Weekly Photography Challenge #503 Strong Shadows

[Tersha]

This week use strong shadows to create a dramatic effect, using hard light and patterned light. Think about tonal range and contrast. Use shadows to create perspective, leading lines, texture or framing.

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[Click]

Walking the Human

[chris pook]

That’s very good!  Very clever!

[Tersha]

Brilliant!

[Graham Hart]

Love it. The shadows relegate the actual subjects to minor roles in this image and the white ‘Exit’ word juxtaposes brilliantly with the overall movement of the shadowed actors in this story. Excellent capture!

[Pat Garrett]

Great example of “making” an image – waiting until the subject walks into the frame. Really like this, Click. Good reminder for me.

[Tobie]

I like this!

[davidc]

What a great start to this challenge. Very good Click.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Love this Click. Very creative 🙂

[chris pook]

This is fun!

[Graham Hart]

Nice pics Chris. Feel like I’m getting to know your dog quite well 🙂 . I like the way your face in the second pic is in shadow. Just enough to place you in the moment without drawing attention away from the dog. The last pic really gives the feeling of looking out from a dark corner into the world of colour outside.

[chris pook]

Thanks Graham, very kind of you.

 

[davidc]

Good ones Chris. First one is almost abstract the way the shadows fall. Second one as Graham said great balance between you and your dog. Is the third one in your offices in Iraq.

[chris pook]

Hi David, no that was shot from the room of our hotel on our 25th Wedding Anniversary, in Paris last year.

[Wendy P]

[Graham Hart]

This took me a while to figure out but I’m guessing a hose reel? That is one long shadow!

[Wendy P]

You are correct, Graham. It almost looks like a bicycle-shadow to me!

[Pat Garrett]

At first glance, that’s what I thought it was.

[davidc]

Looks a piece of machinery. very good shot Wendy.

[Wendy P]

This tree is “shaped” by road-sign shadows strung over the crosswalk.

[Graham Hart]

Aha, and I thought it was holes in the tree’s canopy at first. Makes it look like a hollow ball of leaves.

[davidc]

3D printed tree. i like this one a fun shot, Wendy.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Very interesting image Wendy 🙂

[ElinL]

Nesjavellir geothermal area

[Graham Hart]

Wonderful landscape Elin. Like something from an apocalyptic aftermath movie. Love the textures and contrasts in the foreground leading into the light in the distance.

[ElinL]

Thank you Graham 🙂

[davidc]

You must get great joy out of Photographing these places. Super image Elin.

[ElinL]

Thank you David, appreciated 🙂 Yes – nature photography is a truly rewarding enterprise here in Iceland – appreciated by many.

[davidc]

The Blue Man.

[Tersha]

I like this a lot David!

[davidc]

Thanks Tersha. 🙂

[Graham Hart]

Me too. Love the composition. Too much of the guy would have diminished the shadow effect and the blue hue takes the eyes straight to his face which seems to project his contemplative thoughts through the shadowed head above.

[davidc]

Thank, Graham. He was listening to a piano player in Washington square.

[Pat Garrett]

@davidc the shadows create the mood and, to me, make the subject even more interesting.

[davidc]

Thanks, Pat.

[Tobie]

It looks like his ghost is walking with him! 😂

[davidc]

Noe you mention it, it dose look a bit spooky. Thank Tobie.

[ElinL]

Great shot David, keep coming back to it.

[davidc]

Many thanks Elin. 🙂

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Love this David. The shadows are interesting 🙂

[davidc]

Thank you, Dahlia 🙂

[Graham Hart]

Aralia seed pods.

[davidc]

They look like mini conkers. Nice one Graham

[Graham Hart]

Into the shadows.

Another oldie. Haven’t posted for ages so please forgive my excesses. Feel like I need to catch up.

[Patrick]

Lovely shot mate.

[Graham Hart]

Cheers Pat.

 

[Preston]

Cracker Jack shot Graham!  I love the abyssal feeling.

[Graham Hart]

Thanks Preston.

[davidc]

Yep, looks like he is about to step off the end of the world. good stuff Graham

[Peter Nowak]

[Tersha]

Lovely strong shadows and composition Peter!

[Peter Nowak]

Thanks Tersha.

[Graham Hart]

Terrific composition Peter.

[Pat Garrett]

So many shapes, shapes within shapes, lines and textures. Every time I look I see more.

[davidc]

Great line in this one Peter. 🙂

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Love the geometry, light and shadows Peter 🙂

[David Chesterfield]

Port Arthur, Tasmania

 

[Graham Hart]

This could be used in an ad campaign. Looking at it makes me just want to be there and go wandering around. Lovely colour and light shadow is very inviting.

[Pat Garrett]

I thought that too.

[Peter Nowak]

Thanks Graham and Pat…

[Tobie]

I luvit! 🤜🤛

[davidc]

As above, it could be straight from a travel guide.

[ElinL]

It´s all about the bass….

[bucweeet]

Gorgeous shot Elin!

[ElinL]

Thanks Paul – good to hear from you again 🙂

[Tersha]

I remember this one Elin, love it!

[ElinL]

Thanks Diane 🙂

[Peter Nowak]

Nice low key Elin !!!

[Graham Hart]

Great pic Elin. Stripped of all but the barest of required pixels to tell the story it really captures the moment and feel of being there.

[ElinL]

Thanks Graham.

[Pat Garrett]

Minimal, yet just enough

[ElinL]

Thank you Pat

[Tobie]

Shot Elin!

[ElinL]

…but still alive 😉

[davidc]

Great shot Elin.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Awesome light and shadows Elin 🙂

[bucweeet]

Do you ever get…. that feeling??

 

[Patrick]

Excellent work Paul.

[bucweeet]

Thank you Patrick!

[ElinL]

I´m not sure what that feeling is supposed to be – Nirvana or terror ? It is very mysterious – I like it – well done.

[bucweeet]

Thank you Elin!!

[Graham Hart]

The double exposure feels like something within trying to emerge. Exasperation, anxiety or anger perhaps? The colour goes well with this image too. Nice work Paul.

[bucweeet]

Thank you Graham!

It’s a single exposure image. I have placed a ‘diffuser screen’ between the camera and myself. I had then placed a single light behind me. So the line-up was… camera, diffuser screen, me, light source.

Because the light was ‘directly’ behind me and in line with the camera, the light acted like a ‘beauty dish’ which caused a strong shadow on the diffuser screen. The translucent diffuser screen permitted the camera to capture an obscure image of myself through it. Additionally, I had just been doing some experimentation with a ‘smoke/fog’ machine. So there may have been a bit of residual fog adding to the image which added to the shadow depth.

[Ruth]

Thank you for explaining.  It’s even more amazing – especially being a self portrait!  Incredible set up.

[bucweeet]

Thank you Ruth  @rtwilson

[Graham Hart]

Thanks for the back story Paul. You put a lot of effort into making this image and it paid off. What a great example of a creative mind at work and also a wake up call to those of us (me) who need to expand their horizons and get more creative.

[bucweeet]

Your welcome Graham, and thank you for the kind words!  @diripics

[davidc]

Scary! The stuff of nightmares. Very well done Bucweeet.

[bucweeet]

Thank you David! @davidc

[Leesa]

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[Preston]

I think X marks the spot for petting Leesa!

[davidc]

Pat me here. 🙂

[Patrick]

Bed End Slots

[Tersha]

Looks like Morph!

[Patrick]

You are %100 spot on 😉

[Pat Garrett]

Had to look up “Morph”. Now I understand.

[Patrick]

Lol , was always a fav when i got home from school.

[ElinL]

This shadow is so cute – well done !

[Patrick]

Thank you Elin 🙂

[davidc]

We come in peace. 🙂

[Patrick]

And with cake 🙂

[Tersha]

in the shadows

[ElinL]

Shady sheep – looks like ours except for the long tail and the lingo is different. I love your sheep images Diane.

[Tersha]

Thanks Elin! 🙂 I hadn’t noticed the long tail, they do dock the tails usually, I’ll be looking now!

[davidc]

Great light in this one Tersha.

[Tersha]

Thanks David!

[Preston]

Desert Sunset

[davidc]

For some reason it reminds me of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Cool image Preston.

[Preston]

Thanks Davidc.  Now I have a reason to re-watch the movie this weekend!

[Tersha]

Interesting Preston, cool shot!

[Preston]

Thanks Diane!

[Graham Hart]

This was a failed attempt by me to superimpose text over a selfie (taken about 20 years ago). Using a wordcloud app to create a jumble of PP terminology, I was trying to get the text to map the contours of my face but haven’t worked out how to do it yet.

[bucweeet]

Check this out Graham.  Also, along the RH side of the screen is list of other videos doing a similar thing….

[Graham Hart]

Brilliant! Thanks for the link Paul.

[davidc]

Good try Graham. Post it again when you do it from the videos.

 

[Graham Hart]

Version 2 – with a different word map;

[davidc]

That’s very cool Graham.

[Pat Garrett]

Wheel Spokes

[davidc]

Love this one Pat. Are the spokes in focus or the shadows?

[LeanneC]

Had shadows on my mind on a hike down an old railroad trail turned rec trail. The bridge made for some fun shots on my mobile…

For those interested: The Kettle Valley Railroad was a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and ran through a good part of southern British Columbia. The old rail line has been turned into beautiful multi-use trails that take you through some scenic areas off the beaten path.

[davidc]

Iron bridges always look cool with shadows, You would not get them with a stone bridge. lovely shots Leanne.

[Aurimas]

[davidc]

Great shapes and angles in this one, Aurimas. Well caught.

[Aurimas]

Thank you, @davidc

[Dave Watkins]

Surrounded by shadow.

[Wendy P]

What a lovely shot! Nice job.

[davidc]

I like these types of woodland shots. Makes you feel as if some woodland mythical creatures will pass by at any moment. Good one Dave.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Looks enchanting Dave 🙂

[Tersha]

Love this Dave!

[Dave Watkins]

Thanks all for your comments. Seeing this spot of bright light highlighting these ferns in a mostly dark forest was a very nice part of our walk that day.

[bucweeet]

Batman and me…

One more from my weekend of light experimenting.  This one taken with a single light source.

and you’re right…. it should be ‘Batman and I’

 

[davidc]

This has a grungy feel to it. Great effect Bucweeet.

[bucweeet]

Thank you David!  As you can guess, I did some extra post-processing on it for the effect.

[Tersha]

Good lighting Paul, and a good self-portrait!

[bucweeet]

Thank you Diane!

[Pat Garrett]

Shadows and Textures

[davidc]

Good shadows and light reflections. super image Pat. are the bricks glazed?

[Joanne Van Praag]

Indian Wedding Thailand – First dance

[Tobie]

Nice one!

[Joanne Van Praag]

Thanks x

[davidc]

super portrait Joanne.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Love it Joanne 🙂

[Wendy P]

[davidc]

Nice reflections as well Wendy. Well done.

[Patrick]

Lots of great shadows above great work each 🙂

[Wendy P]

Thanks Patrick!

[Tobie]

Shadows from an engagement shoot.

[davidc]

very nice effect. Adds mystery to the photo. 🙂

[Joanne Van Praag]

In the shadow of the trees and dappled light.

[ElinL]

Brilliant image in so many ways. The dynamics, composition, lightning and tones all add up to a perfect whole. Well done.

[Joanne Van Praag]

Thank you xx

[davidc]

Love this image. Great storytelling Joanne

[Amy M]

This is beautiful! I love the free-spirited feeling of this photo!

[Tersha]

seeds in the shadows …

[ElinL]

Beautiful ! Must be seen large. Definitely one for the wall.

[Tersha]

Thanks Elin!

[davidc]

As Elin said, it would be great on a wall. Superb.

[Tersha]

Thanks David!

[Tersha]

crystal ball …

[Tobie]

Clever! 😀

[Tersha]

Thanks Tobie!

[davidc]

Looks like the ball is moving and trying to change shape. cool shot.

[Tersha]

Thanks David!

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Creative Diane 🙂

[Tersha]

Thanks Dahlia, I like playing with glass and light.

[bucweeet]

Still brushing up on lighting techniques for a friend so I thought I would post one more….

[Tersha]

Good effect Paul, I really like your experiments with light.

[bucweeet]

Thank you Diane!   I have just purchased an inexpensive fog/smoke machine and in this one I was trying to capture the ‘ray of light’ as it transits through the smoke/fog.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Love the lighting Paul 🙂

[bucweeet]

Thank you Dahlia!

[Holly K]

[Tersha]

Great lines and shadows Holly!

[Holly K]

Thank you, Tersha!

[Dahlia Ambrose]

I like the geometry and shadows here Holly 🙂

[Holly K]

Thanks, Dahlia!

[Amy M]

[Dahlia Ambrose]

The light and shadows look dramatic Amy 🙂

[David H]

[Author]

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