The best black and white photos of 2016

The jury of the prestigious international photo contest Monochrome Photography Awards announced the winners. The main prize — a cash reward of $ 3,000 and the title of "Photographer of the Year" — went to professional French photographer Michel Kirsch for the photo "Vertical Horizon", which he took during a trip to Uzbekistan. The "Discovery of the Year" and the best young photographer was the Russian Mikhail Shestakov with the portrait "Pure".

Every year Monochrome Photography Awards organizes a competition for professionals and amateur photographers. The aim of the award is not only to find young talents and great photographers around the world, but also to honor black and white vision.

(24 photos in total)

Source: Monochrome Awards

In addition to the two main winners, the winners were determined in 13 thematic categories, which, in turn, are divided into subcategories "Professionals" and "Amateurs".

"Vertical horizon", winner of the photo contest, category "Fine Art", "Professionals". Photo: Michel Kirch.

"Clean", 1st place in the category "Portrait", "Amateurs". Photo: Mikhail Shestakov.

"Baptism of a fishing boat", 1st place in the category "Photojournalism", "Professionals". Photo: Paulo Monteiro.

Leaning Tower of Pisa, 1st place in the category "Architecture", "Professionals". Photo: Ronny Behnert.

"Office", 1st place in the category "Architecture", "Amateurs". Photo: Noel Baldewijns.

"Empty", 1st place in the category "Conceptual photo", "Amateurs". Photo: Eder Sanchez.

"Reincarnation", 1st place in the category "Conceptual photo", "Professionals". Photo: Dmytro Sobokar.

1st place in the category "Fashion/Beauty", "Professionals". Photo: Piotr Musial.

1st place in the category "Fashion/Beauty", "Lovers". Photo: Fierz Madeleine-Josephine.

"Hidden", 1st place in the category "Fine Art", "Amateurs". Photo: Christian Grass.

"Behind the wall", 1st place in the category "Landscapes", "Professionals". Photo: Grant Galbraith.

"Shining Peak", 1st place in the category "Landscapes", "Amateurs". Photo: Julien Fumard.

1st place in the category "Nature", "Professionals". Photo: Francesco De Leonardis.

"Mount Etna", 1st place in the category "Nature", "Amateurs". Photo: Giuseppe Mario Famiani.

"Look at me", 1st place in the category "Nude", "Professionals". Photo: Vassilis Pitoulis.

"Artemis", 1st place in the category "Nude", "Amateurs". Photo: Andris Apsenieks.

"Girl with vitiligo", 1st place in the category "People", "Amateurs". Photo: Mikhail Shestakov.

"Cuban School of Classical Ballet", 1st place in the category "People", "Professionals". Photo: Fulvio Bugani.

"Life in the oven", 1st place in the category "Photojournalism", "Amateurs". Photo: Sudipta Dutta Chowdhury.

"The Bright side of the Earth", 1st place in the category "Photomanipulation", "Professionals". Photo: Alice Zilberberg.

"To the light", 1st place in the category "Photomanipulation", "Amateurs". Photo: Juan Jesús González Romero.

"Portrait of Elena", 1st place in the category "Portrait", "Professionals". Photo: Agata Serge.

"Fight", 1st place in the category "Wildlife", "Professionals". Photo: Panos Laskarakis.

"Couples", 1st place in the category "Wildlife", "Amateurs". Photo: RongXi Li.