For over a decade now I’ve been capturing many aspects of London. Black and white street photography is one of my specialities. It is what I have shot the most of and what I enjoy shooting most.
Monochrome street photography has always had a special appeal. It is how it all started, before the arrival of colour. Photographers love it and photography buyers love it.
But why exactly do people choose black and white over colour?
Many would argue that the lack of colour sets a stronger mood and atmosphere. It is timeless and can have a subtle element of mystery to it.
When well executed the diversity and extent of tones is just as elaborate as colour would be.
I guess because by definition life is in colour, a monochrome image will undeniably offer a new perspective on life, as we normally see it, making it exciting and more appealing.
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I also shoot a lot of colour street photography but colours can be more challenging in the way they all compete in the frame and it can be more distracting whereas black and white does offer a more minimal approach.
For a street photographer a scene can easily be simplified to structure, texture and leading lines by capturing it in monochrome.
Ultimately, like most creative decisions in photography, there is not right or wrong, it is a personal choice / preference.
Here are some of my most popular London black and white street photography images with a short few words about them:
The photo above was shot in Highgate where I lived. I was sitting inside our local pub sipping on a pint of my favourite craft beer and then came this girl. She looked at the food menu outside which left me with enough time to grab my camera and get the shot. Why do I particularly like this shot? I'd say mostly because it is timeless, it could be straight out of the sixties. I also think this girl looks quite beautiful and it was serendipitous, everything came together at the right moment.
This second shot was captured near the National Theatre on London's South Bank. This was less of a "grabbing the moment" shot, more of a "wait for the shot". I thought the composition was good and liked how the light fell on the scene but I needed the right people to walk into it. I took a few other shots but most people made the scene look messy. Then came these two guys who enhanced the composition and it all came together.
This was captured in Stoke Newington. Now you may start to think I spend my life in pubs. You're not entirely wrong. Again though it's a case of taking a break during my photo walks, grab a drink and here it is. The shot. I was inside, she was outside reading the menu and as I raised the camera... she looked at me and had that look "I've been snapped!".
The Tate Modern is one of my favourite buildings in London. When I am walking around the city and feel the crowds overwhelm me, the Tate Modern feels like a refuge. The darkness inside the building paired with light seeping through the long tall windows creates beautiful scenes. This man walked into the frame with his little girl and her scooter. She ran away, leaving him there... abandoned. I took the shot.
I used to work in an office once in Temple, London. During lunch breaks I'd escape my corporate prison, camera in hand and go shoot people. I was standing on Waterloo Bridge on a bright sunny day looking down. I framed my shot first as the shadow of the bridge lined nicely with the pavement. Then came this runner, I took the shot.
Part of my "Great Londoners" street photography series, I shot passers-by around London, mostly Camden and Kentish Town, for about a year. The set-up was simple. Camera and manual focusing 35mm lens at very wide aperture of f0.95. I'd zone focus at two metres away and shoot at the right moment which was tricky due to the razor thin depth of field. I saw this lady come from a mile away, she looked too cool to be missed.
And another from my Great Londoners. This man was in Camden Town walking, lost in his thoughts while holding his shopping in one hand and a cigarette ready to be lit in the other. I thought the light on his forehead was beautiful and he has something about him. I took the shot.
There you are, these were my seven favourite photos shot in monochrome and I hope the story behind them was somehow interesting.
Most of the photos displayed here are available through my shop as museum quality prints.
Love monochrome? Leave a comment! Not so much? Leave a comment!
Until next time.
Nico