A Study in Black-and-White Photography Styles

Both Exils by Josef Koudelka and 1 Second and 25 Centimes by Xavier Miserachs feature black-and-white photography, but the approaches they employ are strikingly different, almost antithetical. At first glance, the photographic exercises might appear similar. However, Koudelka’s photographs are static—his subjects or models seem frozen in time, akin to illustrations in a novel—while the characters in Miserachs’ portraits are dynamic, exuding a vitality that transcends the temporality of the medium. Miserachs’ work invites viewers to glimpse the humanity and everyday lives of his subjects.

Koudelka, on the other hand, transforms men, women, animals, and even objects into metaphorical statues, confining them to the conceptual realm. Individuality does not seem to interest him; instead, he focuses on the prophetic or symbolic meaning his subjects embody. His style is solemn and austere. By contrast, Miserachs integrates context as a defining element of his subjects’ identity. His men and women are lighthearted travelers through life, and it is this fleeting quality that he captures. His approach is informal and celebratory.

In terms of tonal composition, Koudelka reinforces the blackness in his images, which dominates large portions of the frame. This blackness is set against “white” tones that are never truly white, but rather murky streams of light. Miserachs, in contrast, emphasizes white tones, balancing the monochromatic contrast in his images to create a sense of harmony and neatness. His photographs evoke a cleaner, more polished aesthetic compared to Koudelka’s textured and brooding style.