SHANGHAI
Through Light and Shadow
"Every city speaks its own language, but Shanghai whispers in a thousand voices at once: in the rustle of morning market bags, in the click of high heels on ancient stones, in the hiss of steam from sidewalk soup vendors. Through my lens, I learned to listen to these whispers, capturing the moments where light and shadow tell stories that words never could."
WHAT DOES A CITY’S SOUL LOOK LIKE IN BLACK AND WHITE?
Shanghai was my home until 2018, but truly, it was never just a home. It was my canvas, my muse, my greatest challenge, and ultimately, my teacher. A megalopolis of 26 million stories, where every corner holds a secret and every alley whispers tales of lives intertwined.
In this collection of 200 black-and-white photographs, I invite you to experience Shanghai through my lens. Not the Shanghai of tourist brochures or economic statistics, but the raw, beating heart of a city that defies simple definition.
THE CITY BENEATH THE SURFACE
Walk with me through the shadows of Longtang alleyways, where grandmothers hang laundry across centuries-old stone walls. Stand with me in the early morning fog as vendors set up their breakfast stalls, steam rising like spirits into the dawn. Watch as office workers rush past ancient temples, their modern shoes clicking against stones worn smooth by millions of footsteps before them.
Shanghai exists in layers - historical, cultural, social - each one bleeding into the next like ink on rice paper. Through these photographs, I peel back these layers one by one, revealing the intimate moments that make up the city's daily rhythm.
"These photographs capture the essence of Shanghai's soul. Each image feels like a story half-told, leaving you hungry to know more."
- Deanna L., Documentary Photographer
WHY BLACK AND WHITE?
Strip away the neon signs and gleaming skyscrapers, and what remains? In monochrome, Shanghai reveals its true character: a city of contrasts where past and future collide daily. Where elderly men play mahjong in the shadow of towering glass monuments. Where morning tai chi flows like silk beneath elevated highways.
These photographs explore the spaces between. Between tradition and innovation, between private and public, between what Shanghai was and what it's becoming. Without color to distract, we see the textures: the wrinkles on a street vendor's face, the steam rising from a pot of noodles, the pattern of rain on ancient tiles.
THE RHYTHM OF THE STREETS
Every city has its own pace, its own dance. Shanghai's rhythm is unique: frenetic yet graceful, chaotic yet ordered. In these images, you'll find the pulse of the city: the early morning vegetable markets where restaurateurs haggle over fresh greens, the midnight street food vendors serving bowls of steaming noodles, the quiet moments in Yu Garden when tourists have gone home and locals reclaim their space.
I spent five years exploring these streets, camera in hand, waiting for moments when the city revealed itself. Sometimes these moments came in grand gestures: wedding procession weaving through narrow streets, or the explosion of Chinese New Year celebrations. But more often, they came in quiet instances: a single shaft of light illuminating a bicycle leaned against a wall, or the way shadow and steam combine to create momentary poetry.
"There's an intimacy in these streets that few photographers manage to capture. Each frame feels both deeply personal and universally human."
- Sarah W., Photo Editor
THE MONOGRAPH
This collection represents thousands of hours walking Shanghai's streets, hundreds of conversations with strangers, and countless moments where the city surprised, delighted, and challenged me. Within these pages, you'll find:
200 black and white photographs that capture Shanghai's soul
Images spanning from the narrow lanes of the French Concession to the towering skyscrapers of Pudong
A journey through all seasons and times of day, from misty dawns to neon nights
"This work reminds me of Fan Ho's Hong Kong. Equally masterful in finding poetry in urban chaos."
Michelle Z., Photojournalist
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“I've seen countless photography books about Shanghai, but this one stands apart. The photographer observes the city, and she dances with it. Through these images, we experience Shanghai as both insider and outsider, moving through layers of society that tourists never see and locals don’t pay attention to. The sequencing is masterful, creating a visual rhythm that mirrors Shanghai's own heartbeat.
The technical excellence is evident, but what truly sets this work apart is its emotional intelligence. These are well-composed photographs that show moments of genuine connection between photographer and subject, between past and present, between city and soul.”
- Linda C., Art Bookstore Owner
“In an era where color street photography dominates, this monograph makes a compelling case for black and white's enduring power. Barbara has managed to capture Shanghai's contradiction, its vastness and intimacy, its chaos and order, its modernity and tradition, with remarkable sensitivity.
These images reveal the layers of life that coexist in Shanghai's streets. Each photograph feels like a complete story, yet part of a larger narrative about city life and human resilience. The work goes beyond mere documentation to achieve something far more rare: it captures the feeling of being there.”
- Erin F., Photography Editor
“What strikes me most about this collection is its honesty. This isn't the Shanghai of postcards or propaganda, it's the Shanghai I know and love, in all its complicated glory. Ms. Bernini has managed to capture moments that feel both deeply personal and universally relevant.
The decision to present these images in black and white proves inspired, stripping away the distraction of color to reveal the city's essential forms and rhythms. This is a love letter to Shanghai written in light and shadow.”
- Mai W., University Professor of Visual Arts
“Few photographers manage to truly get under a city's skin, but this monograph achieves exactly that. The images show technical mastery, yes, but more importantly, they display an deep understanding of Shanghai's unique urban choreography. The way people move through spaces, the unspoken rules of street life, the daily rituals that give the city its rhythm.
The sequencing creates a narrative where each image contributes to a larger story about life, connection, and the everyday moments. This is street photography at its finest.”
- Tina G., Street Photographer
“This monograph represents everything I look for in a photography book: technical excellence, emotional depth, and a clear, consistent vision. Barbara Bernini has interpreted Shanghai beautifully and created a remarkable body of work.
Through these photographs, we see how everyday moments in Shanghai's streets become transformed into timeless and profound stories. As the owner of several photographs included in the monograph, I’m very proud to have a part of this body of work in my collection.
- Margaret B., Art Collector
READY TO EXPLORE MY SHANGHAI?
Your window into one of the world's most captivating cities awaits.
Let's walk these streets together.
SHANGHAI
YOU WILL GET A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED, LIMITED-EDITION MONOGRAPH WITH 200 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS
A luxurious, exclusive, collectible book for art and photography enthusiasts who are looking for an unforgettable viewing experience and an exquisite piece to display on their bookshelf or coffe table.
The limited edition hardcover is sold out.