B&W

B&W photography allows me to concentrate on texture, graphic design and form by simplifying the frame, a decluttering in some ways. It enables one to be bolder, to perhaps experiment and enquire more and, of course, see the world in a different way. I’m relearning to visualise the world in terms of monochrome and shades of grey again but this time helped by the B&W image in my electronic viewfinder, it helps but you still need to “see” before you bring the camera to your eye.

B&W suits much of what I photograph, architecture, the built environment, abstract elements and street photography. There is no formal project here just experimentation, playing with different formats, square is “king” at the moment and old emulsions, successes and failures in the tank and darkroom are being remembered and revisited. A project will coalesce in time, it just awaits some inspiration, a leap of faith and patience, for now it’s time to follow many strands and see where they lead.

I’ve been forty years discovering that the queen of all colours is black. (Henri Mattise).