Winner: “Riding the Silence” by Photo by Mateusz Kuca (@mateusz.kuca)
Black‑and‑white photography doesn’t murmur—it declares itself boldly, as seen in the second Irys Photos Spotlight competition.
Sponsored by Leica and featuring the coveted Leica Q3 Monochrom as the top prize, the event celebrated the purity of light, shadow, and visual storytelling. Mateusz Kuca claimed the win with a masterfully timed image from snowy Krakow, a photograph whose calm precision and graphic strength made it unforgettable. Judges Nina Papiorek and Fred Mortagne curated the final selection with deep respect for the craft, highlighting work that proves monochrome photography is thriving. More than a contest, the event reaffirmed Irys’s mission to champion photographers in a world that often prioritizes noise over nuance.
More: Irys Photos, Instagram
Honorable Mention: “Winter Games on the Seine” by Victor Aries-Poinssot (@victor.poinssot)
Honorable Mention: “Between Rooftops” by Max Masters (@mmgoesgallivanting)
Honorable Mention: “Beneath the Threshold” by Yannis Rousounelos (@yannis_rousounelos)
Honorable Mention: “Shadow Crossing” by Siegfried Hansen (@siegfried_hansen)
Honorable Mention: “Carrying the Unseen” by Enamul Kabir (@enamulkabirrony)
Honorable Mention: “Silent Ascent” by Andrea Tunbridge (@andreatunbridgephotography)
Honorable Mention: “Between Branches and Breath” by Another Statistic (@another__statistic)
Honorable Mention: “At the Edge of Conversation” by Quim Vilar (@q_vilar)
Honorable Mention: “The Long Quiet Curve” by Eric Moerschel