Twenty-year-old AJ Smadi may have only been practicing astrophotography for two years, but his skills have already been garnering attention. One of his images has even been selected as NASA’s Astronomy Photo of the Day. Last month, he showed off his talents with an incredible photo of a solar eclipse on Saturn. This gas giant will be seeing quite a few eclipses in the near future, and Smadi made sure he was ready with his equipment to capture the event.

Saturn has more moons than any other planet in our solar system, with a total of 145 confirmed satellites. But only seven of these are large enough to eclipse the sun, casting a shadow on the planet’s surface. In the next few months, one of Saturn’s largest moons, Titan, will transit the planet several times before taking a break until 2040.

Knowing that these events were about to happen, Smadi used the Stellarium sky app to track the eclipse. Luckily, it was visible not far from his location in Washington, and so he set out with his telescope, camera, and infrared filter. Setting up at 1 a.m., he waited several hours until Saturn was high enough to image. After the shoot, he stacked thousands of images using video captures into one final, incredible photo.

In it, Titan’s shadow is clearly visible on Saturn’s surface. But that’s not the only fascinating element of Smadi’s photo, as several other moons are also visible. Smadi posted a helpful image with labels to allow everyone to clearly see Dione, Tethys, and Enceladus. And, of course, Saturn’s stunning rings are ever-present, rendered in crisp detail.

Smadi’s prowess at planetary imaging is astounding considering his age and level of experience, making us excited to see how his skills will continue to grow and develop.

To stay updated with his work, follow AJ Smadi on Instagram.

Amateur astrophotographer AJ Smadi captured amazing images of a solar eclipse on Saturn.

The planet’s moon Titan caused the eclipse, but Smadi captured much more than that in his images.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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AJ Smadi: Instagram | Reddit

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by AJ Smadi.

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Sumatran tiger

Driven by his passion for tigers, photographer Vladimir Cech Jr. spent four years visiting Southeast Asia’s jungles to capture images of the rare Sumatran tiger. This critically endangered species is rarely photographed in the wild, but Cech’s tenacity—and camera traps—made his dream a reality. The resulting portfolio of imagery is a wonderful look at life below the jungle canopy, giving a glimpse inside a world that often goes unseen.

Cech first began his project in 2019, and put diligent time and effort into it, even during the difficult years of COVID-19. By installing homemade DSLR camera traps, he hoped to document the elusive Sumatran tiger, but this proved to be more challenging than he had imagined. While the camera traps documented plenty of the jungle’s inhabitants, he continued to turn up empty-handed when it came to the tiger. But all that changed in the fall of 2024.

“I thought I was dreaming,” he tells My Modern Met when recalling the moment he first saw the tiger on film. All of his hard work had come to fruition, allowing him to fulfill his goal of shedding light on the Sumatran tiger and its plight.

This tiger, the smallest surviving subspecies, has seen its habitat reduced to a small area and faces significant risks. Poaching and habitat loss are major contributing factors. Deforestation for oil palm plantations is particularly devastating, as these tigers prefer large, undisturbed areas of forest to thrive. While many tigers live on protected land, poaching is still a harsh reality, particularly as their bones and other body parts continue to be used in Eastern medicine.

While Cech’s series has gone as viral as he’d wanted, he’s still hopeful that it can make an impact. “Hopefully, it will have the reach that the Sumatran tiger deserves.” In the meantime, he continues his documentation in Sumatra and is working on a new project to fulfill another of his big dreams. Stay tuned and follow Vladimir Cech Jr. on Instagram to see what he’s up to on this secret mission.

Since 2019, Vladimir Cech Jr. has been traveling to Indonesia in the hopes of photographing the Sumatran tiger.

This critically endangered tiger is found only in the jungles of Sumatra.

Cech has been placing homemade camera traps for years and has captured numerous forest inhabitants.

Sun bear

Sumatran serow

Banded linsang

Southern pig-tailed macaque

Porcupine

Langur monkey

Thomas's langur

But it wasn’t until the fall of 2024 that he finally got a glimpse of the elusive tiger.

Vladimir Cech Jr.: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Vladimir Cech Jr.

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READ: Photographer Spend Years Traveling to Sumatra to Track Elusive Tiger

Photo: Nichole Ayers / NASA

Being 250 miles away from Earth provides astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with some incredible views. But it also allows them to document happenings best seen from above. Astronaut Nichole Ayers, who is in orbit as part of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, captured a rare phenomenon known as a gigantic jet on camera during a storm over North America.

NASA defines gigantic jets as a discharge that occurs between some thunderstorms and the Earth’s ionosphere high above them. “They are an unusual type of lightning that is much different from regular cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning,” they add. Gigantic jets are one of the known Transient Luminous Events (TLEs), which also include other elusive phenomena like sprites, halos, and ELVES—a dim, expanding red glow in the night sky.

Ayers captured the gigantic jet as the ISS went over Mexico and the U.S. on the morning of July 3. To get this image, she used a Nikon Z9 using a 50mm lens (f/1.2, ¼ sec, ISO 6400) she had set up in the Cupola to capture a time-lapse image. “In this photo, the storm appears to be hovering near the Texas-Mexico border,” Ayers said. “You can spot the glow of Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston to the northeast, and Torreón, Mexico, to the southwest.”

At first, due to its appearance, Ayers believed the mysterious lightning shooting upward to be a sprite, which are also very rare and enigmatic. “Some sprites tend to dance over the storms, turning on and off one after another,” NASA says. “Many questions about how and why they form remain unanswered.” TLEs are so poorly understood that even NASA has set up a citizen science project to gather as much footage as possible for further study.

Fellow astronaut Don Pettit, who is well-known for taking and sharing mind-blowing images from the ISS, praised Ayers for her insightful image. “To record a photo like this takes skill to set up the camera but more than that, the knowledge of what lightning systems are likely to create sprites and the willingness to take 2000-5000 images where only one will record a sprite,” he wrote. “Kudos to Nicole for her imagery efforts!” To which Ayers replied, “Trying to make you proud! Couldn’t get pictures like this without your willingness to teach and share knowledge with everyone.”

With how little is known about gigantic jets, sprites, and other TLE, Ayers hopes that this picture will help understand these phenomena better.  To stay up to date with the astronaut, make sure to follow Nichole Ayers on X.

Astronaut Nichole Ayers, who is in orbit as part of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, captured a rare phenomenon known as a gigantic jet.

Photo: Nichole Ayers / NASA

Ayers captured the gigantic jet as the International Space Station went over Mexico and the U.S. on the morning of July 3.

Photo: Nichole Ayers / NASA

Sources: Nichole “Vapor” Ayers on X; Don Pettit on Instagram; NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for June 18, 2024; Spritacular: NASA’s New Citizen Science Project to Capture Elusive Upper Atmospheric Electrical Phenomena on Camera

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“Fireworks” by Bence Tóth, Péter Feltóti, Bertalan Kecskés
The image shows M33, the Triangulum Galaxy from a new perspective. Due to tidal interaction with M31, there is very prominent star-forming activity in M33, which results in a spectacular structure of emission nebulae. During processing, a separate SHO picture was created with a strong SII/H-alpha presence, the glowing red structures in the picture, and blended with a high-resolution LRGB processing of the continuum data, representing the ‘background’ light.
Location: Sződliget, Pest and Törökkoppány, Somogy, Hungary, 2–4, 9, 23,30 November, 1, 27 and 28 December 2024

Dazzling galaxies, colorful Northern Lights, and the fiery sun are just some of the celestial bodies and natural phenomena that made the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist. Organized by Royal Observatory Greenwich, supported by ZWO and in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the competition received over 5,500 entries from amateur and professional astrophotographers.

While the winners won’t be announced until September, the competition has given us a sneak peek at what we can expect by releasing its shortlist of finalists. From incredible solar prominences to solar eclipses, the images are a record of the year in astronomy. And in a new development, the annual Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation has been renamed. The Annie Maunder Open Category is a playground for photographers to experiment and showcase their creative approaches to astrophotography.

Now in its 17th year, the contest will once again award winners across nine categories, as well as two special prizes and an overall winner. Scroll down to see our favorite images from the 2025 shortlist and then head over to the official website to see all the finalists.

The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest has released the shortlist of its 17th annual contest.

“500,000-km Solar Prominence Eruption” by PengFei Chou
On 7 November 2024, the Sun experienced a massive solar prominence eruption, with a length exceeding 500,000 km (311,000 miles). The eruption lasted approximately one hour from its initial outburst to its conclusion. The eruption phase of the prominence is composed of more than 20 stacked data sets, highlighting the entire process of this spectacular event.
Location: Eastern New District, Xinxing County, Guangdong province, China, 7 November 2024

“Aurora Over Mono Lake: A Rare Dance of Light” by Daniel Zafra
This photograph captures the rare occurrence of Northern Lights in California. Vibrant ribbons of magenta and green light up the sky, reflecting in the still waters among the rock formations.
Location: US 395, Mono Lake, Mono County, USA, 10 October 2024

“Moonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites” by Fabian Dalpiaz
The full Moon rising above the rugged peaks of the Dolomites. With no clouds in sight and in flawless conditions, the golden light of sunset bathes the mountains, creating harmony between Earth and sky.
Location: Santuario di Pietralba, Deutschnofen, South Tyrol, Italy, 15 November 2024

“Solar System Portrait” by Sophie Paulin
This image presents all the planets of our Solar System, excluding Earth, showcasing their unique characteristics. Mercury, the closest to the Sun, is a barren, cratered world, while Venus is shrouded in thick clouds. Mars, the Red Planet, has vast deserts and the largest volcano in the Solar System. The gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, dominate with their immense size and swirling storms, while Saturn’s rings make it especially striking. Uranus and Neptune, the ice giants, are rich in methane, giving them their blue hue.
Location: Bobingen, Bavaria, Germany, 11 September 2023, 7 September, 29 August, and 28 December 2024

“Eight-Panel Mosaic of M31: Stars, Nebulae and Central Bulge” by Chuhong Yu, Jingyao Hong, Xi Zhu, Yaguang Wan
This image shows countless resolved stars, emission nebulae, and a mysterious central bulge. The photo is incredibly detailed, the mist surrounding the galaxy is actually tens of thousands of yellowish tiny stars.
Location: Daocheng County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China, 30–31 October, 1–6, 20–30 November, 1–10 and 20–31 December 2024

“Dragon Tree Trails” by Benjamin Barakat
A solitary dragon tree stands tall in the heart of Socotra’s Dragon Blood Tree forest – an otherworldly landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth. The final image is composed of 300 individual exposures.
Location: Firmihin Forest, Hidaybu District, Yemen, 13 March 2024

“Close-up of a Comet” by Gerald Rhemann and Michael Jäger
The photographers traveled to Namibia to view Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) in the southern hemisphere. Due to the angle of the observation, the dust and ion tails seem to have overlapped, but the impact of solar winds on the day caused noticeable kinks in the ion tail.
Location: Tivoli Astrofarm, Windhoek Rural, Namibia, 30 September 2024

The photo contest received over 5,500 entries from amateur and professional astrophotographers.

“Gateway to the Galaxy” by Yujie Zhang
Under the night sky, several black geometric buildings appear to stand on the water’s surface, resembling gateways to the galaxy. The bright Milky Way stretches across the sky behind them, with stars twinkling. The reflections of the buildings shimmer in the water, blending reality and illusion, as if opening a passage to the mysteries of the Universe, inspiring endless reverie and a longing to explore the vast starry sky.
Location: Songyang County, China, 10 August 2024

“Kongen” by Filip Hrebenda
The photograph captures a remote location on the Senja Peninsula in northern Norway. In the foreground, birch trees beautifully reflect the colors of the dancing aurora in the sky.
Location: Stavelitippen, Fjordgård, Norway, 12 September 2024

“Encounter Within One Second” by Zhang Yanguang
This image captures the International Space Station (ISS) transiting across the solar disc. The solar background was captured separately with double-stacked etalon[an optical filter that isolates specific wavelengths, used to observe solar details], and reveals high-contrast chromospheric details. The imaging sequences were strategically combined during post-processing to preserve both the spacecraft’s crisp silhouette and the Sun’s intricate surface features.
Location: Xiamen, Fujian, China, 24 January 2025

“Blood Moon Rising Behind the City Skyscrapers” by Tianyao Yang
This photograph captures a red Full Moon rising beside Shanghai’s tallest skyscrapers in Lujiazui. Taken from a distance of 26.5 km (16.5 miles) from the skyscrapers in a single exposure, this image’s alignment took five years of planning. The Full Moon appears perfectly positioned next to the illuminated skyline, creating a striking contrast.
Location: Jiading District, Shanghai, China, 21 July 2024

“Abell 85: Pomegranate in the Universe” by Deqian Li
Abell 85 is a supernova remnant situated in the Milky Way galaxy that appears to some to be shaped like a pomegranate. This target is faint. The OIII signal in particular is exceedingly weak. To fully capture the signal, Deqian Li spent six days camping in Hongyuan County.
Location: Hongyuan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China, and Yingshan County, Nanchong, Sichuan, China, 30, 31 August, 1 and 3–5 September 2024

“Electric Threads of the Lightning Spaghetti Nebula” by Shaoyu Zhang
This full-spectrum image of the Spaghetti Nebula unveils the faint and elusive nature of this supernova remnant (SNR), hidden behind a vast cloud of dust that obstructs its emission light. To enhance its visual appeal, Shaoyu Zhang dedicated considerable time to capturing OIII data, intensifying the blue and green hues, while allowing SII and H-alpha to support high dynamic range stretching for added depth.
Location: Deep Sky Chile Observatory, Camino del Observatorio, Río Hurtado, Chile and Xiangcheng, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China, 21, 24 and 25 December 2024, 3–5, 15, 16, 19–31 January, 1–6, 10–19 February 2025

“NGC 2997: The Antlia Cabbage Galaxy” by Xinran Li
NGC 2997 is a barred spiral galaxy (type SBc) in the constellation of Antlia. At 35 million light years distance, it has a visual magnitude of about 9.5, making it visible with binoculars in dark sites. The region is full of background H-alpha emissions, giving wonderful color to the image.
Location: El Sauce Observatory, Río Hurtado, Chile, 23 January, 4–5 February 2025

Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

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“Simple Happiness” by Amir Behroozi (Iran). Taken in Iran, 2015

What does the word “joy” mean to you? This is a question that 56 photographers from 22 countries answered with their images for the third edition of the In Colors Project, which is themed around this concept. The resulting exhibition of 75 works offers a poignant glimpse into what joy looks like around the world.

In Colors Project: JOY is an initiative by Lumicroma. This Portugal-based online magazine and photography platform came to fruition during the pandemic as a way to promote visual culture. Now, it has expanded into a physical location, with JOY on view at the Centro de Arte de São João da Madeira in Portugal, as well as Lumicroma's website.

Curated by Aníbal Lemos and Sandra Maria Teixeira, the exhibition shows joy in myriad forms. From a toddler playing on a rainy day to a man taking in a glacier under the Milky Way, these visuals give meaning to an abstract emotional concept. As a viewer, it's fascinating to see which images resonate with our own personal feelings around joy and which others push us to reconsider our own definitions.

Scroll down for a preview of the exhibition and then head to the Lumicroma website to view all of the images and vote for your favorite.

The In Colors Project: JOY exhibition is a fascinating look at what this emotion means to photographers around the world.

“Untitled” by Juan Rodríguez Morales (Spain). Taken in Pontevedra, Spain, 2020

“Ode to Glaciers: Sentinels of Climate Change” by Luigi Vagamo (Italy). Oulettes, France, 2024

“Via Sant'Agostino” by Lucrezia Testa Iannilli (Italy). Taken in Palermo, Italy, 2019

“The Little Prince” by Ângela Berlinde (Portugal). Taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2004

“Christening of an Artisan Fishing Boat” by Paulo Monteiro (Portugal). Taken in Rabo de Peixe, São Miguel Island, Portugal, 1998

Exhibition Information:
In Colors Project: JOY
July 5, 2025–September 27, 2025
Photography Gallery, Centro de Arte de São João da Madeira
Rua Paula Rego, São João da Madeira, Portugal

Lumicroma: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Lumicroma.

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READ: Photographers Visualize the Meaning of “Joy” in Group Exhibition

“Diving” by Joanna Steidle, United States. International Aerial Photographer of the Year.
“A humpback whale diving back under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean after taking a breath of air. This was taken within 500ft of the coast in Southampton, NY, USA.”

The inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition put out the call to talented aerial photographers around the world, and the responses do not disappoint. Over 1,500 images from professional and amateur photographers were submitted to the photo contest, and now the expert panel of judges has revealed the incredible winners.

American drone pilot and artist Joanna Steidle was awarded the grand prize for her strong portfolio of four images that play to her love of ocean life. From her base in the Hamptons, Steidle has ample opportunity to fly her drone above the Atlantic, and she takes full advantage by capturing everything from whales to sting rays to large schools of fish.

“Aerial photography offers so many possibilities not yet explored,” she shares. “Every day is exciting as I look for unique subjects and moments. I try to stay away from the ordinary. I live in a very flat landscape, so top-down imagery has become quite a theme in my photos which happens to work well with my love for marine life.”

The other big winner in the contest is Ignacio Palacios of Australia. His perfectly composed image of Argentina's Cono de Arita surrounded by anti-crepuscular rays is a revelation. Perfectly balanced, it won him the International Aerial Photograph of the Year prize. These two winners were just a few of the many who were awarded for their excellence in aerial imagery.

The awards, organized by the International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest, celebrate the growing interest in sky photography. Whether using drones or other methods, the breathtaking visuals speak for themselves.

“Looking down on our subject produces a novel, intriguing, and sometimes ambiguous perspective,” shares co-organizer Peter Eastway. “Surely part of the appeal is that the view is new and different from what we see most of the time, walking around with our eyes 1.5 metres above the ground? And photographers today are capturing some simply breathtaking views from above. Many are using modern drones equipped with high-resolution sensors, others are using more traditional (and more expensive) modes of transport, flying high above in planes, helicopters, and even balloons.”

Scroll down to see more of our favorite winners and finalists, and then head over to the official website to see the top 101 aerial photos.

The International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition has announced the winners of its inaugural photo contest.

“Cono de Arita” by Ignacio Palacios. International Aerial Photography of the Year
“Anti crepuscular rays at Cono de Arita, La Puna, Argentina.”

“Concerto” by Joanna Steidle, United States. International Aerial Photographer of the Year.
“Top down drone photography of a small fever of cownose rays stirring up some sand along their travels.”

“Smoking Skull” by Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain. IAPOTY Runner-Up.
“Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano as it cooled. The cracking pattern of the lava formed a skull, creating an eerie natural illusion for a few moments.”

“Desert Whirlpool” by Colin Leonhardt, Australia. Abstract Award
“Mine site near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.”

“Above the Ice” by Fabien Guittard, France. Chairman's Choice Award
“These two seals are lounging peacefully on a drifting slab of ice in the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon in southern Iceland.”

Over 1,500 images from professional and amateur photographers were submitted.

“Desert Playa” by David Swindler, United States. IAPOTY Third Place

“The Nipple of the Earth” by Daniel Viñé Garcia, Spain. IAPOTY Runner-Up.
“A dormant volcano in the high-altitude Puna of Argentina reveals intricate erosion patterns sculpted by wind and time.”

“Austfonna Ice Cap” by Thomas Vijayan, Canada.
“The Bråsvellbreen glacier, part of the Austfonna Ice Cap in Svalbard. Early melting and powerful waterfalls reveal the urgent reality of climate change—reminding us what’s at stake if we fail to act.”

“Flamingos over the Lake” by David Swindler, United States. IAPOTY Third Place
“Flamingos over a lake.”

“Tree of Ice” by Talor Stone, United States. International Aerial Photograph of the Year, Runner-Up
“An aerial perspective of glacial calving reveals an unexpected organic pattern in the water.”

“Looking down on our subject produces a novel, intriguing, and sometimes ambiguous perspective.”

“The Tempest” by Barbara Brown, Australia. Black & White Award
“Salt lake, Goldfields region of Western Australia.”

“Tajogaite” by Javier Garcia, Spain. Top 101.
“On 19 September 2021, the Tajogaite volcano (Montana Rajada) erupted on La Palma (Spain). Intense volcanic activity buried thousands of homes.”

“New Earth” by Mike Mezeul II, United States. Top 101
“Nearly 24 hours after the start of the July 9, 2023, Litli-Hrútur eruption in Iceland, this three-image panoramic showcases the newly formed cinder cone and associated lava river.”

“Winter Mountains” by Craig McGowan, Australia. Top 101
“The moving clouds allowed speckled winter sunlight to illuminate and shift across the mountains below.”

“Labyrinth of Time” by Tomás Neuwirth, Czech Republic.
“A labyrinth in the spa park in the town of Jesenak, photographed in two different seasons.”

“Relax after the Meal” by Pål Hermansen, Norway. Top 101
“Polar bear on Svalbard after eating on a walrus carcass. Thanks to the drone with a telephoto lens, this rare scene could be captured without any disturbance.”

“Nature's Palette” by Rakesh Baro, India. Top 101.
“I love how this beautiful lake is nestled in the heart of autumn, surrounded by a breathtaking display of fiery reds, golden yellows and deep oranges. Muskoka landscapes can't get any better.”

“Avalanche” by Lorenzo Passalacqua, Australia. Top 101
“Surfers confronting the immense force of the ocean, evokes the rush of escaping a collapsing mountain.”

“The Alchemy of Extraction” by Tim Wrate, Australia. Top 101.
“A remote mining site in South Australia, where vivid colors reveal the dramatic impact of mining on the landscape? An intricate blend of human industry and natural terrain.”

International Aerial Photographer of the Year: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by IAPOTY.

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This isn't Andrew McCarthy‘s first photo of the International Space Station (ISS) transiting the sun, but it might be his most memorable. In late June, the talented astrophotographer traveled to the Arizona desert to photograph the transit. What he didn't expect was to also capture a large solar flare shooting from the sun's surface. Calling it a “one-in-a-million shot,” the image is truly a mixture of skill and chance.

Taking him completely by surprise, getting the solar flare and the ISS was something he hadn't planned for. Perhaps it was a cosmic reward for braving the desert's sweltering temperatures, which reached up to 121°F. The scorching temperatures required a lot of planning to keep his equipment safe, but for McCarthy it was well worth it to take “one of the most rewarding shots of my career.”

“To get this shot, I risked heatstroke by traveling during an excessive heat warning,” he told PetaPixel. “I had to bring several ice packs to put under my computers and sensitive electronics, and run thermoelectric coolers on my cameras. I brought an entire cooler full of water and managed to drink all of it!”

Once he was back in the safety of his own home, McCarthy was able to process the frames he shot and stack the final composition. Titled Kardashev Dreams, it represents “our first steps to being a much greater civilization,” according to the photographer. The piece is now available as a print on his website for anyone who wants to hang it in their home.

Scroll down for the close-up view, as well as McCarthy's behind-the-scenes video. And be sure to follow Andrew McCarthy on Instagram to stay updated on his astrophotography adventures.

Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy took a “one-in-a-million” photo of the ISS transiting the sun during a solar flare.

See the scorching desert heat he braved to carry about his project.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Andrew McCarthy (@cosmic_background)

Andrew McCarthy: Website | Instagram | X | Patreon | TikTok

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Andrew McCarthy.

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“Trapped” by Roman Willi

The BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition may have announced its 2025 winners, but the fun isn't over. All July, the public can select from 20 standout images and place their votes for the People's Choice Award. From incredible insects to fascinating marine life, the strength of the nominees shows the high level of competition these photographers face.

Anyone can head to the official website to cast their vote. Last year's inaugural award saw nearly 5,000 votes cast, with the winner not only being featured on the BigPicture website but also earning a $300 prize and the opportunity to be part of the BigPicture exhibition interactive that will be on view at the California Academy of Sciences.

While you're voting, be sure to play the fun memory game, which features winners from the contest. It's not only a return to your youth, but also highly addictive. Scroll down to see the rest of this year's nominees and then cast your vote for your favorite. The polls are open until July 30, so make sure you make your selection in time.

Here are the nominees for the 2025 BigPicture Natural World People's Choice Award.

“Pathfinders” by Jonas Beyer

“Powerless” by Niki Colemont

“Hitchhiker” by Caitlin Grace

“Cicada Swarm” by Gavin Koester

“Urchin Spike” by Sayaka Ichinoseki

“Sniff” by Doug Gimesy

“Look at Me” by Reiko Takahashi

“Aspen Shadows” by Devon Pradhuman

“Big Hair Day” by Nick Kanakis

Voting is open until July 30, so don't forget to cast your vote.

“Blue Dream” by Haiyong Cai

“Relaxing in the Snow” by Daniel Valverde Fernandez

“California Newt Ball” by Anton Sorokin

“Dance of the Elements” by Philipp Egger

“The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring” by Liron Gertsman

“In Mother's Arms” by Dvir Barkay

“Vulture Restaurant” by Alain Schroeder

“Gift” by Piotr Naskrecki

“Circle of Life” by Angel Fitor

“A Fortress of Spruce Needles” by Iacopo Nerozzi

BigPicture Photography Competition: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition.

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“Toxic Lake” by Radek von Hirschberg. Overall Professional Winner.
“Poles across the country embraced winter swimming as their favorite pursuit. It became the ‘it’ thing to do among the Polish middle class. This was evident, for example, in social media, once flooded with selfies of people standing in cold water. Standing almost everywhere, like e.g. in Toxic Lake.”

Timeless and elegant, there's just something about black and white photography that captures the imagination. And the winners of reFocus Awards' 2025 Black & White Photo Contest remind us of the power of this creative choice. After evaluating submissions from photographers in 80 countries, an expert panel of judges has curated a stunning winners list by both professional and amateur photographers.

Radek von Hirschberg and Maria Ehrlich were singled out as the overall winners in the Professional and Non-Professional divisions, respectively. Von Hirschberg won for Toxic Lake, a fascinating look at the lengths that Poles are willing to go to take a dip, even in the dead of winter. Ehrlich, who is a hair stylist and makeup artist in addition to her photography work, won for her beautiful, casual portrait of a woman in Ghana.

In addition to the overall winners, exceptional photographs were honored across a wide range of categories in both divisions. From Travel and Photojournalism to Minimalism and Fine Art, the breadth of the categories allowed photographers to show the creative possibilities of black and white photography.

Scroll down to see our favorite professional and non-professional winners, and then head over to the reFocus Awards website to see the full gallery of winners and finalists.

These are the standout winners of the reFocus Awards 2025 Black & White Photo Contest.

“Nuerki” by Maria Ehrlich. Overall Non-Professional Winner.
“Girl with traditional hairstyle sitting in front of a house in Nima, Accra Ghana”

“How Beautiful You Are” by Aga Karmol. Winner, Professional, Domestic Animals
“A Welsh Pony stallion admiring his own reflection in the mirror.”

“Alone In Silence” by Herri Susanto. Overall Professional Runner-Up

“Female Crowned Woodnymph, Ecuador” by Mark Gordon. Winner, Non-Professional, Wildlife

“The Cowboys of Cappadocia” by Ava Karmol. Winner, Professional, Travel
“Local Turkish ‘cowboys' maintain the last herd of semi-wild yilky horses, living in a vast valley of Cappadocia.”

“Black veil” by Mauro Matalone. Winner, Professional, Fashion & Beauty

Photographers in 80 countries submitted their best monochrome images for consideration.

“Geometry of Light” by Grit Meyer. Winner, Non-Professional, Minimalism
“The image ‘Geometry of Light' deconstructs existing forms and recontextualizes them. The modern design of Isozaki's architecture seamlessly merges with elements of Islamic architecture, while the human figure serves as a scale reference.”

“Fishermen's Dance Among Inle's Mangroves” by Xavier Ayme. Winner, Non-Professional, Travel
“Fishermen skillfully working the serene waters of Inle Lake, surrounded by lush mangroves, their traditional techniques blending harmoniously with the tranquil landscape.”

“Hanging Divers” by Jesper Bjarke Andersen. Overall Non-Professional 3rd Place and Winner, Non-Professional, Nature
“My approach to UV photography was the same as on land: using a small camera, without lights or flash, and shooting exclusively in black and white. (Leica Q2 mono). This photo was taken purely on instinct—framed in the moment, with no need for adjustment afterwards.”

“Ageless Portrait” by Asok Sengupta. Overall Non-Professional Runner-up

“Va, pensiero” (“Go, thought” from “Nabucco”) by Christian Basetti. Winner, Non-Professional, Fine Art
“Oh my homeland, so beautiful but lost. Oh, remembrance, so beloved, but so painful. Golden harp inspiring the great Poets. Why are you so silent and abandoning yourself to tears? Rekindle memories in our hearts. Tell us again about our glorious past!” Giuseppe Verdi inspires the Italian glory in decay.”

“West Bank & Jerusalem” by Michael Christopher Brown. Winner, Professional Photojournalism

“An Internal Odyssey” by Tzion Essel. Overall Professional 3rd Place.

Expert judges selected winners across Professional and Non-Professional Divisions.

“Symphony of Strings” by Jacquie Matechuk. Winner, Professional, Architecture
“Getting lost in the intricate symmetry of a modern cable-stayed bridge, transforming its structure into a mesmerizing display of geometric precision. An interplay of converging lines and curving forms creates a sense of movement and balance, evoking both architectural strength and delicate artistry.”

“Frost On My Windows” by Peter Jeschke. Winner, Professional, Nature
“Nature creates frost art in winter on my leaky old farmhouse windows. Ephemeral crystalline compositions form overnight, are lit by morning light diffracting
wondrously through the ice crystals, then the artwork disappears in the sun’s warmth. Occasional flat gray winter light lends itself to B&W.”

“North Uist Landscape” by Jens Winkler. Winner, Professional, Minimalism
“An abstract of the landscape on the island of North Uist, Scotland.”

“Alone Together” by Christine Walsh. Winner, Professional, Abstract
“Photographer Devin Yalkin.”

“Perfect balance of man and horse” by Beng Tiong Ng. Winner, Non-Professional, Domestic Animals
“Mongolian eagle hunters are Kazakhs who have a tradition of hunting on horseback. Man and horse are one mobile unit. At the Golden Eagle Festival, sports are held to show their skills. The contest to pick up coin bags at full gallop requires perfect balance for both man and horse.”

“The Shape of Light” by Eric Hagemann. Winner, Professional, Fine Art

“Orangutan: The Person of the Forest” by Venkatesh Kittur. Winner, Non-Professional, Fine Art
“Here, I am presenting a portrait of an Orangutan with deep, soulful eyes, reflecting both intelligence and sorrow. Their gaze speaks of a quiet plea for survival, haunted by the encroachment of deforestation and habitat loss, a silent struggle for existence and survival in a rapidly changing world.”

reFocus Awards: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the reFocus Awards.

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READ: Standout Winners From the 2025 Black & White Photo Contest

Japanese photographer Atsushi Tazaki, better known as Chito, spends a lot of time photographing the moon. But one particularly creative idea has captured the imagination of the internet. His series of photos showing a giant Buddha statue “pinching” the moon has caused a sensation. Combining a clever idea with flawless execution, Chito's photos are simply delightful.

Taken at the giant Buddha in Ushiku Daibutsu, his photos are a unique way of viewing one of the largest statues in the world. Inspired by his deep respect for Buddhist culture and the peaceful atmosphere that surrounds sacred spaces, Chito captures the moon just barely grazing the Buddha's hand, which is raised in the Vitarka Mudra, a symbol of sharing knowledge.

Before taking the photographs, Chito spent a considerable amount of time learning about the history and significance of the location. After visiting at several different times of the day, he settled on these atmospheric evening shots as they best convey the authentic mood of the monument.

The photographer is pleased to see people impacted by his efforts, as he views these images as a way to bring people from different backgrounds together. In doing so, he hopes that viewers will pause, reflect, and feel a sense of calm or a sense of curiosity about Buddhism.

Scroll down to see even more stunning compositions with the giant Buddha and follow Chito on Instagram for more unique glimpses of the moon.

A Japanese photographer who goes by Chito captured the giant Buddha as it appeared to “pinch” the moon.

Chito: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Chito.

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READ: Spectacular Photo Captures Buddha “Pinching” the Moon