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Gallery: seeing faces in black and white

July 8, 2026 / 39 Comments

Black and white photography does more to evoke an emotion and freeze a moment in time than any other medium

Cliff Edom, Photojournalist

Why, when we see the world in colour, do we often find black and white portraits so engaging? With the distraction of colours stripped away we are driven to focus on elements such as the direction of a gaze, skin texture and the interplay of light and shadow on the face. Elements such as clothing and jewellery fade into the background and the expression on the face takes centre stage.

Also, black and white lends a timeless quality to photographs. We still think of it as a throwback to the past, especially those of us, like me, who grew up with only black and white photos.

While thinking about what I might do for this week’s theme-free Monochrome Madness I came across an excellent post from Nilla of Image Earth Travel, sharing some wonderful photos of faces from her travels. I was immediately inspired to do something similar and as I particularly like monochrome portraits and candid shots, that was the obvious route to take.

The last time I explored this theme was in March 2023. So I’ve made sure that all my choices were taken after that date so as not to duplicate. They may however have appeared in other previous posts, but not, I think, in monochrome.

My feature photo was taken near Dambakolapatuna Sri Sangamiththa Temple on the outskirts of Jaffna

I’m always on the lookout for wedding shoots

By the Pont Saint-Louis, Paris

In the grounds of our hotel in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

By the Rhine in Cologne

Performers also provide great photo opportunities

Actress in the Piazza di Santa Croce, Florence (filming Dinner with Dante)

Drummer in the Zócalo, Mexico City

On Fremont Street, Las Vegas

In the Copper Canyon Adventure Park, Mexico

Children always make cute subjects

When possible I make sure that parents give permission for me to photograph their children, either explicitly or implied, but a couple of these are candids

Shy toddler at the Blood Compact Monument, Bohol, Philippines

At the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico

In Creel, Mexico

Our guide Jezzy and her goddaughter in Bangaan, Philippines

Mother and child, Vigan, Philippines

(the mother was happy for me to photograph her son but didn’t want to be included herself)

At Creel station, Mexico

Like the train staff above, people at work make for interesting shots, either posed or candid

Doorman at The Radh Hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Tuk-tuk driver in Vigan, Philippines

A couple of miscellaneous ones to finish

On the terrace of the Café Panis by the Pont au Double, Paris

In the gardens at Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

39 Comments

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