Renowned urban exploration photographer Jonk has released his 11th book titled 'Urbex Black & White,' showcasing abandoned locations captured in black and white photography. The French photographer has traveled the world extensively, visiting over 1,500 abandoned sites across approximately 50 countries on four continents throughout his career.
In describing his latest work, Jonk explains his deep connection to black and white photography. "There's something special about black and white photography. Something deeper, more poetic, more sensitive," he states. While acknowledging that he doesn't photograph people and that the rare clothing items appearing in his book are in tatters, Jonk felt that after ten previous books, the time had come to tackle this particular subject matter.
The inspiration for the book came to Jonk in 2019 when he discovered four Rolodex machines in an abandoned foundry in the Auvergne region of France. He found them magnificent and, as is his usual practice, photographed them without moving anything first. The wall behind the Rolodex machines provided the perfect backdrop, and the light coming from the left was ideal. When it came time to choose a cover for the book, Jonk didn't look any further than this striking image.
Jonk's photographic approach has evolved significantly over the years. While he initially used wide-angle lenses much more frequently than zoom lenses, he has been capturing details in abandoned places since the beginning of his career. The proportion of close-up shots has increased specifically for this book project, and recently, they have become the majority of his work. He has previously presented four black and white series: airports, mannequins in shop windows, deserted playgrounds, and life among the remnants of the USSR. Curious and loyal readers can find these series on his website.
What makes this book unique is that while some of his previous series had indirect connections to abandonment, Jonk had never before displayed his photographs of abandoned places in black and white. All the images featured in 'Urbex Black & White' are previously unpublished. The photographer believes that the depth, poetry, and sensitivity of black and white photography mentioned earlier blend perfectly with his universe of abandoned places, particularly when focusing on the details they offer.
The book captures haunting details that showcase the full spectrum of gray tones: torn curtains floating in air currents, stopped clocks, dismembered dolls, and overturned chairs that offer a thousand shades of gray. Jonk notes that this variety is significant, pointing out that the ancient Greeks had three different words for gray, as did the Romans in Latin. When light enters the scene and bathes dusty balls on a billiard table or illuminates a majestic piano that hasn't resonated in ages, all those thousand nuances become apparent.
Jonk philosophizes about the color gray, describing it as full of mystery and far from neutral. "It's the color of nuance, of ambiguity," he explains. "It's also the color of contradiction, between the positive associated with white and the negative associated with black. Gray is complex; it's the meeting point of all possibilities." This perspective reflects his artistic vision and explains why black and white photography serves as the perfect medium for capturing the essence of abandoned spaces.
The book 'Urbex Black & White' is published by Editions Tempus Fugit in French, measuring 26.5cm x 21.6cm with ISBN 978-2-9590720-1-7, and is priced at 35 euros. More information about the book and Jonk's work can be found on his photography website.
