About

I am Sam Thompson, the owner and photographer behind monochrome. I believe that black and white photography can create striking images that aren't available in colour because the lack of colour removes distractions that can dominate the composition.

I started working in B&W over 50 years ago, shooting on Ilford FP4 and HP5  film using Olympus equipment. I had my own darkroom where I developed and printed my work. 

I worked for over 20 years as a BBC cameraman in Belfast and this experience means that I know how to tell a story with my images.

If you're out and about in St Peter Port, you've probably seen me walking Rosie and Edie, my two miniature schnauzers with a camera bag over my shoulder as I like to have a camera with me as an opportunity may occur for a street portrait or street photography.

My work is dominated by the presence of people. I like to photograph people in their environment or take portraits that tell something of the subject or pose questions to the viewer or photograph weddings.

All my paid work is shot on Leica digital cameras and every image is subtly edited afterwards in Lightroom. After turning to digital photography in 2006, I can say that I prefer working digitally and enjoy the increased control over my final images.