With the idea that photography is painting with light, we photographers spend our lives looking for it, learning it, challenging it, worshiping it and cursing it. So far normal. But, what about non-light? What about shadows? Have you ever stopped to think that they can be more than just an annoying element that you have to try to avoid at all costs?
And speaking of light, don’t miss this comprehensive guide in which we tell you everything you need to know about lighting in photography.
For what and how do I use the shadows?
Shadows can be used like any element in a compositionthey can help you add visual interest to your image, fill the frame, create rhythm through repeating lines or shapes, or center the point of interest.
On the other hand, the shadows have a large component symbolic. They are mysterious and suggestive; they show but do not teach, they can be kind or sinister, they can create impossible perspectives and forms worthy of a Hitchcock or Kubrick film.
And since a picture is worth a thousand words, we have made a small selection of 20 images to inspire you and encourage you to bring your shadows out of oblivion 🙂
1.- Increase interest
Through the shadows, you can create a specific atmosphere, a frame and ultimately a much deeper impression. Look at the following image, do you think it would transmit the same with or without shadow?
2.- Shadow and mystery
Everything that is not clearly shown to us generates a certain sense of mystery, unreality. Shadows are a good way to generate this feeling.
3.- Fill the frame
Another feature of shadows is that they can help you fill frames in interesting ways.
4.-Textures and shadows
It is the reflection or a shadow in a puddle, but it could be a shadow wandering through space. The textures of the water and the stones achieve this effect at least interesting.
5.- The haunted housethe haunted house
Who says mystery, says terror. Isn’t the following image a little scary?
6.- Rhythm
Repeating geometric patterns of light and shadow can produce an image like the one below.
7.- Shadows and other composition rules
Don’t forget to help yourself with the basic composition rules just as if you were composing a portrait. The following image is composed through lines and colors, but above all through the rule of thirds.
8.- Different points of view
Using different points of view will give you images with another perspective. Who is more real in this picture? Shadow or horse?
9.- Imagination has no limits, and neither does Photoshop
If you are absolutely against image retouching programs: Go to the next point. If it seems like one more way or a new world to explore, you can get fun images like this very easily.
10.- Portraits with shadows
A path to explore if you like portrait photography. You will also be able to prepare your shadows more accurately and calmly than if you were photographing strangers on the street, for example.
11.- Stories with shadows
If you want to make good photographs, try to make them tell a story, that they have a discourse that the viewer understands or at least wonders about.
12.-Abstraction
Those shapes that appear out of context, like the ones in the following image, can generate formal and abstract images.
13.- Assemblies
As far as your imagination goes, your desire, and your knowledge of editing programs.
14.- Alternate patterns
15.- A small tribute, the decisive moment
It may be more reflection than shadow, or the reflection of a shadow. It doesn’t matter, this image of Henri Cartier-Bresson is proof that carrying the camera on you gives you wonderful snapshots.
16.- The weekly shadow challenge
You must already know the magnificent initiative of this blog so that you can participate, comment and practice through its challenges, right? Well, how could it be otherwise, we had a shadow challenge, and you can see some of the resulting images here
17.- Monstrous scales
All those children’s games, everything that has fascinated us with shadows in our early childhood must be somewhere, rescue it and play with them, let’s see what comes out 😉
18.- Modern art?
Another proof that changing the perspective of things generates unexpected pleasures 😉
19.- Perspective
Have we ever talked about forced perspective, usually thanks to the use of different planes and the play with the size of the elements that appear in the image, giving them unreal scales, why not use it in shadows too?
20.- Only for romantics
The image speaks for itself, right?
I always have in mind when I think of shadow photography how strange we must seem when we go down the street, mountain or wherever, chasing something that no one else seems to see, something that no one else values or has a conscience. Shadows on the pavement, the shadows of a railing, of legs, of monstrous bicycle wheels, the shadow of a ball in the air, the shadow of the rush, of the swings, of the coming and going, of the branches of a tree. We should see each other from the outside, surely more than one of us would get a good laugh. But we don’t, because we are absorbed trying to see beyond… At this point, what else does it look like I’m doing, right? 😉 And there we are, photographing shadows, but have you seen the results you can get? Doesn’t seem so ridiculous anymore, does it?
So I hope that without a shadow of a doubt you go on the hunt for shadows. You have them everywhere; where there is light, there will be shadow, and take advantage of it to “do crazy” on the street and get wonderful images.
And you know, if you liked it, it has inspired you, it has given you an idea, it has motivated you to add shadows to some of your compositions and you think someone else may be interested, please share it! Thank you very much! 🙂