It is perhaps the purest form of portrait photography. A simple subject against a plain white background. Some of the most iconic portraits have been captured in this very basic manner. The simplicity allows the attention to be not on the environment or background but the subject.

“At this moment, I feel that black and white is my means of expression," says Serbian photographer Nemanja Maraš. “Five or six years ago, I hated shooting on white backgrounds. If you told me I was shooting in a studio, I would think, 'oh, this is going to be boring', but perhaps the project itself needed something more - not the white background."

Now Nemanja thinks differently about working in a studio on a white background and has recently been working on a series of portraits capturing people he knows with his Sony Alpha 7 C. He chooses his subjects based on something he sees in them that he finds interesting. “If I want to shoot a portrait, it is not because of their beauty or clothes. They have something about them that I find interesting and want to capture through my camera.”

The simplicity of shooting in black and white against a white background provides Nemanja with the perfect way to concentrate on the character and emotion of his subject. “I like the minimalism and clarity of the white background combined with shooting in black and white - it gets rid of all the other distractions.”

The philosophy of keeping it simple extends to Nemanja's cameras, lenses and lighting. Generally, he lights the subject's face with a single flash through a large white umbrella. "Sometimes, I use two background lights to keep it completely white, but sometimes I'm a bit lazy and don't bother,” he candidly reveals. “I like to keep the light soft and simple,” he continues, “because it gives me the freedom to concentrate on the person. I want the person's face to tell its story.”

Nemanja shoots with the Sony Alpha 7C, and he chooses to set the camera to shoot in monochrome so he can see what the image will look like before he has even pressed the shutter. The Alpha 7C may seem a curious choice for shooting studio portraits, but Nemanja loves the sleek rangefinder style of the camera.

“Perhaps it is from growing up and dreaming of owning an expensive rangefinder camera, in the same way you would a Rolex watch. I like the way that the Alpha 7C feels in my hand,” he continues. “It is like a small compact camera that gives me the freedom to move.”

We all know that 85mm is most photographers' preferred focal length for shooting portraits, but Nemanja prefers the perspective of the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA lens. It is a more intimate lens in the studio, allowing him to be closer to the subject and build a rapport with them. Communication is essential in getting the final image.

“When I don't have a clear vision of the idea for the image, I will just work with the subject and ask them to move around whilst I shoot. Then,” he continues, “when I see something I like, I will tell them, ‘That's great!’ and ask them to go back or hold the pose, and then I will make slight adjustments. It is like a painter making a sketch.”

Another lens Nemanja pairs with his Sony Alpha 7C is the 24mm f/2.8 G lens. Its small size means it pairs perfectly with the Alpha 7C, and the wide-angle focal length allows him to get creative with perspective.

I have a photo of a girl in a black suit, sitting on a chair. I shot that with the 24mm, and it gives interesting guiding lines drawing you into her face. It offers something creative in the image without the subject's body being completely distorted.”

The unconventional composition of some of the images is very deliberate. Nemanja shuns the conventional rules, instead relying on his instincts as to simply what looks good.

“They say you should learn the rules, so you can, you know, break them. Sometimes I like to crop the image, so it feels uncomfortable but in a good way. That's the best way for art to speak for itself,” he explains. “Art should make people uncomfortable, as it starts a process inside us. On the other hand, sometimes I like to place people comfortably in the middle of the frame – it all depends on what my instinct tells me to do.”

By exploring his instincts, Nemanja can create black-and-white portraits in his style without being concerned about what others may think of his images. “I think everybody has shot something in black and white at least once, but by following your instinct and trying new ideas you’ll find a way to make it your own.”