Light and Shadow in Photography
Never underestimate the importance of light and shadow in photography. Light and shadow can make all the difference in your photo, and sometimes can even be the subject of your composition.
I was traveling with some friends on a very serious historical tour when I took this shot. We were studying the Shimabara Massacre when hundreds of thousands of Catholic Christians were killed in the 16th century, and walking from church to museum to see the actual sites where these things took place. I was supposed to be pondering said horrific event when I walked past this bicycle shadow and noticed the play of light and shadow. It was as if the board had been placed there as a canvas for the bicycle shadow. Alas, my friends had to stand there and wait while I took several shots of an old and ratty piece of blue plaster board with a bicycle shadow imprinted on it.
I was reminded how important it can be to keep your eyes open and stop to take a picture even when it’s not appropriate. That’s the photo lifestyle. This example of light and shadow in photography is one of my favorites. I think the late afternoon sun was more intense because we were standing at the edge of an ocean inlet, and the light was bouncing off of the water as well. Perhaps this bicycle shadow wouldn’t have been so pronounced a bit further away from the water.
Try paying more attention to light and shadow in photography today. You might just be walking right past one of your best shots.
Tags: bicycle shadow, light and shadow, light and shadow in photography
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What a great photograph. I love the contrast of the dark shadow of the bike against the blue plaster.
Great photo it leaves an impression on the mind…makes you want to know why it was photographed so the story was a perfect touch…thanks