Before E L James made it difficult to associate “fifty shades of gray” with anything but her novel, Roy DeCarava was making photographs composed of an endless spectrum of grays. On the centennial of the photographer’s birth, concurrent exhibitions offer two takes on his work. “The Sound I Saw”—featuring photographs of John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and others—focuses on DeCarava’s relationship with music and musicians. “Light Break” shows DeCarava’s ability to capture a moment that is seemingly still yet full of movement—light rustling, shadow looming. —J.V.

“The Sound I Saw” is on view at the gallery’s Upper East Side location (34 E 69th St); “Light Break” is on view at the gallery’s 19th Street location (533 W 19th St).