Orms x Canon Chasing Contrast Competition: See the Winning Monochrome Photos

Now in its sixth year, Orms x Canon: Chasing Contrast invited South African photographers to strip photography back to its raw essence, using monochrome to capture the light, texture and quiet moments that make up everyday life. From city streets and coastal scenes to intimate details often overlooked, the competition asked entrants to find beauty without the distraction of colour. Suffice it to say, the response was nothing short of striking, delivering a collection of images that celebrate South Africa’s cities, heritage and different takes on South Africa’s landscapes, all pared back to their most honest form. Below, we showcase the overall winners and top 20 finalists, who caught the judges’ eyes for their strong sense of composition, emotion and storytelling. Their photography now takes centre stage – both here and as part of the striking outdoor exhibition along the iconic Sea Point Promenade – turning a familiar stretch of coastline into an open-air gallery worth lingering at. Meet the winners: First Winner: Marc Degenaar Picture: By Marc Degenaar taken on a Canon EOS 7D Mark II. Prize: The Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless Camera Body with a Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM Lens valued at R40 895 A voucher from the Orms Cape Town School of Photography valued at R4000 Second winner: Andrea Carlyle Picture: By Andrea Carlyle taken on a Canon 5D Mark II Prize: The Canon EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera Body valued at R20 895 Third winner: Jannes Reddig Picture: By Jannes Reddig taken on a Canon EOS R6 Prize: Orms Rental Voucher valued at R5000 Fourth winner: Jonathan Inglis Picture: By Jonathan Inglis taken on a Canon EOS R Prize: Orms Rental Voucher valued at R5000 Youth winner: Oscar Wolff Picture: By Oscar Wolff taken on a Sony Alpha A7III Prize: The Canon EOS R50 Creator Kit valued at R16 395 Meet the Top 20 finalists Their work, alongside the winners mentioned above, will be exhibited along the Sea Point Promenade as part of a group exhibition: Shot by Andile Bhala in Soweto, Johannesburg on a Fujifilm X100vi. Shot by Andile Bhala in Gauteng on a Fujifilm X-T10. Shot by Andrea Carlyle in Gauteng on a Canon 5D Mark ii. Shot by Andrew Baxter on Chapmans Peak Drive, Cape Town on a Canon EOS R6 Mark II. Shot by Deon Collison in Bergvliet Main Road, Cape Town on a Nikon D7100. Shot by Dillon Marsh in Sutherland on a Nikon D850. Shot by Emile Grundlingh at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town on a Hasselblad 907X 100C. Shot by Gabrielle Kannemeyer in Cape Town on a Fuji GFX100s. Shot by Henk Kruger on the N1 in Bellville on a Nikon Z9. Shot by Jannes Reddig in Hout Bay on a Canon EOS R6. Shot by Jonathan Inglis in Hartleyvale Stadium, Observatory, Cape Town on a Canon EOS R. Shot by Marc Degenaar on Strand Beach on a Canon EOS 7D Mark II. Shot by Matthew Wareley in Kalk Bay on a Fujfilm X-T3. Shot by Nicolene Olckers in Shelly Beach, Kwazulu-Natal on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Shot by Noxolo Sidzumo in Stellenbosch on a Canon EOS 6D. Shot by Pippa Yates at the Cape Epic Finish Line, Lourensford on a Sony Alpha A7iii. Shot by Ruben Jenkins-Bate at the Zimanga Private Game Reserve, KZN on a Canon EOS R7. Shot by Sithemba Nkonki in Berea, Johannesburg on a Canon EOS 1300D. Shot by Tapiwa ThembiNkosi Chihota in Sea Point, Cape Town on a Canon EOS 1DX Mark ii. Shot by Oscar Wolff in the Northern Cape on a Sony Alpha A7iii. Also read: 7 scenic drives around Cape Town you shouldn’t miss