Sonja Bella, Silent Sentinels (LIGHT/SHADOW - Entries close 30 September 2026)

On the small Greek Island of Kos, I was drawn to these rock formations along the beach. Whilst the sun rose off to the side, and there was a beautiful orange cast across the sky, I decided to edit this long exposure as a black-and-white seascape, using the contrast between solid rock, soft water movement, and a brooding sky to explore the theme of light and shadow. I was drawn to the way monochrome strips the scene back to its essential forms, allowing texture, tonal shifts, and atmosphere to become the focus. In processing, I refined the image to strengthen the tonal range, deepen the shadows, and preserve detail in the rocks while keeping the water smooth and ethereal. The final edit was designed to heighten the quiet tension in the scene and emphasize the balance between stillness and motion. Taken with a Nikon Z7ii using a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S lens @ 24mm. 1/5 sec @ f/16, ISO 64. A Peak Design tripod was used.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.