15 Photos Show Beautiful Simplicity of Monochromatic Minimalism

Mar 25, 2024

Jeremy Gray

Black & White Minimalism Magazine Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize

Black & White Minimalism Magazine has announced the winners of its 2024 Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize, with the top photographer earning themselves a nice $1,000 award.

Despite the narrowly focused theme of black-and-white minimalist photography, the contest still received 1,300 submissions, which the organizers say demonstrate “the enduring appeal of minimalism in black-and-white photography.”

The competition was judged by professional photographers Alexandra Manuel and Tim Nevell, as well as the magazine’s chief editor, Milad Safabakhsh.

Yvonne C. Krystovsky won the 2024 Grand Prize for her image, “In Great-Grandpa’s hands.”

Black & White Minimalism Magazine Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize — ‘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,’ says the grand prize-winning photographer Yvonne C. Krystovsky. ‘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 inter-generational love. This photograph is a touching testament to the beauty and depth of the connection between generations.’ | 2024 Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize by *Black & White Minimalism Magazine*

Daniel Zaleski’s “Minimalist Concrete Staircase” nabbed the runner position, and Alexandre Caetano’s “On top of Serra da Capelada” rounded out the top three.

Alongside the awarded winners, the judges all selected nearly 90 honorable mentions. These won’t all be featured below, but they are available in a gallery at Minimalism Magazine‘s website.

PetaPixel has selected a dozen of its favorite finalist images to feature below while also trying to ensure that a diverse range of photographic styles are represented. The judges must have had their hands full picking the top three, as even picking 12 photos to share proved very challenging.

‘Single Tree’ by Reza Rajaei | Honorable mention in the 2024 Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize by *Black & White Minimalism Magazine*

For enthusiastic fans of incredible black and white photography, PetaPixel recently covered the winners of the reFocus Awards’ 2023 Black and White Photo Contest and the stunning winners of the Black and white Photo Awards. For those who want to improve their monochromatic imagery and maybe win future contests, PetaPixel‘s “Black and White Photography: The Beginner’s Guide” is full of great advice.

Image credits: Black & White Minimalism Magazine. Individual photographers are credited in the photo captions.

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