Architecture,  Monochrome Madness,  Photographic techniques,  USA

Gallery: urban landscapes in black and white

September 12, 2026 / 43 Comments

The materials of city planning are: sky, space, trees, steel and cement; in that order and that hierarchy

Le Corbusier

How many of our cities reflect that hierarchy I wonder? Sky we have, of course, but space is often at a premium and trees can be squeezed out. However when urban planning is at its best, open spaces and nature are not forgotten.

Nevertheless, it can seem odd to talk about ‘landscapes’ in the context of urban areas and I often use ‘cityscape’ instead. But whatever you call such scenes, they have a strong appeal to the photographer in many of us, and perhaps especially if we like to work in monochrome. Strong architectural lines, contrasting materials and interesting shapes, particularly those of some modern architecture, are well-suited to black and white compositions.

And that is what Leanne is looking for in this week’s Monochrome Madness challenge. And as nowhere does ‘urban’ better than the United States, I’ve decided to focus on US cities for this post.

My feature photo is of the iconic Bean in Millennium Park, Chicago.

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Chicago

The Riverwalk in Chicago

The historic Richard H. Driehaus Museum dwarfed by modern skyscrapers, Chicago

Seattle and Mount Rainier from the Space Needle, Washington State

New York New York casino on the Las Vegas Strip

New York New York casino on the Las Vegas Strip

Columbus Circle, NYC

Manhattan from the water, NYC

Looking south from the Top of Rock, Rockefeller Center, NYC

43 Comments

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