Stripping the colour out of a street portrait forces everything onto face, light and expression. Black and white suits character — lines, texture, the weather of a life — and removes the distraction of a busy colour background.

The method: find strong directional light (a shaft between buildings, a shop window, hard sun), place your subject in it, and expose for the highlights so the shadows fall deep. Works candid or with a quickly asked permission.

Look for: character over prettiness — the lived-in face, the strong side light, the deep shadow. Get close and fill the frame.