Dramatic Black and White

We asked for images that focused on detail, texture, and shape, and this architectural entry has all three! As well as the brilliant tonal range captured by the photographer, the wide-angle view from an 11-24mm lens adds more drama, accentuating the height of the tower as we look up. Well done!

What a fascinating capture! The stairs in this shot act as an effective leading line through the frame and our eye is drawn to the brightest part of the frame – the cat. An incredibly unique interpretation of the brief, which we love to see. Well done!

When it comes to black-and-white portraiture, many photographers favour side lighting, so it’s great to see something dramatically different here. We love anything how the photographer has captured such bright and expressive eyes, and yet the areas surrounding the subject are dark and free from distractions. Well-exposed and processed.

We asked for drama, and wow, does this image deliver! The stormy weather certainly creates the atmosphere, but the photographer's black and white processing and dodging and burning have really brought out the tones in the white spray of the waves and the stormy skies beyond. A great shot, and interpretation of the brief!

This is a wonderfully evocative shot; we can almost feel the wind through the grass and Jay’s subtle editing has flattened the contrast levels without flattening any of the drama. When you choose to shoot can be just as important as what you choose, and this dark mill has proved to be the perfect focal point amidst dark storm clouds behind.

Despite pushing the ISO to its limits, this shot remains clean and smooth – which can be key for some approaches to monochrome. We love the range of tones and the fact that the bird still stands out against a dark background.

This image transports us to another time, and yet the photographic skills required to capture it could only be from the modern era. The photographer has made good use of window light to illuminate the subject, and a wide aperture pulls them out from the background.

An evocative and mysterious portrait of a bride in white. Weddings can be full of colour, but stripping back the tones to monochrome gives us a more timeless result. We loved the contrast between the dress and the dark surroundings and wondered, where is this bride going?

This pet portrait is even more impressive for being shot on a smartphone. The high-key exposure simplifies the shot, and while most photographers will tell you to get eye contact from your subjects, we liked the fact that the dog is looking outside of the frame. Well exposed, and very effective in black and white.

We asked for black and white, and that's what we've got! This image shows excellent use of composition – the diagonal line cutting through the frame to give a jarring effect. The solitary tree stands in silhouette against the sky, dividing the frame between dark and light. An original take on the brief.

The photographer's use of vignetting draws the eye towards the main subject, who has been cleverly positioned in the centre of the frame. Black and white complements the stark contrast in tones well. This shot is even more impressive given that it was captured on a smartphone with a fixed lens!

The repetitive shapes in this memorial are pleasing to behold – and reminiscent of an Escher work. A monochrome conversion removes the distractions of colour and allows us to get lost in the frame, but by including a figure, we have some context for the subject and its size.

There's something eerie and dystopian about this image, which is a good thing as it makes us keen to know more. The use of a black-and-white treatment adds more mystery to the frame. The photographer has chosen a low-key approach to the photograph, which is dark and moody, and definitely dramatic!

This is a fantastic example of how a silhouette can be used to add drama to an image. Here, the photographer's use of a narrow aperture allows us to see enormous detail in the leaf. This is a graphic image that really benefits from being in black and white, well done.