White and Black photography holds a graphic emotional power unlike any other form of the medium. This power lies in its stark simplicity. Without color to tell the story, other elements become even more important.
Even in today’s super-saturated world of rich, bright and dazzling colors, white-and-black photography continues to offer an unmistakable aesthetic power. A passing instant rendered timeless; a landscape’s form brought into sharp relief-in its simplicity lies its power.
A mid-life crisis or a simply artistic phase.
“This collection offers an artful and emotional window into the gaping maw of depression, anxiety and loneliness.”
For all the generations that lived before the occurrence of controversial digital revolution, black and white photography has obtained an important place in teh collective consciousness. This is strongly related to the fact that many of the historical photographs taken by preeminent photographers were shot in black and white, often by high-quality, lightweight rangefinder cameras, such as Leica.
Color photography became more common from the mid-50s onwards, but it wasn’t popular instantly, due to its high price and incorrect rendering of colors in early color films.
Some of the greatest photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson even refused to work in color, disappointed by the mediocre results. However, the commercial introduction of digital cameras in the 90s was a true game changer. In the first decade of the 21st century, film-based chemical processes were becoming less common and the previously large interspace between black & white and color photography became almost insignificant. The practical advantages of new technologies have opened the doors for novel possibilities and even the image quality of moderately priced cameras became acceptable, exceeding expectations of those who didn’t believe in digitalisation.
Nowadays, even though we are fully aware of the certain nostalgia related to analog black and white photography, we still admit there is something exceptionally aesthetically pleasing in a well-composed black and white imagery where everything is stripped down to the core - light contrast, textures, and ultimately emotions.
A powerful tool of artistic expression and internal conflict.
“With the right image, I find that shooting white and black can powerfully enhance the emotion I’m trying to evoke and, being one step removed from reality, it can offer a fresh perspective.”