The art of black and white abstraction photography is also called surrealistic photography in black and white. It’s a stunning form that has seemingly endless possibilities. This style combines two of our favourite types of photography: black and white and abstract. Madhur Dhingra is an abstract and impressionist street photographer who has created some of the most visually stunning and impactful black and white abstract photographs we have ever seen. He was gracious enough to share with us his ideas and images. Below are some images as well as an interview.
Madhur Dhingra talks about Black and White Surrealism in his Photography
Some of Madhur’s grammar is incorrect because English isn’t her first language.
Madhur Dhingra is an Impressionist/Abstract Street Photographer who loves to capture random street happenings. To make my photos unique, I experiment with different techniques and styles. Personal I’ve always felt an emptiness within me. This is why I get bored quickly doing the same images. In my role as a photographer, I feel compelled to constantly evolve in both style and technique.
Since my early childhood, I’ve been spiritual. These images are part of a 10-part series that documents my personal quest to find answers about the meaning of life and its purpose, and later about what I understand about ‘Reality.’ The quest will take me all over India, where I’ll meet sadhus, nuns, philosophers and scientists, as well as charlatans.
The images in this article were taken at different locations of Ladakh, Zanskar and ancient Buddhist Monasteries that date back over 3000 years. The monasteries in this story are situated at the most remote regions of the Indian Himalayas.
Could you describe your creative process for creating images that are as impactful and powerful?
I have always been fascinated by shooting people in the street. Strange and unfamiliar faces, with uncharted emotions and expressions, captivate me. My most memorable photographs were captured by getting closer and closer to the chaos of Indian streets until I became a part myself. To make my pictures coherent, each one must tell its own story and be part of an overall story. No matter how beautiful they may be, I’ve never been interested in single images.
I use spontaneous moments, real emotions and strong images to weave a story. The combination of words and pictures is a powerful way to convey what I want to say.
In street photography, what began as a starkly realistic style has evolved into abstract impressionism and painting-like imagery. I am no longer interested in waiting for the ‘decisive moment’. Now I like to blur images, faces and expressions, as well as create motion in my own unique way. Intentional Camera Movement is a technique I often use. I play around with shutter speeds that range from 1/10s up to 1/30s while moving the camera horizontally or vertically.
Then I use brushes, painterly effects, and light to achieve my desired image. It is mainly the lighting effects that I consider at the shoot stage, depending on my mood. My style is based on getting very close to my subject. Robert Capa once said, “If you don’t take good photos, then your distance is too great.”
No preconceived notions about how I will edit a certain image have ever entered my mind. Every image is unique and I treat it accordingly. In this process, I’m very intuitive and just follow my gut. This is like playing with a puzzle. The rough picture is somewhere in my head. I then start to play with all the tools I can find, until I feel a sense of “Stop…this it”. After a few days, I don’t look at the edited image. When I return to that image after a few days, I always find I need to refine the adjustments. The process is repeated 2-3 times until I’m finished.
No matter what I do, restlessness, emptiness and an void will always be present in my work.
What I’m wearing :
1. Cameras:
* Canon 6 D
* Canon 5 D Mark 2
2. Lenses:
* Tokina16-28 F2.8
* Canon 24-105 L Series F4
* Canon 75-300 Lens F4-5.6 EF Series
3. Accessories:
* Minolta 4 Light Meter
* Yongnou Flash YN YN 685
* DELL Laptops
* 2 External Hard Disks
Drive No. 3 – 2TB
* Drive No. 5 – 2TB
4. Camping Equipment
Tent
The Sleeping Bag
Carry Mat
* Umbrella
* Torch
Canon is the only brand I use. Canon lenses have been my favorite because they are high quality, and also cost-effective. Although I own a Mamiya RZ 67 camera, I do not use it to photograph people because it is too heavy.
Could you give us a short bio?
My parents were divided by the partition of India and Pakistan when I was born in Delhi. St. Xavier’s High School in Delhi was where I completed my education. My subject at the Delhi University was English Honors. The bloodbath of the India-Pakistan Partition led my family, which was then wealthy and well off, to move from New Delhi. They were left penniless. The family was thrown into a state of insecurity. Since I was born in Delhi much later, it meant that all of those insecurities were passed on to me.
I turned to photography as an outlet for the insecurities that plagued my life. In 1996 it began as a pastime, but later became a passion and vocation. In New Delhi, I studied at the famous art school “Triveni Kala Sangam”. I graduated from the institute and began shooting products for major advertising agencies located in New Delhi. I’ve done campaigns for agencies such as O&M MAA Interface, Interface, and many others. Now I have over 25 years experience in photography. My real passion is shooting people.
I’m a Fine Art/Impressionist Street Photographer who loves to capture random events and faces in the street. To make my photos unique, I experiment with different techniques and styles. I photograph in studio as well as on the street, combining ambient and studio light with artistic flair. Photography is a lifetime pursuit for me. I love to experiment and learn. Personal I get bored quickly doing the same images. In my role as a photographer, I am constantly trying to improve both on style and technique. My images are a reflection of the loneliness and emptiness that I have carried with me since childhood.
The isolation I felt as a result of the pandemic compelled me to search for a unique style. This search led to my current artwork. My recent works have been published in many magazines and galleries.