Urban noir. stark but beautiful

The Image Collective provides support for artists working in various media by offering exhibition space, mentoring and promotion. They also support cultural links within the Leith community, collaborating with the likes of DOK Artist Space.

Throughout November they are hosting an exhibition of photographs by Lynn and Paul Henni, entitled Urban Noir. This is a dazzling collection of black and white images that highlight diverse locations in our capital city - recognisable and less familiar - and give them a unique twist, inspiring the viewer to see them in a whole new light. Colour may be absent from the studies but they are awash with textures and shades. This is photography reduced to its basic components - light and darkness - and the juxtaposition between these elements produces memorable results.

Old Town closes feature heavily, the cobbled streets and dingily-lit stairwells a perfect setting for the monochrome compositions. Salisbury Crags emerges from mists, revealing a lone walker on the Radical Road. Mysterious silhouettes move through tree-lined promenades in the Meadows. Leith Street is blanketed by swirling snow. Storm-laden clouds loom over the City Observatory on Calton Hill. Among the lush landscapes there is also frivolity: I laughed aloud at an Imperial Stormtrooper poking the button of a traffic crossing. One of my favourites is a breathtaking shot of a cyclist heading beneath a Union Canal bridge, framed the precise millisecond before subject and reflection vanish forever.

Urban Noir runs from the 3rd to 30th November, with copies of the stunning photographs available for purchase. You can preview the exhibition on the Henni.Photo website but to appreciate the collection you should venture to Ocean Terminal to see the full-size reproductions in all their glory.