In an era dominated by digital photography, American photographer David Zlotky has captured international attention with his stunning black-and-white landscape series "Where the Wild Things Are," which recently earned him a Gold award in the Film/Analog Photographer Professional category at the Exposure One Awards 2025. Shot entirely on a 4x5 view camera using traditional sheet film, the series showcases the enduring power and relevance of analog photography techniques in contemporary artistic expression.

Zlotky's award-winning series explores the quiet majesty of natural landscapes across Colorado and Wisconsin, demonstrating the unique qualities that large-format film photography can bring to artistic storytelling. The photographer, who draws from his background in painting, explains his artistic philosophy: "Art, for me, is about storytelling. Whether through painting or photography, I strive to capture the essence of a moment—the tension, the energy, the quiet poetry of life. My painting background informs how I see the world through a lens. Light, shadow, and composition are as important in my photography as they are on my canvas."

The technical precision required for large-format photography sets Zlotky's work apart in today's fast-paced digital landscape. The 4x5 view camera, a classic tool in analog photography, is renowned for its exceptional image quality, fine detail, and tonal nuance that smaller formats rarely achieve. Sheet film measuring 4x5 inches produces a richness and depth that creates images with what photographers describe as a tactile, enduring quality. This deliberate, methodical approach to photography encourages slow, thoughtful composition—a stark contrast to the rapid-fire digital shooting that characterizes much of contemporary photography.

Zlotky's painterly approach takes full advantage of the capabilities offered by renowned large-format camera manufacturers such as Sinar, Toyo, and Cambo, which are celebrated for their mechanical precision and ability to render subjects with extraordinary clarity and tonal range. His images demonstrate how light, shadow, and composition can converge to convey narrative and emotion in ways that purely technical excellence cannot achieve alone. "When I photograph these natural cathedrals, I feel as if I've heard whispered secrets that I can only share through the lens of my camera," Zlotky reflects.

The Exposure One Awards 2025, which celebrated the timeless medium of black-and-white photography, received submissions from photographers in 64 countries worldwide. The competition was judged by a distinguished panel from prestigious institutions including the Leica Gallery, Aperture, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA), and Photo Basel. Winners were selected across more than ten genre-based categories, ranging from architectural abstraction to street photography, with analog and film photography demonstrating that traditional mediums can compete with digital work on the global stage.

Black-and-white photography continues to reveal emotion, composition, and narrative in its purest form, stripping away the distractions of color to focus on fundamental elements of visual storytelling. Zlotky's success serves as a powerful reminder that even in our increasingly digital world, analog photography techniques remain not only relevant but capable of making headlines and capturing the attention of international audiences. His "Where the Wild Things Are" series offers a measured, contemplative vision of nature that invites viewers to slow down, appreciate the deliberate craft of traditional photography, and reconnect with the natural world through the unique lens of large-format film photography.