Alan Schaller: High-Contrast Street Photography

Alan Schaller was born in London, UK, in 1988 and launched his photography career in 2015 after working in music and film. His Metropolis series, released in 2018, marked a key milestone, showcasing urban isolation through striking black and white imagery. Based in London, he co-founded Street Photography International (SPi) to support emerging talent. His work stands out for its high-contrast monochrome style and bold use of shadows, turning everyday city scenes into dramatic compositions.

Primary Genres: Street Photography, Fine Art Photography
Primary Photography Style: Straight Photography (black and white, high-contrast) – Uses minimal manipulation to capture raw urban moments with stark blacks, whites, and greys for emotional depth.
Key Message: Schaller’s photography reveals the raw poetry of urban life, using high-contrast black and white to highlight the beauty, isolation, and complexity of fleeting city moments.

Schaller’s work centres on urban life, photographing people, architecture, and spontaneous scenes in cities like London and New York. His aesthetic hinges on high-contrast visuals—deep blacks, bright whites, and moody greys—often with wet streets or shadowed figures adding texture. He uses Leica cameras, such as the M10 Monochrom, with prime lenses like the 35mm f/2, paired with fast shutter speeds (around 1/1000s) to freeze action. Natural light, from harsh sunlight to neon signs, shapes his bold shadows, while editing in Lightroom or Silver Efex Pro sharpens the contrast further. His images appear in exhibitions like the Saatchi Gallery and his 2018 book Metropolis.

For intermediate photographers, Schaller’s digital approach offers a practical lesson: instant feedback suits street photography’s fast pace, unlike film’s slower workflow. His high-contrast style mirrors the zone system’s tonal range, pushing beginners to experiment with light and shadow to define form. Shooting in bright conditions or editing for stark contrasts can replicate his look.

Schaller’s accolades include winning the Monochrome Photography Awards in 2019 and features in The Guardian and National Geographic. He’s a Leica ambassador and draws trivia-worthy inspiration from jazz music’s improvisation. Once a musician and filmmaker, he now shoots daily in London, crafting his Metropolis series to explore urban geometry.

Accolades:
- Monochrome Photography Awards Winner (2019)
- Featured in The Guardian and National Geographic
- Co-founder of Street Photography International
- Leica Camera Brand Ambassador

Trivia:
- Switched from music and film to photography in 2015.
- Shoots daily in London’s diverse streets.
- Inspired by jazz music’s spontaneous energy.
- Metropolis series highlights urban isolation.

Lessons from this Photographer:

Schaller teaches patience and sharp observation, capturing authentic moments with an eye for geometry and light. His high-contrast monochrome style shows how shadows can deepen mood, urging photographers to test black and white for focus on shape and texture. Try fast shutter speeds and prime lenses to freeze dynamic scenes, and keep editing simple to prioritise in-camera skill. His blend of technical precision and storytelling inspires finding beauty in the everyday.