Although colour seems to be getting more popular, Black&White is still the classic in Street Photography. The early fathers of Street Photography used it because of technical limitations and today it is still very prevalent, although the digital sensors can display colours very well.
Different Styles of Black & White Photography
As you can see in the following selection of my favorite Black&White Street Photos, in monochrome there are very distinct styles possible. Although I have to admit that I prefer harsh contrasts and they probably are the majority of the Black&White Street Photos displayed in this gallery, you can also play around with a more gentle approach.
Black&White always has this classic look, but can also transfer into the modern time. The most important is the light, and therefore mostly the sun.
Without any interesting lightning, most Black&White Street Photos seem rather uninteresting, even though the scene and subject might be outstanding.
To add more of this classic film look you can also play around with grain. Especially during the darker hours, you are able to create an almost “film noir” style, with most of the scene hidden in the dark.
Character of Black & White Street Photos
Black & White seems to put more emphasis on the emotion and atmosphere of the scene. Color can sometimes a bit distracting, especially when not done right or when in an area where a lot of colors clash.
Therefore in a lot of the pictures that I selected, there is only one subject in the entire environment filled with negative space. For me this lets my mind flow and I can only dream about what really is happening in the picture.
The Selection of 25 Top Black & White Street Photographs of 2017
2Ando Fuchs
About
Photography lets me see the world with different eyes. The most important things for mee in my pictures are the expression, atmosphere, content.. and less the technical quality. I target on making the audience “feel” the picture. If I am able to reach this, it’s a personal success and satisfaction for my work.
Website: http://www.ando-fuchs.at/
3Darko Labor
About
Street Photographer from Milan, Italy
Website: https://web.facebook.com/Darko-Labor-bn-241844405863252/
4David Maialetti
About
In recent years, my photographic world has become smaller. Learning to do more with less is the norm. Display pages have been trimmed down much like our photo staff. It only seemed logical that my approach to photography needed to adapt. Now, my go-to camera slips into my pants pocket.
Embracing the less is more concept, I shifted my creative focus to mobile phone photography. For me, the challenge of making interesting images with a device with many limitations keeps it fresh and fun. Sharing these mobile images on my Instagram not only helps motivate me; but also, more importantly, it created a connection between the viewer and me.
Website: https://twitter.com/davidmaialetti
5Des Byrne
About
Des Byrne is an Irish born Photographer founder of the Irish Street Photography Group and former Admin black and White Street & former collective member APF.
Des was part of the multi – Award winning Insight Photography Project for the Homeless in Dublin and Curator of three National & International Street Photography Exhibitions todate in Dublin.
Website: www.desbyrne.photos
6Dr Per Munther
About
Shoots it like it is. It’s about the human condition
Website: https://www.instagram.com/prmnthr/
7Edouard Ketterer
About
Minimalist photos are some of the most difficult to execute, but when done well, are some of my favourites. In Edouard Ketterer’s “L’homme du canal” we see the beauty of simplicity and geometry. There are only two triangles, the simplest of shapes in geometry. One person, one texture, and only black and white. But, it’s the way these few simple elements have been woven together which creates an exceptional composition.
8Erdem Varol
About
Born in 1988, Turkey.
Walking and working in Istanbul.
Website: http://www.erdemvarol.com/
9Gabriel Buoys
About
In the street, you’re on the hunt for images
10George Koutsouvelis
About
Street Photographer from Athens, Greece
12Jose Luis Barcia
About
My name is José Luis Barcia Fernandez and I am 40 years old. I was born in Pola de Siero, Asturias, a beautiful region in northern Spain and I am currently living in Madrid. I have a Chemistry degree and I work as a logistics manager in a multinational retail company. I am interested in street and architecture photography and I only shoot with mobile phones.
13Jose Luis Ollo
About
Pamplona / Spain “Your focus determines your reality”. Qui-Gon Jinn
Website: http://www.joseluisollo.com/
14Laurence Bouchard
About
Laurence Bouchard is a street photographer based in Tokyo. His medium is the humble iPhone, arguably the most accessible form of technology on the planet. Laurence’s choice of photographic equipment may be very far from the pinnacle of photographic innovation, but that’s the point. It’s entirely democratic. Smartphone photography evens the playing field. The only thing that matters is the right light, the right composition, and the right timing.
15Lloyd Fox
About
Staff Photographer Baltimore Sun. IPhone 4S and 5S. In search of the intersection between light and shape.
Website: https://www.instagram.com/lloyd1fox/
16Mark Fearnley
About
Mark Fearnley is a UK-based fine art street photographer who is completely impassioned by photography. He started off working as an interior decorative artist, painting grand houses using various paint effects. His love for art went further and Mark started painting abstract canvases, which in turn led to numerous exhibitions in different galleries around the country. From visiting these galleries and realizing that photography uses much the same techniques as art, such as composition and focal point, and with his creative eye, his love for photography was born and this is where you find him today.
Website: http://markfearnley.co.uk/
18Olga Karlovac
About
…it was late October, the time before you put on your hats and gloves, the time when you look at the remaining leaves fluttering in the branches above your head while you walk down your neighborhood alley… and you start wondering when the mist will swallow the sun rays, when the rain will last forever, when the darkness will take over the sunlight…
19Orna Naor
About
Orna has her unique and creative way of approaching the street photography. She
focuses on human moments, emotions and creating her own story. Her work was
published in various Street books and magazines
Website: www.ornanaor.com
20Q Sakamaki
About
Sakamaki was born and grew up in Japan before moving to New York in 1986. For the first several years in the city, he had covered many of American cultural scenes to Japanese media, more as writer than photographer. However, soon he encountered a series of radical anti-gentrification protests in New York’s Lower Eastside that was called “Tompkins Square Park Movement.” Living in the center of the area, he naturally, intensively started to photograph the socially, politically up-heaved movement. Since then he has more served his energy onto photography, especially for the socio-photo-documentary, focusing on human rights.
Website: www.qsakamaki.com
21Raphael Kessler
About:
My name is Raphaël Kessler and I am a photographer from Paris,
I mostly shoot strikes and pictures from the country I visit,
It’s important for me to find a way through the image to tell a story,
I also study acting so I have a different sense of attractive I guess,
I started photography almost 4 years ago now and I really enjoy it.
Website: www.raphael-kessler.fr
23Taras Bychko
About
Taras Bychko lives and works in Lviv (Ukraine), takes pictures in the genre of documentary and street photography. He is the finalist of Miami Street Photo Festival, London Photo Festival, “In the Shadow. Story and Pictures” by National Geographic. T. Bychko is the winner in the nomination “Street” at the Ukrainian Photographer of the Year 2016 competition. His photo was included in the book “100 Great Street Photographs” (London, England, 2017)
He organized street collective “380 Collective” dedicated to the development of street photography in Ukraine.
Website: bychko.com
24Tatsuo Suzuki
About
This city continues to fascinate me. I am invited by its enchantment: I feel the shutter release.
Its visuals are instantaneous, but by cutting them into a picture, they become universal and eternal.
Website: http://tatsuosuzuki.com/
