DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

James Hayman shows life’s true colors through black and white images

May 18, 2021 by Dunja Djudjic Add Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

If I could describe James Hayman’s photos in a single word, it would be “colorful.” And believe it or not, the majority of his images are black and white! Still, figuratively speaking, Hayman’s work bursts with color: it shows true colors of life and of its different sides.

His photojournalist work has taken James Hayman all around the world. And in this article, we bring you some of his exquisite black and white photos.

James Hayman started his career back in the 1970s. After attending The American University for photojournalism, his first assignment was to photograph Nixon and Brezhnev at the 1973 Washington Summit in the White House Rose Garden. However, he was disappointed with the “paparazzi-like frenzy,” which led him to film studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and post-graduate work at New York University. Still, his photojournalistic roots remain visible in his work throughout the years.

Zulu Lounge, New Orleans

“I’ve always been a visual storyteller, interested in other people’s stories,” Hayman says. When he first picked up a camera, he believed that being a photographer meant staying hidden behind the camera and being merely an observer.  “As I’ve grown as an artist,” he adds, “I’ve since realized that it doesn’t need to end there, it can be so much more.”

2010 Mardi Gras

Hayman’s photojournalism and film education worked hand-in-hand to bring him assignments all over the world. He worked for the UN’s disaster relief efforts after the 1976 earthquake in Guatemala and created a few photography series in the region.

The 1980s took Hayman on a different path. He began shooting various independent films in New York City, gaining recognition as the cinematographer for An Autumn’s Tale. This led to him working as a cinematographer in China and Japan. But he didn’t leave photography behind. His life in Asia during the 1980s led to more photographic work documenting this part of the world.

In 1989, Hayman moved to Los Angeles, where he pursued a career in directing and producing TV shows and films. He has directed numerous pilots and episodes of TV series we all know and love. These include Dangerous Minds, Drop Dead Diva, The Sopranos, ER, Law & Order, House, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, and others. He has also been nominated for two Emmy Awards and a Director’s Guild Award.

In 2014, Hayman moved to New Orleans to run the television show NCIS: New Orleans. This is when he started photographing a series that balances both his eye for humanist cinematography and socio-economic realities. The photographer collaborates with Pack Essentials, providing essential items in New Orleans, and Burnell Grocery’s food program funding in the city’s Lower Ninth Ward. He is also a co-founder of the AllAreOne Fund, which distributes funds around the country to those in need during the pandemic.

Black voters matter, New Orleans

“Photography is an interactive experience, an exchange between listener and storyteller,” Hayman explains. “My photography aims to document these moments of exchange and is deeply rooted in the world communities I find myself drawn toward.”

“No matter where I might be, or who I might be speaking with, the construction of narrative is what ultimately leads to a lasting image: a totality of human experience suspended within a single frame.”

While Hayman also uses color in a masterful way, the majority of his photos are black and white. And even though they lack color, they don’t lack vibrancy. Hayman truly manages to suspend “a totality of a human experience in a single frame,” and that’s why his photos will grab your attention and awake your emotions. Enjoy more of James Hayman’s photos below, and make sure to visit his website and Instagram for more of his fantastic work.

Three faces, one on TV, New Orleans

Tattoo, New Orleans

Spotted Cat, New Orleans

Queen of Jackson Square, New Orleans

Mary, New Orleans

Mail Slot, New Orleans

Longing, New Orleans

How Much Longer, New Orleans

Harley Davidson, New Orleans

Greenville Marching Band, Mardi Gras, New Orleans

Friends, New Orleans

Flambeau, New Orleans

Dr. John, New Orleans

Cartwheel, New Orleans,

Camouflage, New Orleans

Brothers Discount Market, New Orleans

Bourbon Street Pandemic, New Orleans

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

2010 Mardi Gras

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

James Harris Grit Images CoSeeing In Black & White: Photographer Spotlight Q&A With James Harris of GRIT Images Co (mildly NSFW) New Black Horizon image shows the magnetic field of a black hole This is how you know which colors to add when colorizing black and white photos This optical illusion makes you see colors in black and white photos

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: black and white, documentary photography, inspiration, James Hayman, photojournalism, photojournalist

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

« Blackmagic has released its 3,588 page user guide for DaVinci Resolve 17
Kolari Vision’s new clip-in filters for the EOS R5 & R6 live between your lens and sensor »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • This is how to get photography clients on Instagram – even with few followers
  • “I prefer using smaller cameras” – an unorthodox take on size
  • A pigeon scares a meteorologist as it photobombs a live camera
  • Photographer files lawsuit against NFL receiver and teams after shoving incident
  • Comparing iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14 for astrophotography

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy