Photography is one of my two favourite arts, the other being architecture. Here are five black & white photos, from the 1940s to 2024, that inspire me.

Stanley Kubrick, Self-Portrait, 1949 © Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick’s Self-Portrait is my computer wallpaper. I stare at Stanley, he stares at me, something ethereal clicks. Kubrick was a remarkable photographer. I dare say I prefer his photography to his films.

Yves Saint Laurent by Irving Penn, 1957 © The Irving Penn Foundation – Foundation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent is my favourite fashion designer. Yves was also a photographer and a collector of photography. Of the many photos taken by or of Yves, I chose this one.

Sembrancher, Viaduc de Alexandre Sarrasin,  2013 © Jean-Marc Yersin

I came across Swiss photographer Jean-Marc Yersin’s work years ago through LinkedIn. This photo is from the series Vestiges du Val, Les carnets d’un autre temps no3/3.

We previously featured Yersin’s work La Ligne – Les carnets d’un autre temps no2/2.

Praia de Moledo 2024 © Adelino Marques

Adelino Marques is a Portuguese photographer who privileges black and white photography. This image was elected best mobile photo of 2024 by The Guardian. It is one of the several rocks pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela use as reference points.

Noel Gallagher by Kevin Westenberg, October 21, 2008
© Kevin Westenberg

I’ve always loved this portrait of Noel Gallagher. I first saw it years ago somewhere on the internet and didn’t know who took it until I crossed digital paths with Kevin Westenberg.

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