There is something timelessly beautiful about black and white photographs. When the colours are stripped away, the eye is drawn to the light, the shadows and the moment itself. In this studio session, I wanted to emphasise the strong contrasts and play of light – the result is a series of images where black and white tell their own story.

I used backlighting to emphasise the silhouette of the model and to give the image an intense, graphic look. The strong backlighting created dramatic contours and depth, while the balance of light and shadow highlighted the shapes of the face and body. This style of lighting brings out a minimalist aesthetic, where every line and shape takes on meaning.

Black and white photography is more than just removing colour – it’s a way of focusing on the essentials. Contrast, textures and the direction of light are emphasised, giving the images a classic, almost painterly quality. This style of photography works particularly well when you want to emphasise shapes, emotions and the movement of light.

We also took some colour photos, where light and shadow play with different tones. Colour brings a new depth and mood to the images – warm glows, cool tones and subtle nuances that complement the intensity of the black and white images. Contrasting light also works beautifully in colour images, bringing out skin tones, textures of materials and the intensity of the gaze.