The Stunning Winning Images of AAP Magazine 32 B&W

We're delighted to reveal the names of the 25 talented photographers who won AAP Magazine #32: B&W

These incredible photographers hail from 15 countries across 5 continents, and their photography reflects their distinct artistic style and individual approach to capturing the essence of black and white imagery. It was an incredible experience to explore their impressive collections and captivating photographs. Undeniably, black and white photography continues to hold a significant position in our hearts and imaginations.

Black and white photographs possess a poetic quality that is truly remarkable. Timeless in nature, the nuanced tonal scale of black and white photography accentuates its subjects and enhances the interplay of light, resulting in a sublime visual presentation. Its classical and often nostalgic allure encapsulates genuine beauty, allowing for a stark clarity that reveals the true essence and identity of the subject. As aptly stated by Canadian photojournalist Ted Grant, When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!

The diversity of their work spans from visual storytelling to capturing the serene beauty of tranquil landscapes, as well as evocative portraits that delve deep into the soul of the subject. Each selected portfolio showcases a distinct approach to the unifying theme of black and white photography. Whether employing film or digital techniques, embracing deep blacks or subtle grays, every photographer presents a unique perspective that sets them apart.

The Winner of AAP Magazine 32 is Alain Schroeder (Belgium) with the series Kim City

Pyongyang, North Korea.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) remains one of the most isolated and secretive nations in the world.
Since its creation in 1948, the country has been ruled by three generations of the Kim dynasty currently under the control of his grandson, Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. It is a self-reliant socialist society based on an extreme interpretation of the cult of personality and devotion fueled by a large dose of propaganda.
The festivities honoring the 70th anniversary of the creation of North Korea on September 9, 1948, include the opening ceremony of the Mass Games at the May Day Stadium.
Visitors are shown only a confined area of Pyongyang; one of modern high-risers in recently constructed districts of the city. Visits to the city’s national monuments are a required portion of the pre-determined, inflexible itinerary. Chaperoned and surveilled by two official government guides at all times is standard practice for foreign visitors. You are told what to do, what to look at or not and what to photograph. Shots of people working, carrying goods or not well-dressed are forbidden, pushing one to show only an idealized vision of the city. The environment is totally controlled and there is no choice but to follow the rules.
So remember when you look at the images, as Magritte, the Belgian surrealist painter, would say:
This is not North Korea.

alainschroeder.myportfolio.com
@alainschroeder
All about Alain Schroeder
Exclusive Interview with Alain Schroeder
Kim City


The Second place winner is Anastasia Pagonas (United States) with the image Cozette

I am interested in euphoria: both subtle and blatant. I was in a religious cult for 12 years during my 20’s where access to the subject matter of my youth was off limits: no sex, drugs or rock n’ roll. In its absence I discovered children and animals, two species I experience as instinctual and uncorrupted by pretense. This Holga photograph was pure luck. My devotion to seeking out the subject matter that interests me spread my luck net far and wide. Kids and/or animals doing things is a fantastic photographic premise. Euphoria guaranteed somewhere along the way.
anastasiapagonas.com
@anastasiapagonas


The Third place winner is Fenqiang Liu (United States) with the series Secret Garden

I employ the oak branches and hanging moss in this photograph to craft a natural frame that complements the Great Egret. By capturing the bird in mid-flight as it gracefully launches from the tree, I aim to freeze a perfect moment in time and showcase its elegance, harmonizing with the surrounding environment. The interplay of light and shadow becomes the pivotal element, with the darkened sky creating a mysterious impression, and carefully placed light beams behind the bird during post process accentuate the bird's most beautiful features. Enhanced by the timeless black and white tones, the image exudes a sense of ether-realism, evoking nostalgia and reverence for nature's boundless beauty.
This image is part of my ongoing project, Secret Garden, which aims to capture the exquisite moments of Great Egrets in their natural Florida habitat, showcasing their unparalleled beauty in all its splendor. My vision for this concept arises from overwhelming excitement and a burning desire to share my experiences with others. As the power of a live encounter far surpasses any portrayal, I strive to create an equally thrilling visual experience for the viewer. Through meticulously composed images, the use of light, and some digital enhancements, I want to challenge the boundary of traditional photography and create an ideal paradise beyond realism and inspire viewers with a fantasy world in my imagination. The Great Egret, with its pure and otherworldly presence, serves as the perfect embodiment of a celestial bird in this visionary utopia.
www.fenqiangliu.com
@fenqiangliu
Secret Garden


Merit Gallery Winners
Eric Kunsman (United States)

This body of work is a series in conjunction with my project “Felicific Calculus: Technology as a Social Marker of Race, Class, & Economics in Rochester, NY,” to demonstrate how many cities throughout the US are facing the same situation. Many individuals are being left behind by technology or labeled throughout the United States due to relying on outdated technology. This series is meant to support the Rochester, NY, project to demonstrate what is occurring in the United States. “Life-Lines Throughout the United States” is a topographic survey of payphones as social markers throughout the United States, along with interactive census data to help visualize the socioeconomic relationship between the individual photograph and each location.
All about Eric Kunsman


Beamie Young (United States)

This image was taken with a camera converted to infrared (720nm). Infrared helps me share the patterns that I see like the reflections and leaves in a new light.


Andre Bogaert (United Kingdom)

This “roll”, as I still like to call my sets/collections, was taken in Tokyo during 2019. In many ways Tokyo is like other large cities but just there under the surface it's totally unique and slightly mysterious.


Jason Hioe (Indonesia)

The Melasti Ceremony is an important Hindu Balinese purification ceremony - the biggest in this religion a. In this image great numbers of people make their way down the cliff to Melasti Beach, where the ceremony will take place.


Andrea Bettancini (Italy)

One of the main attractions of Stone Town is performed by a group of young Zanzibaris who, every afternoon around sunset, put on a show by diving from the port in an increasingly daring acrobatics competition. This group of boys has become famous, with a following of tens of thousands of social media followers. Unfortunately, what appears to be a fun form of entertainment comes at a high price—the cost of many boys losing their lives or suffering severe injuries, including paralysis.
All about Andrea Bettancini


Jaejoon Ha (South Korea)

Returning after 8 years, Seoul is where I grew up and lived. A lot of time has passed and the streets have changed and the atmosphere has changed, but the smell of the streets I remember has been lingering. I took pictures of them walking down the street.


Gavin Libotte (Australia)

In this series I explore our lives in and around water on a more spiritual level. Our human lives are part of something bigger. We are individual drops of water but we belong to the ocean of life. We are swimming in an ocean of Prana, a field of Energy. I use an underwater camera to get close to subjects as they merge into the ocean. I explore the non dual aspect of human existence, the water is the metaphor that binds us all as an expression of one consciousness. The light in Australia is harsh and this is reflected in the treatment of the images. Black and white creates an unusual setting for beach street photography; it makes the stage look more ambiguous.
All about Gavin Libotte


Paul Gibert (United States/Spain)

The series is about contemplating our imprint on the planet, both as individuals and as a collective, and how we coexist with the consequences.


Gerald Assouline (France)

The series expresses the expectation: of an elsewhere, of a departure, of an arrival, of a mystery to be elucidated, expectation of nothing. In a chaotic slide, made of turns and detours, which goes from Lisbon to Odessa, via Tangier, Marseilles, Istanbul, Antwerp or Trieste, we are between two (banks), in suspension. To wait for the slightest thing, we have an infinite power of waiting which seems to be inexhaustible... (M. Blanchot, 1962: l’attente, l’oubli. L’imaginaire Gallimard.)


Johan Willems (Belgium)

This photo was taken during our safari in December 2019 in the Masai Mara NP. We were lucky that the cheetah with its cups was close to the road.


Jonas Scheck (Netherlands)

This photo series captures a firefighter exercise in the city of Ins, Switzerland. The instructor hides human dummies within a building and simulates low visibility by filling the area with smoke. To locate the dummies, firefighters rely on thermal cameras and navigate through the challenging environment. The instructor closely observes and takes notes of their performance, providing feedback on areas of success and areas for improvement. The exercise concludes with a debriefing session to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the team’s strategy and execution. This photo series provides an insight into the rigorous training required of firefighters to prepare them for real-life scenarios.


Abdulrahman Adi (Syria/Germany)

I always like to have feelings in my photos because this is the real art with which I can express my feelings and the feelings of others. As for the black and white photos, this will take us to another world devoid of color, but full of true feelings and beauty.


Joan Morse (United States)

Nothing in Cuba is easy, and being a tobacco farmer is no exception. However- and often in equal measure to life’s challenges- there is also pride in a job well done, beauty, and good humor.


Manuel Besse (France)

In the heart of the Amazon, an intense image is revealed. Frozen in time, this instant captures the essence of the tropical forest, transporting our gaze into a spectacular, timeless world where man and nature commune. The contemplative gaze of the protagonist, a member of the Yanomami tribe, disclose the crucial issues involved in preserving the Amazon basin. Each element of this composition reflects millennia of harmony between indigenous peoples and their nourishing land.
This black-and-white photograph expresses the vital urgency of protecting the Amazon and its native populations. Every second, the Amazon loses an average of eighteen trees. The quivering leaves and the wind blowing through the canopy sound like a cry for help. The Amazon is dying because of the exploitation of natural resources, affecting local communities and ecosystems. Indigenous tribes have shown remarkable resilience, protecting their cultural identity and defending their lands with determination. Their ancestral knowledge and holistic vision of the environment are invaluable assets in preserving biodiversity and combating climate change.
All about Manuel Besse


Klaus Lenzen (Germany)

Views of concrete elements of bridges in Düsseldorf (Germany)
All about Klaus Lenzen


Kevin Lyle (United States)

Objectively, portals are points of entry; doors, windows, gates, openings, etc. Subjectively, portals can represent the realms to which they seem to lead. Some portals are open, some are closed. Some portals are inviting, some are prohibitive.
All about Kevin Lyle


Max Marienko (United States)

In this city charade scene, a dog so delicate it can escort a spirit from the metaphysical to the physical world.


Pelin Guven (Turkey/China)

Despite the chaos of urban life, we find ways to move forward.
All about Pelin Guven


Mitchell Anolik (United States)

Sunrise and sunset images evoke colors of orange, red and yellow. I, however, choose to create images of sunrises in monochrome. Black and white forces one to focus on the often overlooked lines, shapes and shadows of these images.


Carl Young (United States)

I've named this series of images Self-Contained World and it represents a departure from my true photographic love: Street photography. Arguably, these images are Street photos since they were taken while exploring the world with my camera in hand but they are devoid of the human pathos we expect from the Street genre. They instead rely on the patience and stillness of the photographer. I find it helpful, as an artist, to occasionally pull back from the world and retreat to a neutral corner where I can take a deep breath. There is a whole world contained in these deep breaths and soon enough, I am ready to get back to the Streets.
All about Carl Young


Martin Miklas (Portugal)

When water weeps, its tears turn red, reflecting the dark tale it once witnessed.
The story of Sardines fishing industry in Portugal is a story of how modernization, overfishing and disregard for the environment can have dire consequences on the local communities and the ecosystem. But it is also a story of resilience and hope, as the local communities and authorities are working together to revive the industry in a sustainable way. It allows you to dive deep into the fascinating story and explore the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the Sardines fishing industry in Portugal.
All about Martin Miklas


Demetrio Jereissati (Brazil)

I went to Machu Picchu on a personal journey. The power of the Incas could be felt in nature, in the mountains, in the Urubamba River. Are we the next Incas?


The top 3 winners will be awarded $1,000.
All winners will have their work showcased on All About Photo Winners Gallery, and published in the printed issue of AAP Magazine #32 B&EW