Dubai in Black and White. A story about light, architecture and an extraordinary photographic experience.
Dubai is a city most people imagine in vivid colours. Golden reflections of the desert, blue skies, illuminated billboards, luxurious hotels and architecture that seems to challenge every limit. A city that wants to impress you at first sight.
But I chose to look at it a little differently.
When the colours disappear, what remains is light. Shadows, lines, textures, contrast and geometry. Suddenly, you begin to notice details that often get lost in the abundance of colour. That is exactly why I chose black and white photography during my visit to Dubai.
A City Between Light and Shadow
Dubai is an extraordinary playground for any photographer. Skyscrapers, endless highways, glass façades, reflections in modern buildings and architecture that changes its character depending on where you stand.
I was particularly drawn to the contrasts. Monumental structures against an open sky, dark silhouettes of buildings, harsh sunlight and deep shadows. Sometimes all it takes is a slight change of perspective to transform an ordinary cityscape into something completely different.
Black and white photography allows me to focus on what really matters. It removes the distraction of colour and gives space to light, composition and emotion. That is exactly what I wanted to capture in this collection.
Dubai offers an overwhelming number of visual impressions, but a photographer does not always have to capture everything in front of them. Sometimes it is far more interesting to find your own perspective on a place that has already been photographed millions of times.
HIPA – Photography That Brings the World Together
The reason for my journey to Dubai was not only to photograph the city. I also had the opportunity to attend one of the most significant international photography events – HIPA (Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award).
The fifteenth season of HIPA, in 2026, was dedicated to the theme FAMILY. The competition once again brought together photographers from all over the world, showing just how differently photography can tell stories and connect people.
This visit also had a personal dimension for me. I travelled to Dubai as part of the media team to document the success of Slovak photographer Filip Hrebenda.
Filip is not just another photographer I met at an event. He is my friend and a fellow member of the Association of Professional Photographers of the Slovak Republic. That made it even more special to witness his remarkable achievement in person.
Filip proved that a photographer from a small town like Revúca, Slovakia, can make an impact on the international stage. His success is not only a personal milestone, but also a wonderful achievement for Slovak photography.
It was a privilege to stand by his side at such an important moment, support him and capture the atmosphere of this remarkable event.
I would like to thank the HIPA organisers for the invitation and for the opportunity to be part of this exceptional international photography gathering.
More Than an Award
Events like this always remind me how powerful photography can be. It does not need a common language, borders or lengthy explanations. A single image can reach someone on the other side of the world and create an emotion that would be difficult to express in words.
That is why it matters to keep photographing, travelling, meeting other photographers and constantly searching for new perspectives.
I am taking home many memories, encounters and photographs from Dubai. Some were created during the official programme, others during ordinary walks through the city. But they all share one thing: the search for light.
Because even in a city famous for its colours, sometimes a black and white photograph has the most to say.
When the colours disappear, the light begins to speak.
