There’s a moment every photographer knows—the one where something just clicks before the shutter ever does. No planning, no overthinking… just instinct, timing, and a little bit of magic. That’s exactly the kind of moment that led to “The Oculus,” a striking black-and-white architectural image by recent graduate Gabi Gomes Parmigiani, and the winner of High Score B&W at this year’s Student Image Competition.
The Award Moment
At the Awards Night Gala, with more than 100 people in the room, Gabi stepped forward to accept her award, presented on behalf of Hahnemühle / Vanguard Canada / PHOTONews Canada by coordinator Sherry Lemcke, to a wave of applause that you could probably hear from the parking lot. It’s the kind of moment that sticks: not just recognition, but celebration from a community that understands what goes into a single, powerful image.
The Image: “The Oculus”
Captured on December 24, 2024 after just one term in the Fanshawe Photography Program, “The Oculus” is a perfect example of how strong visual awareness can outpace experience.
Gabi was simply waiting in an open space at the American Museum of Natural History in New York when she looked up and saw it: clean lines, soft window light and a natural symmetry that begged to be framed. No elaborate setup. No second chances. Just a quiet moment of observation and the decision to trust it.
The result is a beautifully composed architectural study that leans into simplicity. With minimal colour in the scene, black and white wasn’t just an aesthetic choice, it was the right choice. It strips everything back to form, contrast and light, letting the geometry do all the talking.
And clearly, it spoke loudly. “The Oculus” earned an impressive score of 83.4 and also took home Best in Category: Architectural.
A Pattern of Excellence
What makes this win even more compelling is that it’s not a one-off. Gabi also claimed the Architectural Category in last year’s Student Image Competition with another black-and-white interior detail.
That kind of consistency isn’t luck. It’s vision. It’s knowing what draws your eye and refining it, frame by frame.
Why This Matters
Student competitions aren’t just about trophies … they’re about momentum. They’re about those early signals that say, “You’re onto something. Keep going.” And when a room full of peers erupts in applause, it reinforces what every photographer needs at the start: belief.
Moments like this shape careers.
Supporting the Next Generation
At PHOTONews Canada and Amplis Foto, supporting emerging photographers isn’t just a checkbox, it’s something we genuinely care about. Programs like this, and students like Gabi, are exactly why. The creativity, the instinct, the willingness to look up (literally, in this case) and see something others might miss … that’s the future of photography in action.
We’re honoured to play even a small part in recognizing and encouraging that talent and we look forward to seeing where Gabi’s lens takes her next.
If this is what happens after one term… the rest of us better keep up.
