Explore Eline Deckers' unique approach to street photography, featuring high-contrast black and white images and her journey from obscurity to creative expression.
Eline Deckers, a talented photographer based in Antwerp, skillfully captures the essence of urban life through her striking black-and-white street photography under the moniker Studio EDX. With a distinctive emphasis on high contrast, Deckers utilizes light and shadow to craft images that evoke both mystery and emotion.
Her work presents figures as mere silhouettes in dimly lit alleys or commuters blurred against the broad arches of transit stations. Occasionally, a burst of color punctuates her portfolio, reminding viewers of the vibrancy threaded through her monochromatic world.
We had a chance to discuss her methodologies — from shooting into shadows and her philosophy on proximity to subjects, to how she rekindled her passion for photography during the pandemic. Through this interview, Deckers reveals how intimate familiarity with her surroundings can both inspire and hinder artistic vision.
The Path to Street Photography
Discovering a Passion for Photography
Deckers’ journey into photography began in her teens as a search for a creative outlet. After experimenting with various art forms including painting, interior design, and even cooking, she gravitated toward photography at around 17. This newfound interest saw her purchasing her first camera and spontaneously capturing scenes, albeit without an understanding of the technical aspects involved — aperture, ISO, and shutter speed were not yet in her repertoire.
Her early photographic experiences were marked by travel with her family to exotic locales like Hong Kong and Singapore, where she first engaged with street photography. Yet, at the time, her technical skills lagged behind her creative vision, leading her to underestimate the quality of the images she created. Eventually, overwhelmed by self-doubt, Deckers set aside her camera for several years.
Rediscovery During the Pandemic
The turning point came during the pandemic when she met her husband, also a photographer, who mentored her on the technical nuances of photography and editing. This support prompted her to revisit old RAW files from her travels, where she discovered potential in images she had long since disregarded. Recognizing that her earlier captures reflected a unique perspective, she reinvigorated her passion for photography by purchasing a new camera and experimenting with her craft again.
While Deckers’ foundation lies firmly within street and documentary photography, she has expanded her creative endeavors to include wedding photography and nature projects, as she refuses to be pigeonholed into one genre, continually drawing inspiration from diverse experiences.
Embracing Light and Shadow
Shadows as Creative Partners
Deckers’ unique approach to using light and shadow significantly shapes her style. Contrary to many photographers who tend to shun harsh midday light, she revels in it, exposing for highlights while allowing shadows to consume significant portions of her scenes. Her relentless pursuit of contrast stems from a natural affinity for strong lighting—an aspect that gradually molded the way she perceives her photographic surroundings.
“I like that the shadows don’t tell you everything,” she articulates, emphasizing the allure of mystery in her imagery. By strategically leaving areas of images obscured, Deckers invites viewers to speculate about the unseen elements, believing that sometimes what remains hidden can hold as much significance as what’s plainly visible.
Simplifying the Scene
Her technique aids in simplifying complex street scenes, stripping away distractions that might detract from the core narrative she wishes to convey. Deckers acknowledges that urban environments can often be chaotic. Instead of cramming every detail into her frame, she selectively utilizes lighting to highlight what truly resonates with her vision. "A small figure walking through a patch of light can sometimes tell me much more than seeing the entire street around them,” she explains.
Color in the Monochrome World
When Color Stands Out
While the vast majority of Deckers’ work is in monochrome, she does not completely disregard color. Her camera is consistently set to a high-contrast black-and-white profile during shoots, ensuring color does not interfere with her eye for composition and moment. However, during the editing process, she remains open to color if it adds depth to a story.
Deckers elaborates on her creative process: “Sometimes the colors are exactly how I remember imagining the photograph when I took it. Other times, color becomes such an important part of the scene that removing it would take something away from the story.” Each image is treated on its own merit, allowing her discerning eye to decide the final presentation.
Two Approaches to Time in Photography
Balancing Stillness and Motion
Deckers describes her methodology as having two distinct speeds; one that captures fleeting motion and another that creates stark, still silhouettes. In dynamic environments like train stations, she employs slower shutter speeds to reflect the chaotic nature of movement. This approach allows her to capture the essence of life in motion rather than fixating on still moments that may detract from the narrative.
In contrast, for silhouette images, she opts for faster shutter speeds to capture a subject sharply against strong contrasts, ensuring that they emerge as striking graphic shapes within the composition. Each approach is determined by her initial observation of a scene, allowing Deckers to express time differently depending on the circumstances.
Coping with Familiarity
Creative Struggles in a Known City
Deckers acknowledges the ambivalent effects of her deep familiarity with Antwerp. While knowing the city intricately allows her to anticipate favorable photography opportunities, it can simultaneously dampen her inspiration over time. The risk of becoming desensitized to her surroundings leads to predictable experiences that threaten her creative edge.
“I feel like I’ve slowly been losing some of my inspiration in Antwerp,” she admits candidly, expressing that her constant walk through the same streets has made it challenging to view them with fresh perception.
A New Beginning in Spain
In search of rekindled inspiration, Deckers plans to relocate to Altea, Spain. This change promises a significant shift in her photographic journey. Familiar with the area, she anticipates that the altered environment, filled with the unique energy of Spanish towns, will invigorate her passion for capturing raw, ordinary life.
Deckers expresses eagerness to explore everyday narratives rather than focusing solely on the picturesque aspects of Spanish culture. With the move, she feels a rekindled excitement for her work, observing that the impending transition has already revitalized her creative energy.
Navigating Proximity in Street Photography
The Art of Getting Close
A notable feature of Deckers’ work is her willingness to photograph subjects from very close distances, which requires a degree of confidence and sensitivity. She enforces a personal rule: she examines if she would be comfortable in the same situation. This introspective approach helps her draw a line ensuring respect for her subjects while allowing genuine connection in her images.
Having overcome initial fears, she now embraces close encounters, enjoying the raw emotion that proximity can reveal in a photograph. By maintaining an open demeanor, she often communicates with her subjects beforehand, allowing for a shared experience that enriches the resulting images.
When Subjects Notice
In situations where her subjects become aware of her presence, Deckers takes a considerate approach. She makes eye contact and uses gestures to communicate her intent, thereby minimizing disruption to the scene. Afterward, she engages with her subjects and shares the images that inspired her to capture them.
At times, spontaneous interactions occur when viewers unknowingly enter compositions; Deckers finds delight in these occurrences, proclaiming, “You were exactly what I was waiting for,” to those who apologize for disrupting her frame. Her candidness fosters a sense of shared excitement, allowing artworks to develop organically.
Discovering Affection in the Shadows
Finding Humor and Warmth Amidst Darkness
While her aesthetic leans towards noir, Deckers captures warmth and humor within her imagery. Moments of levity — a man seated with poodles or a playful child on the streets — emerge naturally, underscoring the affection inherent in her observations. She remains attuned to those flashes of spontaneity that resonate with her vision while exploring unusual angles and perspectives.
The Search for the Unusual
Deckers recalls an influential workshop led by Belgian fine art photographer Benny Bulke, where she distinguished herself by capturing images from unconventional angles. “You really are the girl who looks for the unusual little spots,” he remarked, which she embraced as a defining compliment. Her natural inclination to explore the unexpected lends her work an edge, as she actively captures life’s quirks both consciously and subconsciously.
The artistry of her vision emerges not as a deliberate hunt for strange moments, but from a trained awareness that leads her to observe the overlooked. Even when not actively shooting, Deckers’ keen photographic eye keeps her engaged with her environment, highlighting the beauty in everyday occurrences.
From Personal to Public: Sharing Her Work
A Transition to Audience Engagement
The Decision to Share
Ultimately, a pivotal moment came when she resolved to embrace vulnerability and put her work in front of others: “Fuck it, why not?” This decision proved transformative, as sharing her creations compelled her to shoot more actively and reflect upon her work with a critical lens.
Deckers acknowledges that not every individual will connect with her work, understanding that this is part of the artistic journey. However, she recognized how essential it is to share her vision and foster growth; this realization shifted her focus beyond just enjoyment towards building a career in photography.
“I think I spent a long time protecting my photographs from other people’s opinions. Eventually, I realized that by doing that, I was also keeping them from growing,” she concludes.
A Question from Zak Mogel
Seeking the Emotional Impact of Photography
In response to a question posed by previous featured photographer, Zak Mogel, Deckers reflects on the feeling she hopes viewers take from her work.
Rather than imposing a specific emotional response, she values the individual interpretations that her images evoke. Her aspiration is that other photographers might glean inspiration from her work, altering the way they perceive and capture their surroundings. “To not always take the obvious photograph, but to move around, try another angle, look behind something,” she encourages.
Looking Forward
Forthcoming Projects and Aspirations
With an abundance of upcoming projects on her slate, Deckers mentions her recent completion of a long-term documentary titled Life Under The Blocks before her move to Spain—a project significant enough for her to want to finalize before embarking on new endeavors.
Alongside photography, she also envisions expanding Studio EDX into a creative platform for photographers, including offerings such as presets and prints. Additionally, her budding interest in analog photography has catalyzed her desire to deepen her understanding of the medium, ultimately encompassing all aspects of the photographic process from capture to print.
With ambitious goals forming the backbone of her creative journey, Deckers aims to craft more comprehensive bodies of work, encompassing books, exhibitions, and stories, solidifying her passion for both the art of photography and the experiences it captures.
Explore Eline Deckers' Work
To dive deeper into Eline Deckers’ compelling black-and-white street photography, visit her 500px Profile, explore her diverse portfolio at studioedx.com, and follow her creative journey on Instagram at @edxsnaps.
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