Capturing street photography in monochrome removes the distraction of color as a compositional element, allowing the viewer to focus on the raw interplay of light, gesture, and form. In black and white, the stories and faces of the street are distilled to their essence—human emotion, fleeting movement, and the subtle truths of everyday life.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
Last weekend I finally returned to the Oregon coast, more than six years after my last visit. A black & white photographer’s paradise, for sure. The Astoria-Megler Bridge, taking US 101 across the Columbia River, the last bridge before the river runs into the Pacific Ocean. The gloomy weather definitely helped in taking this long exposure monochrome image, smoothing out motion in water and clouds.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
When roaming the streets doing Street Photography, my camera is always set to a high contrast monochrome profile. Not that I couldn’t convert the RAW files to black & white later on. But I love to see the scene and my composition in monochrome when I look through the viewfinder. And even when the eyes are “hunting” for stories of the streets to capture, I have black & white in mind. When I saw those two doing father and son things while sitting in a street café after nightfall, I saw the light and knew it would give me the perfect monochrome shot. Image specs were 1/13 sec @ f/5.6 and ISO 1600. Focal length was a 240mm full frame equivalent. Shot on an Olympus OM-D E-M1.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
Ansel Adams is for monochrome landscape photographers the same as Henri Cartier-Bresson is for black and white street shooters. For me, both legends are inspirational masters of their craft. While Ansel Adams captured the beauty of American National Parks in all their monochrome glory, similar places in Europe are much harder to find. But when doing a winter hike in the Weisspriachtal (in Austria’s Lungau region) along the banks of the Lonka river, I felt very much reminded of Ansel’s photographs. Capured with an Olympus PEN-F, image specs 1/400 sec @ f/10, ISO200 and 28mm focal length.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
My heart beats Street Photography. I’m always looking to capture life as it happens. Like this little girl looking at votive candles in Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d’Avignon. Amazed by the magic light, maybe asking herself what wishes have been associated with those candles. A monochrome shot taken today with my iPhone using the dark black&white mode.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
There is always a light at the coast. Ocean and sky never stop meeting in their eternal dance of motion and change. In this monochrome photograph taken on the Oregon coast, the light persists even in the contrast of shadow and silhouette. Softly illuminating the wet sand, piercing the clouds and outlining the trees that cling to the cliffs. The ocean reflects the sky’s quiet determination to shine through, no matter how heavy the clouds. The coast reminds us that light is not always brilliant. Sometimes it is simply a soft glow that remains. Guiding the eye of the passing photographer and his lens to capture something enduring.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
Black and white photography speaks straight to the soul. Without the distraction of color, every glance, every wrinkle, every shadow becomes a whisper of emotion. It captures the rawness of a moment. The quiet sorrow in a gaze, the strength in a silhouette, the poetry in light and darkness. In its simplicity, it tells the most powerful stories, not in words, but in feeling.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
When touring a city and its sights with a camera in hand, I’m always on the lookout for those scenes that would work great in black & white. In fact, most of the time I have set my camera to a monochrome mode so I see the composition already in the viewfinder or the display. My Nikon Zf is perfect for that because it has a dedicated switch on the top plate to easily switch between color and B&W.
This image I took the other week in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Alba, Italy. The Duomo di Alba was built in the first half of the 12th century and later reshaped various times. Behind the cross you can see the shapes of the wood-carved chorus stalls built in 1512. Shooting with a Nikkor 40mm f/2 prime lens, I selected the f/2 aperture to bring out the main object in the image, framing the altar and the chorus stalls. The dynamic range of the full frame mirrorless Nikon Zf continues to amaze me.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
Street Photography (which is my preferred genre) goes great with black & white photography. Or, even better, with high contrast monochrome shooting. Concepts like having to wait for the golden hour do not matter to the street photographer. Complaining about the harsh midday light is also irrelevant for them. Basically you can shoot at any time of the day. Even when traveling and the light is bad, I start looking to capture an interesting street scene to get me back into the flow.
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
For this Monochromia guest post I selected a nature shot. Animals are great subjects for black & white photography. Especially wild ones. But you don’t need to go on Safari in Africa. Just grab your camera and a decent zoom and visit your local zoo. You will be amazed how many opportunities there are for some great monochrome shooting. Look for interesting light, texture, gesture and high contrast. I took that image of a Leopard in the zoo of my hometown Nuremberg. Eye in eye with a predator…
More of my photography can be seen on my blog “Streets of Nuremberg“
Monochromia 
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