Darkness is absence of light. Shadow is diminution of light.
Leonardo da Vinci
Our cameras rely on light to create an image. When that light is diminished, as Leonardo reminds us, shadows emerge, creating interesting and illusive patterns.
In the shadows colours fade, details blur and reality can be distorted. How much of what we see in an image is really there; and how much is simply an illusion, created by that diminished light?
Here is another quote:
The picture of a shadow is a positive thing.
John Locke, βAn Essay Concerning Human Understandingβ, 1836
So with that in mind, here are some photos of βpositive thingsβ, shared for Ann-Christineβs Lens Artists Challenge theme of Shades and Shadows.
Lamps and lanterns
Ceiling lamp at the lovely Riad Jona in Marrakesh
Wall-mounted street light in Lucca, Italy
At Bauska Castle, Latvia
Foliage
In a temple garden in Kyoto
Shadow of nasturtium leaves on our back garden gate
Shadow of nigella seed-head on our back garden paving
In the Majorelle Gardens, Marrakesh
Self-portraits
Self-portrait on crutches (long story!), taken in the main square of Essaouira, Morocco
Self-portrait with husband on the Millennium Bridge in Newcastle – and a bridge reflection thrown in too
Another self-portrait with husband on the beach at Whitstable, Kent
34 Comments
Tina Schell
Wonderful examples Sarah and loved the way you presented them. New theme??
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Tina π No, not a new theme – I’ve been experimenting quite a bit recently with a plugin called Advanced WordPress Backgrounds which lets me create a background in any colour. By inserting a white background into a coloured one, and then the images and text into that, I can create this effect. And you can play around with padding too, to change the look of the page π
Tina Schell
Looks really great Sarah
JohnRH
WOW. GREAT selections, superb quotes.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much John, I really appreciate the compliments π
thehungrytravellers.blog
Shadows make the shot very atmospheric, lovely collection you have here
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much π
Teresa
Beautiful lamp posts. And selfies are a thing in this topic!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Teresa π Yes I’d noticed the proliferation of selfies! I rarely take the normal sort but I quite like how I look in shadow form π
Teresa
Yup me tooβ¦skinnier haha
Sarah Wilkie
Exactly π€£
Manja Mexi Mexcessive
A lovely collection. The featured photo is especially outstanding, and the first lamp rather spectacular too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you π I have a bit of a thing for photographing lamps and lampposts, with or without shadows!
Leya
Loved these from start to finish, Sarah. Kyoto of course, but also the lamps indicating light – and shadows. A different image from Majorelle!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much π I’m glad you found my other Majorelle shot and enjoyed the lanterns and Kyoto too!
Leya
β₯
salsaworldtraveler
The photo from Lucca, Italy is very impressive. The shadow looks like a mirror image and even the glass panes cast a shadow.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you π The sun was very bright that day – my featured photo of the handrail was taken almost in the same spot and at the same time!
Natalie
Lovely collection, Sarah. I like how you added borders to the photos.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Natalie π Those borders are a lockdown-learning for me, as I started attending an online camera club and one of the other members showed me how to do them in Photoshop π
Forestwood
I would happily have any of those lanterns at my place. They are so lovely! Thanks for sharing, Ju-Lyn.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Amanda – we did buy ourselves a small Moroccan lantern on our second Marrakesh visit, as I love the effect of the metal filigree work π But who is Ju-Lyn?!
Forestwood
Apologies, Sarah. I claim a senior moment there. I had several tabs open on my computer and got mixed up as to which blogger was posting after being distracted by family. I do like filigree work. I had some added to my wedding band when it was made!
rkrontheroad
Loved these. I too am often attracted by shadows. The leaves in Kyoto spoke to me.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you π As I said to Leighton below, the Kyoto shot is one of my own favourites!
leightontravels
A beautiful collection that captures how marvelous ordinary moments can be. The Kyoto leaves are luminous. Got me thinking if I could put together a similar collection from the back vaults.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Leighton! These took some hunting out in my own archives so I reckon you could probably find similar if you trawled through yours π That Kyoto photo is one of my own favourites however so didn’t take much searching for!
Amy
A beautiful series, Sarah. I love these lantern captures! The last one is a wonderful click.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Amy, I’m glad you enjoyed them π
klara b
lovely examples.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you π
sustainabilitea
Lovely, lovely examples, Sarah. Isn’t it funny how shadow selfies always give us those long, long legs whether or not we have them in real life? π
janet
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Janet π Maybe it’s more that we’re only attracted to take these photos when our shadows have these long legs? No one wants to be seen looking short and stumpy as our shadows do when the sun is almost overhead π
sustainabilitea
π. Since Iβm always out in the morning, I always have long legs. π