Black and white photography reveals emotion, composition, and narrative in its purest form. The Exposure One Awards 2025 recently celebrated this timeless medium, showcasing work from photographers around the world and highlighting the enduring relevance of analog techniques in today’s digital era.
Among the standout winners is David Zlotky (USA), whose series Where the Wild Things Are earned him Gold in the Film/Analog Photographer Professional category.
Shot on a 4×5 view camera using sheet film, the series explores the quiet majesty of natural landscapes in Colorado and Wisconsin.
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Series: Where the Wild Things Are (Image credit: David Zlotky / Exposure One Awards)
Zlotky says, “Art, for me, is about storytelling. Whether through painting or photography, I strive to capture the essence of a moment—the tension, the energy, the quiet poetry of life. My painting background informs how I see the world through a lens. Light, shadow, and composition are as important in my photography as they are on my canvas.”
The 4×5 view camera: Precision and presence
In an era dominated by high-resolution digital cameras, Zlotky’s series reminds us that analog photography remains a powerful medium for storytelling. His images highlight the unique qualities of large-format film: the deliberate framing, tonal depth, and precision of a 4×5 view camera that encourages slow, thoughtful composition.
The 4×5 view camera is a classic tool in analog photography, prized for its exceptional image quality, fine detail, and tonal nuance. Sheet film measuring 4×5 inches produces a richness and depth that smaller formats rarely achieve.
Series: Where the Wild Things Are (Image credit: David Zlotky / Exposure One Awards)
Renowned 4x5in large-format cameras, including those from Sinar, Toyo, and Cambo, are celebrated for their mechanical precision and ability to render subjects with a tactile, enduring quality. Zlotky’s painterly approach, informed by his background in painting, takes full advantage of these capabilities, resulting in images where light, shadow, and composition converge to convey narrative and emotion.
Zlotky explains, “When I photograph these natural cathedrals, I feel as if I’ve heard whispered secrets that I can only share through the lens of my camera.” His Where the Wild Things Are series is a reminder that, even in a digital world, film photography can headline, offering a measured, contemplative vision of nature that invites us to slow down and see.
Series: Where the Wild Things Are (Image credit: David Zlotky / Exposure One Awards)Exposure One Awards 2025: Global recognition
The Exposure One Awards 2025 received submissions from photographers in 64 countries, judged by a panel from institutions including the Leica Gallery, Aperture, SFMoMA, and Photo Basel.
Winners were selected across more than ten genre-based categories, from architectural abstraction to street photography, and analog/film photography – demonstrating that this medium can compete with digital work on a global stage. If you want to discover more winners, visit the Exposure One Awards website.
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