Black and White and my photography

After having dedicated a lot of time (years) of my photography to color, the return to black and white happened naturally, without forcing, and yet I feel that it is the culmination of a journey and the beginning of a new identity that is leading to a decisive change in my photography.

Black and white: my present and future

I went through a period that I thought was a crisis. It wasn't a crisis: it was gestation. Of a transformation that had to happen. My maturation as a photographer takes me back to move forward.

It's true that, in some ways, black and white takes away my problems.

Many.

But today practicing it is a difficult choice. Even social algorithms favor color.

And the bulk of visual communication is in color. However, I feel that so much noise and also so much sloppiness are in color. For example, so much useless street photography. And so I start again. Simply.

In black and white.

The Decision to Go Monochrome

After much contemplation and analysis of my artistic vision, I have decided to embrace black and white photography exclusively. This decision marks a significant shift in my approach, affecting all aspects of my work, from intimate portraits to raw street documentary. I work direct JPG so there is no chance to come back respect to color. While I have shown that I know how to handle color, I believe that a photographer must know where he can get to. In identifying this cornerstone, if one needs to aim for excellence, he must make a decision.

Why Black and White?

Black and white photography is more than just the absence of color. It is a timeless medium that strips away distractions, leaving behind the raw emotion and essence of the subject. By focusing on the interplay of light and shadow, black and white emphasizes texture, form, and the subtle nuances of human expression. Each photograph becomes a narrative, evoking a sense of nostalgia, drama, or quiet introspection. By removing distractions I can go straight to the point: fortunally I have always something to say through my photos and that is the important. All over these years I could see how color can be also an escamotage to give the impression the photos are better. I know that many think exactly the same for black and white, but you know what? Think about the fact that to see and enjoying really a black and white photograph requieres a different attention to the image, you have to enter on it with a different kind of observation before to appreciate it. We are currently dominated by color images, and that, in a certain way, remarks the sloppy world we are living in, certainly not very tied to elegance and form. Black and white contrasts with the visual noise fed by social media.

Portraiture in Monochrome

In the realm of portraiture, black and white lends intimacy and depth to every subject. It highlights individuality, capturing the essence of a person in a way that color often cannot. Whether photographing a stranger on bustling streets or working with a model in my studio, black and white creates a deeper connection between the viewer and the subject. I can see how a portrait in black and white becomes an intimate experience.

Let me venture a provocative phrase: color is vulgar. I live in Mexico, and you would expect the emphasys on colors of Mexico, and I did it. But expecially for portraits color can become here even more a problem. Skin color, even of the same person, tends to change a lot depending on the light and the type of decisions made in post-production. I want to get away from this problem. Because my goal is the excellence and I feel that I can reach a certain result only with black and white.

Street Documentary and Storytelling

In street documentary work, black and white is a powerful tool for storytelling. It removes distractions, focusing the viewer's attention on the raw reality and human stories unfolding in urban landscapes. Each frame becomes a visual poem, capturing fleeting moments and emotions that might otherwise go unnoticed. It is a different way to think photos on the street. While I showed I know how to manage color, most of the time I enjoy more to see black and white photos and in fact most of the time I exhibited my work in galleries it was with black and white photographs.

My street photography is focused on themes like identity, spirit of community, resistance and resilience. All aspects that can be showed perfectly in black and white.

Challenging the Trend

Color photography has become the prevailing trend in street photography. By choosing black and white, I aim to distinguish my work from the masses, focusing on emotions and presenting my vision in a unique form. This decision is about refining my voice as a photographer and conveying the stories and emotions I seek to capture.

A Timeless Medium for Emotional Connection

Black and white photography allows me to push boundaries, challenge myself creatively, and invite viewers to see the world through a different lens—one that is timeless, evocative, and deeply personal. It is about staying true to the emotions and stories I aim to convey through my images. More than in the past I feel that black and white, yes even in digital, has a specific reason to stay. My clients already know that what I am proposing is something is not possible to find everywhere.

Conclusion

This journey into black and white photography is not just an aesthetic choice but a commitment to a deeper, more emotional form of visual storytelling. I look forward to exploring the endless possibilities of this medium and sharing stories that inspire others to see the world in a new light.

Thank you for your ongoing support as I embark on this transformative chapter in my photographic evolution.