The Mono Awards 2026: A closer look at our runners-up
With The Mono Awards 2026 presented by Synology now a wrap, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the images that stood out to our judges this year.
Our three runners-up in the People, Places and Animals categories all approached their subjects in different ways, but were all successful in captivating our judges.
Here's what they the judges had to say on the images they chose as our runners-up this year.
People category runner-up, Ross Mclennan, Jin
Ross McLennan’s Mono Awards runner-up portrait is part of a series with the working title of Ortho Surfers.
“Living in Crescent Head, a surf town, I inadvertently shot a friend’s portrait on 8x10 Ilford Ortho after running out of panchromatic film,” explains McLennan.
“I loved the way that large format cameras immediately invoke a more considered approach to people photography. This self-portrait was made to test a semi-stand development process for the series, helping to extend the film’s dynamic range.
“I feel there is a lost world full of wonder in film photography, and I’ve committed myself to using it, along with other non-digital processes, to tell stories through my eyes. These portraits have a timeless quality that shifts the viewer’s perception. It can be difficult to tell whether an image was made yesterday or 100 years ago, leaving the viewer to interpret it for themselves.”
What the judges said
I love the way that large format cameras immediately invoke a more considered approach to people photography. It’s often slower paced while being completely susceptible to random happy mistakes that come naturally with this process, which of course is part of the charm. This image is a simple, direct, no frills example that elicits an emotive response that is not necessarily tangible, but revels in beautiful tones, unusual framing and a compelling gaze that lets the viewer’s mind wonder about the origin story. – Chris Budgeon
This is such a simple and powerful portrait that leaves you with so many questions, and that’s okay! The hold of the subject’s steadfast stare seems to count for resilience and confidence. The drops of water across his skin and wet hair also leave me wondering what has just happened? The water droplets are also reminiscent of tears.
The way the subject holds his jaw feels like he may be in the midst of saying something, or breaking down. Such selective focus removes this context further. The result is a very potent and universal portrait image that leaves us with less of a narrative but more of an affect. – Liz Ham
Places category runner-up, Cushla Monk, Cathedral of Steel
Cathedral of Steel has a wonderfully atmospheric quality and striking use of light, successfully transforming one of Sydney’s most recognisable landmarks into an evocative, almost abstract scene.
The combination of fog, sunrise and the Harbour Bridge’s steel framework creates depth and movement, while the monochrome treatment emphasises the structure and changing light.
Monk says a little research into weather and sunrise conditions led to an early-morning trip to the harbour.
“What an overwhelmingly beautiful morning it turned out to be,” she recalls.
“The constant movement of the fog rolling in across the harbour, the light as the sun rose and the changing angles of the sun’s rays through the steel girders of the Harbour Bridge were all so mesmerising.”
Positioning herself on the western side of the bridge, she waited for the rising sun to stream through the steel framework.
“I felt the light and mood of the moment was so well portrayed in a mono image.”
What the judges said
This is a cracker of a shot! We have all seen so many images of the bridge, so it’s always very refreshing when the elements all come together like this to envelop the familiar icon in a shroud of mystery and intrigue. I love all the bells, whistles, smoke and mirrors in photography. There is something so beautiful and theatrical about light trying to pierce through the fog. The treatment is just so. All the tone and detail is where you want it, and contrast where it is warranted. – Liz Ham
It’s not every day that an often-photographed location stands out in a competition, or even registers my interest, but I can honestly say I’ve never seen an image of the Sydney Harbour Bridge quite like this. The image instantly caught my attention and held it, drawing me in to appreciate just how unique it is. An outstanding capture, and one I’m sure won’t be repeated anytime soon. – Jay Collier
Animals category runner-up, Leanne Silver, Sniffing for prey
Leanne Silver’s Animals category runner-up image, Sniffing for Prey, wowed our judges with its beautiful composition and unique wildlife moment, captured in an especially challenging environment.
“High up in the Arctic Circle, on a small ship surrounded by seemingly endless summer sea ice, we spotted a young female polar bear climbing onto an ice floe,” recalls Silver.
“She spent some time there, often finding a vantage point to gain height and sniff the air for prey. We were very aware that she would count us on that list if she had the opportunity!”
“Polar bears rely on their acute sense of smell to track prey, sometimes over considerable distances, so it was fascinating to document this behaviour. I found a spot where I could get my camera as low as possible, checked my settings, and captured her moving around the ice floe before she slipped gently back into the water and headed away.”
“It’s an experience that will stay with me forever, making me acutely aware of the beauty of these amazing apex predators and the challenges they face.”
What the judges said
I believe great photographs often come from the capture of a gesture, and this image is the pinnacle of that idea. Then look at the composition and the repetition of triangles, the mound of snow the bear is leaning on, the strong shape of the bear’s pose, set against the beautifully soft-rendered snowy ice pack, so delicately high key and majestic. Everything comes together: the gesture, the shapes, the tonal simplicity and the sheer presence of the animal, with its black nose lifted into the air, sniffing for prey. – Jackie Ranken
This image reads like a graceful ballet dancer caught in a fleeting moment of movement and beauty, again illustrating that timing is always critical. As humans we tend to expand the literal story of an image that our eyes present to us, a wild animal sniff testing the air, and impose our own emotional responses to that construct. This is a beautifully framed poignant moment of sculptural elegance that evokes issues like nature, changing environments and the endangered existence of these magnificent beasts. – Chris Budgeon
The 2027 edition of The Mono Awards opens in mid-January 2027. Keep an eye on the Mono Awards website for more.