable Mention in the Places Category

#20 “Ocean Sentinel” By Eddy Delorie

Honorable Mention in the Place Category

#21 “Fever” By Brooke Pyke

1st Place Winner in the Animals Category Description: “Brooke Pyke photographed around 100 mobula rays during an ocean safari in Baja, Mexico. The rays were moving across white sand, creating silhouettes and patterns that Pyke says provided an opportunity to explore the contrast between their shapes and the ripples below.”

#22 “Urban Currents” By Dragoljub Zamurović

4th Place in the Places Category Description: “Flowing architectural lines create a rhythm reminiscent of water currents. A solitary figure moving through the scene introduces scale and human presence, transforming a static structure into a dynamic urban landscape.”

#23 “De-Escalation” By Andy Zakeli

1st Place Winner in the Places Category Description: “Andy Zakeli's winning image transforms an everyday scene at Sydney's Gadigal Station into a graphic and unexpected composition. The image was captured during a street photography excursion with his TAFE students, with Zakeli experimenting with different angles and introducing a touch of humor to the scene.”

#24 “Freewheeling” By Jodie Stallard

Honorable Mention in the People Category

#25 “Wonder” By Gemma Cole

Honorable Mention in the People Category

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

Honorable Mention in the People Category

#27 “Vitelli Mafia” By Ben Connolly

Honorable Mention in the People Category

#28 “Jin” By Ross Mclennan

2nd Place in the People Category Description: “Ross McLennan's 'Jin' forms part of a series titled Ortho Surfers. Shot on 8x10 Ilford Ortho film after McLennan ran out of panchromatic film, the portrait was also used to test a semi-stand development process intended to extend the film's dynamic range.”

#29 “Where's Wally” By Brooke Pyke

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#30 “Penguin Home” By Andrew Peacock

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#31 “Sydney Arbor” By Rachelle Mackintosh

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#32 “Inner Circle” By Gergo Rugli

Honorable Mention in the Animals Category

#33 “Hanging Solo” By Eric Wong

Honorable Mention in the Place Category

#34 “The Last Descent” By Erin Jacob

Honorable Mention in the Place Category

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

3rd Place in the Places Category Description: “Bruce Westerman's “Echoes of the Silk Road” depicts the rugged peaks and barren slopes of the Nubra Valley in Ladakh as the final rays of sunlight illuminate Diskit Monastery and a caravan of Bactrian camels.”

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

Honorable Mention in the People Category

#37 “Christmas Day” By Leo Farrell

Honorable Mention in the People Category

#38 “Shadow Play” By Fiona Bowring

3rd Place in the People Category Description: “Fiona Bowring's “Shadow Play” captures her friend Jill playing with light and shadow against a gallery wall.”

#39 “Rhino Landscape” By Debbie Hartley

5th Place in the Animals Category Description: “This closeup shot of a rhinoceros's craggy horns resembles a mountainous landscape.”

#40 “Sarah Alzoubi At Home” By Carly Earl

5th Place in the People Category Description: “Portrait of Sarah Alzoubi in her Sydney home.”

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 “Incoming” By Mark Booth

#4 “Beached” By Shane Morris

#5 “Cathedral Of Steel” By Cushla Monk

#6 “F/0.58” By John Peters

#7 “Arion” By Ian Callaghan

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

#9 “Sniffing For Prey” By Leanne Silver

#10 “Orbit” By June Zhao

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

#12 “Warrior Woman” By Phil Duval

#13 “Icy Dispute” By Alun Powell

#14 “Oxpecker Dialogues” By Abhik Basu

#15 “Fishermen's Friend” By Emma Parker

#16 “Stillness” By Benjamin Knight

#17 “Mordor” By Paul Briggs

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

#19 “Lake Shōji” By Craig Ford

#20 “Ocean Sentinel” By Eddy Delorie

#21 “Fever” By Brooke Pyke

#22 “Urban Currents” By Dragoljub Zamurović

#23 “De-Escalation” By Andy Zakeli

#24 “Freewheeling” By Jodie Stallard

#25 “Wonder” By Gemma Cole

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

#27 “Vitelli Mafia” By Ben Connolly

#28 “Jin” By Ross Mclennan

#29 “Where's Wally” By Brooke Pyke

#30 “Penguin Home” By Andrew Peacock

#31 “Sydney Arbor” By Rachelle Mackintosh

#32 “Inner Circle” By Gergo Rugli

#33 “Hanging Solo” By Eric Wong

#34 “The Last Descent” By Erin Jacob

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

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

#37 “Christmas Day” By Leo Farrell

#38 “Shadow Play” By Fiona Bowring

#39 “Rhino Landscape” By Debbie Hartley

#40 “Sarah Alzoubi At Home” By Carly Earl