Shadow & Light Monthly #61

Shadow & Light is a list of curated photography stories, features, techniques, news and inspiration that I’ve come across this month.

In this edition we look at the brutal beauty of road cycling and everyday life in Paris. We investigate the feeling of ‘Sonder’ and the beauty created by the interplay of light and shadow in architecture.

So, with no further ado, I give you this month’s Shadow & Light Monthly. Go grab yourself a cuppa and enjoy this month’s selections below. Please let me know in the comments what you think.

Pick of the month – The Art of Suffering: Honest Photographs Capture the Brutal Beauty of Road Cycling

For those who’ve been excited by the cycling at the Olympics, a new book by world-class pro-cycling photographer Kristof Ramon (known as Kramon) offers a visceral glimpse into the heart of this punishing sport. The Art of Suffering: Capturing the Brutal Beauty of Road Cycling is a visual testament to the courage, pain and triumph that define professional cycling today.

Because while it might not seem obvious to the uninitiated, this is actually quite a merciless arena. Any hardened two-wheeler will tell you immediately to adhere to rule number five: ‘Harden the f**k up’ (often shortened to HTFU).

As someone who used to road cycle quite a bit and stopped after a couple of really nasty spills, I can relate to this and as a photographer who loves to document people, passion and determination I can relate even more.

Head over to Creative Boon to see more amazing images from this series.

Additional reads

Ed Templeton’s Photographic Ode to Everyday Life in Paris

There isn’t much to say about the City of Light that hasn’t been said before. TS Eliot said the “chief danger about Paris is that it is such a strong stimulant” and it’s true; overflowing with tourist attractions, art, culture and even its own syndrome, Paris for the last century has been a cultural hub for the ages. 

Since the early 90s, photographer Ed Templeton has visited the city almost annually on skateboarding tours and as a tourist with his wife and fellow photographer, Deanna Templeton. Recently, Templeton has compiled 69 black and white images that were shot on visits to the city between 2001 and 2023 in his latest book, City Confessions #3 Paris. With street photographs capturing strong stimulus alongside quiet moments, portraits, observations and larger details of the city, these are the things that captivate Templeton. 

Head over to AnOther Magazine to read more.

Fotómetro’s New Photo Series Celebrates the Beauty in the Bizarre

‘Sonder’ is the term for the profound feeling of realising that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one’s own. Proof of Existence, the latest project from photography duo Ofek Avshalom and Rona Bar, visualises this feeling. Known collectively as Fotómetro, Avshalom and Bar set out to capture our rich inner worlds by setting the mundane and the bizarre side by side. 

Juxtaposing ordinary spaces with enigmatic characters, the shoot sees everyday locations – such as road crossings, blocks of flats, and public parks – become backdrops for abundant individuality. “We knew we wanted to craft a world where these different characters could exist and live their everyday lives. Once we had the general idea, inspiration flowed from everywhere – art, music and locations around London,” they explain. 

Head over to Dazed to read more about this project and see more of the fascinating images from the series.

And Finally – Hélène Binet Photographs Capture Light and Shadow in Architecture

Over on Dezeen, Photographer Hélène Binet and co-authors Marco Iuliano and Martino Stierli have selected ten highlights – from architect Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals to the Pantheon in Rome – from a new book about Binet’s work.

The book features more than 170 photographs from Binet’s career and includes two critical essays based on in-depth interviews.

It is the first time the photographer has discussed her work as a whole, in terms of recurring themes, techniques and how it is evolving.

The interplay of light and shadow in Binet’s work is stunning. Head over to Dezeen to see more of her beautiful work.

Until next time…

I hope you enjoy the articles above. Don’t forget you can follow my Shadow & Light magazine over on Flipboard if you’d like to see more of what I’m reading if you like what you’ve seen here.