Behind the Shadows: Stories of Our Black & White Photography Winners
- The Artist Gallery Team
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Black and white photography has a timeless power—stripping away color to reveal emotion, texture, and truth in its purest form. In our annual Black and White Photography Contest, photographers from around the world embraced this expressive medium to create images that are both visually striking and profoundly moving. In this article, we dive into the stories behind the winning photographers, exploring their creative processes, inspirations, and the journeys that led them to capture the images that stood out among hundreds of submissions. Their work not only showcases technical mastery but also a deep understanding of how monochrome imagery can convey mood, narrative, and artistic vision.
My photography career began when I started thinking about asking my parents to give me a camera for my 7th birthday. I was headed to YMCA children's camp later that summer, in 1976. I received the camera and took lots of pictures of my new friends and our activities to show everyone at home. It was unlikely that what would become my genres/documentary,environmental portraiture and portraiture started with my first images.
By high school, I knew wanted to work with women and children in Africa. I thought that working for Peace Corps would be the best way for me to accomplish my goal. However, after graduated from the University of Utah with degrees in Anthropology and Women's Studies I found another way to work as a volunteer in Africa. It was an American NGO called "Visions in Action".
The NGO offered programs in a few African countries. I was able to go to Zimbabwe with them beginning in January of 1993. In Zimbabwe, I became information officer for Jekesa Pfungwa (which means Open Your Mind in Shona) the largest indigenous women's organization there. My job involved writing the quarterly national newsletter for members, writing grant proposals, documenting what we did on our multiple visits to many small groups throughout the country.
I was able to spend a lot of time taking pictures of the women and children in their natural environment. They felt at ease with me because they trusted their field workers. I had a lot of freedom with my work. I fell in love with the people and with photography. I couldn’t wait to show my friends and family when I returned home. I thought I had some nice images but I didn’t think beyond that. I just wanted people to see them; to see the beauty of the people, their unique culture and the harshness of the land. There was a severe drought in 1993. You could see it by the dusty earth, in the dying crops and in the weight of the people themselves.
What I've written is the beginning of my story as a photographer. I've lived/worked over the last three decades in Argentina, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. I've made images in fifteen countries in Africa as well as in Central and South America. I've gone on to be an award winning photographer in the genres I became interested in as a young camper. My images have been published in a variety of publications. But most valuable to me is that my work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in the U.S in 40 states over the last 30 years. My work will be shown in Mumbai, India next year as part of Pure Street Photography’s first exhibition there!
My name is Fabi Fregonesi, and I am an underwater photographer from Brazil, deeply passionate about sharing the stories that inhabit the silent world beneath the waves. For two decades, I built a successful career in the corporate world, leading sales teams in major companies. Fun fact? I used to be genuinely afraid of fish!
My journey into the underwater world started not with a camera, but with a challenge. In 2009, I took my first dive, which began with a panic attack. Yet, in overcoming that fear, I discovered an indescribable, peaceful, and vibrant world. Initially, underwater photography was a hobby, a personal way to document and share the beauty I was witnessing. Over time, the ocean became my greatest source of tranquility, allowing me to develop an artistic and sensitive eye, capturing nuances and details that often go unseen. The shift was complete in 2024 when I left the corporate environment to dedicate myself fully to photography. This transition transformed a passion into a profound purpose.
My favorite type of photography is behavioral underwater work, as it allows me to capture the raw, unscripted moments of marine life. For me, photography is a tool of transformation. It is the bridge that connects the complex, often unknown world of the ocean to the human heart. When I am shooting, my mind is often split between technical precision and ethical observation. I focus on achieving the perfect composition and light, but above all, I am thinking about the animal’s welfare, ensuring I capture natural behavior without interference. I aim for images that evoke emotion and reinforce the importance of protecting something that many people never see.
My greatest aspirations as a photographer are twofold: to use my art as an instrument for conservation and awareness, and to break the stigma surrounding misunderstood animals like sharks, which are vital to the marine ecosystem.
In a little over a year of dedicated focus, my work has received over 30 national and international awards, including honors from the Underwater Photographer of the Year, One Eyeland, 1839 Awards, Scuba Diving Magazine, The Artist Gallery, 35 awards, FFIEL, etc. These recognitions reinforce my commitment to using art to communicate the urgency of preserving our oceans.
As I often say, I found in the sea my true form of expression and understood my place in the world, transforming a passion into purpose.
To see more of my work, you can find me here:
Instagram: @fabi_dive
Personal Webpage: fabifregonesi.com
Don't forget to take a look to our other open photo contests for more opportunities to showcase your skills and creativity. Explore them here: www.theartistgallery.art/open-contests.
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