SALT WATER HEALS ALL WOUNDS
With the Leica Q3 Monochrom, London-based photographer Bet Bettencourt traces her girlfriend’s return to Grenada in SALT WATER HEALS ALL WOUNDS. Through photography and video, she documents the emotional landscape of homecoming rooted in intimacy and observation, using the Leica Q3 Monochrom to distil each scene to its rawest, most honest form.
Healing on the surface, and within
In her latest work, photographer Bet explores healing as both a physical act and an emotional reckoning. Her film reflects on the quiet tension between what is restored on the surface and what must be confronted within, a duality rendered with clarity through the uncompromising language of black and white.
At the heart of Bet’s narrative is a simple yet resonant truth: when the skin is cut, saline water heals, while fresh water may invite infection. Salt purifies and it stings before it restores. In this gesture lies a metaphor; that true healing is not always gentle. It requires honesty, discomfort, and the courage to face what lingers beneath to heal inner wounds.
When Colour Recedes, Emotion Emerges
In black and white, emotion becomes visible. Without the pull of colour, feeling takes the foreground. For Bet, committing to monochrome with the Leica Q3 Monochrom is a way of seeing more deeply:
“Committing to black and white photography and videography makes you take a step back and think about what you are shooting and why. You can't rely on vibrancy or the colour of the scene. It allows you to take stead and focus on the emotion and essence of the subject in the photo instead.”
I travel a lot as a photographer who is focused on culture, movement and emotion. I love shooting on the go, so a small and super sharp camera is perfect for me. I love shooting wide to show multiple stories happening within a photo.
Bet Bettencourt
About Bet
Bet Bettencourt is a London-based photographer from East London whose work explores culture, identity, music and intimate portraiture. Rooted in a documentary approach, she observes quietly and allows her subjects to exist naturally, capturing unguarded, in-between moments that prioritise emotion over perfection and presence over polish. Her images are playful, instinctive and immersive, inviting viewers to feel as though they’re in the room.
Known for her ability to create a sense of ease and intimacy, Bettencourt has photographed leading names in contemporary music including Tems, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and Skepta. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Dazed and CLASH, reflecting her reach across fashion and contemporary culture.
Dedicated to Black-and-White Photography
Leica Q3 Monochrom
With its special black-and-white full-frame sensor featuring Triple Resolution Technology and its fast wide-angle fixed focal length, the Leica Q3 Monochrom offers you direct access to this timeless, authentic and beautifully pure visual language. It enables you to enjoy the fascination of black and white anew every day.
