Between light and shadow by Geert Van Baelen

This black-and-white photograph captures an intriguing moment of stillness in an urban setting. Two people are sitting side by side on wide stone steps, whilst in front of them an open square is bathed in bright sunlight. With their backs turned to the camera, they appear completely lost in their own thoughts. Above them, other passers-by move through the light, each casting a long shadow across the paving.

The stark contrast between light and dark defines the atmosphere of this image. Large sections of the photograph are almost entirely lost in black, whilst the sun-drenched stones and the white coat of one of the figures stand out clearly. This creates an almost graphic composition in which shadows are at least as important as the people themselves.

The long shadows connect the various figures in the image and lend the photograph a distinctive sense of space. At the same time, a sense of distance is created. Although the people are in the same setting, they each seem to be living in their own world. The two people in the foreground provide a calm counterbalance to the movement and bustle in the square.

As a piece of black-and-white street photography, this image is not so much about a recognisable place as it is about a universal feeling: waiting, watching, resting or simply escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment. The combination of architecture, sharp lines, human silhouettes and pronounced shadows gives the photograph a timeless and cinematic quality.