Monochrome Wildlife Challenge 2025
We’re excited to reveal the highly commended, runner-up, and winning images from the Monochrome Wildlife category in the 2025 Pangolin Photo Challenge, along with the camera settings that brought these great shots to life!
This round focused on capturing wildlife in shades of grey. Photographers were challenged to portray the majesty of an elephant, the grace of a gazelle, or the intensity of a falcon using only light and shadow. We sought compositions that evoked nature’s raw beauty, struggles, and triumphs through the contrast of black and white, without the distraction of colour.
Creativity and originality were key. Photographers experimented with different black-and-white techniques and showed fresh perspectives or new ways to portray familiar animals.
Missed the Monochrome Wildlife Finalists video?
In case you missed it, here are the finalists from which the images below were chosen.
The Monochrome Wildlife Challenge was judged by
Highly Commended
Polar Bear Squabble, by Karen Bartosik (USA)
SONY ALPHA 7R V with an FE200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens
f/6.0 | 1/2500 | 200 mm | ISO 2500
“One early morning in Svalbard we witnessed a female bear feeding on a walrus carcass. After spending some time with her we decided to move on when another female appeared with a yearling cub and started walking towards the same carcass. This image captures their meeting on a ridge above the carcass as momma bear chased off the other female. It was well worth forfeiting sleep to spend an amazing morning with these bears.” – Karen
Highly Commended
The Gentle Giant’s Gaze, by Debabrata Bagchi (India)
OLYMPUS OM-1 Mark II with an OM 12-40mm F.28 II LENS
f/5.0 | 1/640 | 12 mm | ISO 200
“The rhino lowers its massive head, its immense horn pointing towards the ground, seemingly acknowledging the presence of the tiny bird. This quiet, respectful interaction between two vastly different forms of life suggests a mutual recognition in the wild.” – Debabrata
Highly Commended
Hippo in Mono, by Gary Collyer (United Kingdom)
OLYMPUS OM-1 MARK II with an OM 150-400mm F4.5
f/5.7 | 1/1250 | 400 mm | ISO 320
“This was taken on the Chobe River in March 2025, whilst on a photoboat. I had a list of images I wanted, and this was at the very top” – Gary
Highly Commended
Night Predator, by Sharon Thorp (USA)
Canon EOS R5 with an EF70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM lens
f/3.0 | 1/125 | 100 mm | ISO 5000
“Backlit Spotted hyena at the Shompole Hide” – Sharon
Highly Commended
Your Majesties, by Deborah Russell (United Kingdom)
CANON EO3 R5
f/6.0 | 1/640 | 135mm | ISO 100
“A powerful pose from these two handsome male lions from Team Tano coalition that have a strong brotherly bond. In their prime with beautiful wind swept full manes. To convey their true majesty, I got as low as possible to put them against the big open dramatic sky.” – Deborah
Highly Commended
Wonderment, by Nicky Kerr (New Zealand)
CANON EOS R5 with an EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
f/3.0 | 1/125 | 70mm | ISO 5000
“A young lion cub explores his environment as they become more active in the late evening, lower Zambezi National Park. ” – Nicky
Highly Commended
Two Icons, by Zita Quentin (USA)
CANON EO3 R5
f/6.0 | 1/640 | 135mm | ISO 100
“Two icons in one frame: Craig, a 53 year old big tusker with the backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I photographed this epic scene in the Amboseli National Park, Kenya in May 2025.” – Zita
Highly Commended
Tree of the Universe, by Debabrata Bagchi (India)
SONY ALPHA 7R V with an E70-180mm F2.8 A056 lens
f/3.0 | 1/125 | 70mm | ISO 5000
“The golden backed jackal shaking the stars out from the tree of the universe. The rainy season in Kenya brings a lot of flies which illuminate with backlight. I used this opportunity to capture this jackal looking for food with a swarm of flies just after a shower near Masai Mara, Kenya. ” – Debabrata
Runner Up
The Guardian of the Herd, by Christian Dorn (Netherlands)
NIKON Z8 with a NIKKOR 24-70mm F4 S lens
f/6.3 | 1/640 | 24mm | ISO 500
“Under the heavy skies the guardian of the herd stays alert to ensure the safety of the herd crossing the road.” – Christian
Our Challenge Winner is
Lion Kings, by Angela J Sanchez (USA)
CANON EOS R5 with an RF70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM
f/3.0 | 1/80 | 142mm | ISO 2000
“Two male lions from a single pride on top of a high kopje in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. As the sun began to set, these two lions began to wake and vocalize with the third male member of the pride on another rock below. I captured these two as they stood overlooking their domain. ” – Angela
Congratulations, Angela, on this well-deserved win!
You have won a 6-night stay for one person at The Pangolin Chobe Hotel or a $2,000 voucher to put toward any Pangolin Photo Safari including the ones detailed below!
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