“It carried more emotional weight than I had realized at the time,” says award-winning photographer about her “ordinary” black-and-white portrait

Carly Goldsmith, an award-winning photographer, recently won the "People" category at the 2026 Mono Awards, an annual photography competition hosted by Australian Photography and Capture magazines. The competition received over 3,000 entries from Australia, New Zealand and other countries worldwide. Goldsmith's winning image, "Childhood," showcased her two youngest children playing together in their back garden.

While the scene may not have seemed extraordinary at the moment of capture, Goldsmith later realized the profound emotional impact of the photograph. She explained that the sun's positioning cast a distinct shadow across the fence, adding an element of mystery and depth to the image. As a result, the seemingly "ordinary" moment carried a powerful sense of innocence and youth.

The Mono Awards recognized other exceptional black-and-white photographers as well. Andy Zakeli, based in New South Wales, won the "Places" category for a quirky photograph featuring the architecture of Sydney's Gadigal Station. Zakeli's image featured a humorous twist, as he transformed the metro station into a scene with a decapitated subject.

Brooke Pyke from Western Australia was awarded for the "Animals" category with her dramatic black-and-white image of a swirling mass of mobula rays in Baja, Mexico. Pyke's shot was enhanced by the contrast between the rays and the glowing backdrop provided by the white sand. Each of the 2026 Mono Award winners received AU$2,500 (approximately $1,800 / £1,300) and an 8TB Synology NAS storage.