Black and white, all the way: Week 42 in pictures

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This week’s photos from the c’t photo gallery have a distinct style. All seven are black-and-white photographs. That’s no coincidence; it’s a deliberate concept. The focus on light, shadow and texture runs through our selection, whose subjects and motifs could hardly be more varied: nature, architecture, portraits and abstract structures stand side by side, showing just how versatile the classic visual language of black and white still is.

What unites the seven photos is a willingness to pare things back. Without color, composition, light and texture take center stage — whether in the delicate details of a nature scene, the strict geometry of walls and concrete, or a person’s intense gaze. This week’s photographers show that black and white isn’t a compromise but an expressive medium in its own right.

Ksenia by Thomas Ruppel

One look is all it takes to make you stop and stare. An eye peers straight into the camera through sweeping strands of hair — intense, calm and self-assured. The black and white strips everything down to the essentials: backlight, shadow and expression. There’s no frills or distractions — just one eye that tells the whole story. This portrait makes the most of the least.

Pigeons on the Roof by katzefudder

The strong diagonal of the roofline divides the image into two contrasting zones: below, the rough, moss-covered texture of the tiles; above, a wide, almost empty sky. Two pigeons sit precisely on that dividing line, anchoring the composition. The low-angle perspective gives the small birds a surprising monumentality, while the generous negative space in the upper part of the image creates both tension and calm — a minimalist snapshot with a clear graphic impact.

Silence by Lula

Three mushrooms stand close together on a piece of deadwood in an autumn forest. Their smooth, domed caps tilt slightly forward, with fine, evenly spaced gills visible underneath. Backlight filters through the canopy, outlining the delicate stems with a bright edge, while the background dissolves into soft, round circles of blur. The black-and-white photograph emphasizes the fine details and creates a peaceful, almost timeless autumn mood.

Monte Tamaro by forms

This black-and-white photograph shows the striking walkway at the Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli on Monte Tamaro in Ticino. Built from red porphyry, the path stretches in a straight line across the steep mountain slope at about 1,600 meters. In the background, the peaks of the Ticino Alps recede beneath a cloud-covered sky, where shafts of sunlight break through. The solitary cross at the end of the walkway underscores the vastness of the landscape.

Structures 7 by Addi Beck

At first glance, this could be a microscopic image of cells. But the black-and-white photo actually shows a real surface with rivets and winding structures. The round heads look like eyes in a web of lines that seems almost alive. That’s exactly what makes the image intriguing. Technology becomes nature, metal becomes an organism. It’s an image that invites a second, or even third, look.

Under the Bridge by NAlois

The black-and-white photograph breaks down the underside of a Danube bridge into a strict interplay of geometry and reflection. Vertical slats on the bridge piers form a dense pattern of lines, cut through by diagonal shadow edges. The water doubles these structures while also distorting them with gentle ripples — a compelling contrast between rigid architecture and a flowing surface. The composition divides the image into two halves that respond to each other without exactly repeating one another.

Concrete meets clouds by mr.p.parker

A circular concrete ring frames the upward view, creating a classic picture within a picture. From the low-angle perspective, the lines of the facades converge toward the center of the image, creating a strong sense of depth. In the foreground, the exposed concrete shows the grain of its wooden formwork; smooth panels and windows recede behind it. The black and white reduces the scene to tones and textures. Rough mass and light clouds thus enter into a compelling dialogue.

(vat)