A panther gazes straight at the camera in a striking black-and-white photo taken by German photographer Lars Beusker, showing just how breathtaking images of animals can be.
Beusker, who was named โNature Photographer of the Year 2022โ at the US-based International Photography Awards, takes his wildlife photos exclusively in black and white.
โIn black-and-white photography, no colours distract from the subject,โ he says.
โThe eye focuses exclusively on the animals. This increases the intensity of the photo.โ
As with portraits of humans, an animal photoโs composition, exposure and mood are important, Beusker says.