Black and White Photography in a Chaotic City

I take my Canon R6 Mark III into Manchester for a day of black and white photography, looking for mood, atmosphere, interesting characters and the way light shapes the city. There’s something very different about photographing a city without colour. When colour is removed, light, shadow, texture, shape and contrast become much more important. In this video I talk about the philosophy behind black and white photography and why I think it can change the way you see a familiar place. Manchester had also had some rain, which gave me plenty to work with. I look at how puddles and wet surfaces create reflections, and how the sun breaking through the clouds can produce strong shadows that work particularly well in monochrome. I spend some time photographing people and the many interesting characters around the city, experiment with grain and digital noise, and talk about why a little noise can actually complement a black and white image rather than detract from it. I also slow the shutter speed down and experiment with motion blur, looking for images that feel less static and a little more abstract. Later, I travel to a spot with a great view of Manchester's tall buildings and spend some time photographing the skyline before finishing the day with half a pint of bitter at Rain Bar. So this is part street photography, part photography discussion, and part wandering around Manchester looking for interesting light. Thanks for watching. Music: www.purple-planet.com #BlackAndWhitePhotography #StreetPhotography #Manchester