Timeless Black and White Cinematic Photography
Color can be a distraction. I strip it away to focus on form, geometry, and the story within the light. Whether it's an architectural study or a quiet street moment, I look for the frame that lasts.
A creative shot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, viewed through a foreground element that creates beautiful bokeh. This black and white fine art photo plays with focus and framing.
A classic view down a street in Montmartre, Paris. The monochrome treatment enhances the timeless architecture and cloudy sky, giving it a nostalgic feel.
A candid moment in Paris at night, with the illuminated Eiffel Tower in the background. This black and white shot feels like a still from a classic film.
An abstract, out-of-focus shot of the Eiffel Tower's lights at night. The bokeh creates a dreamy, impressionistic interpretation of the famous landmark.
Light streams through the grand windows of the Palace of Versailles, casting geometric shadows on the floor. Black and white emphasizes the stunning play of light and architecture.
The grand staircase at the Palace of Versailles. The symmetry and classical architecture are highlighted in this monochrome photograph.
A lone commuter walks through a beam of light in Grand Central, framed by a ticket window. This shot, taken on a Leica Monochrom, is all about capturing a fleeting, cinematic moment.
The sculptural concrete pillars beneath Little Island park in NYC. The black and white conversion brings out the texture and flowing forms of the architecture.
About Black & White Studies
I don't just remove color during editing. I shoot with a Leica Monochrom or specific sensor configurations on my Sony A1 to capture deep contrast and grain directly in-camera. This ensures the raw texture you see is authentic to the scene, not a post-production effect added later.
The Monochrome Philosophy
Photography is often about the subject, but in black and white, it becomes about the light. My monochrome work isn't just about turning down the saturation; it is about how light shapes the architecture of a city or the mood of a street. By removing the distraction of color, I force the viewer to look at the composition—the lines of a staircase, the shadow under a concrete pillar, or the silhouette of a commuter.
Technical Approach
My gear is chosen to serve this specific aesthetic. When I am shooting street scenes or architecture, I often reach for the Leica Q2 Monochrom. It is built specifically for this purpose, providing a tonal range that color sensors struggle to replicate. For commercial assignments where I need flexibility, I calibrate my Sony A1 to output high-contrast, high-dynamic-range files that translate perfectly into deep, moody black and white.
Prints for Your Space
This style lends itself to large-format physical media. I offer museum-quality archival prints for those who want to bring this cinematic energy into their home or office. Every print is produced using pigment-based inks on 308 gsm cotton rag paper, ensuring that the blacks remain rich and the highlights retain detail for decades. Whether it is a cityscape from Paris or a texture study from New York, these images are designed to be tangible objects, not just files on a screen.
David Courbit
I’m David, but most people know me as Jetlag. I spend my time chasing light across cities, whether that's the heavy shadows of Grand Central or quiet moments in a Parisian street. I don't just take pictures; I frame stories that feel like stills from a classic film.
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