“We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness….the creation of one thing against another.”
The weekly challenge from John suggests we be more aware of shadowed areas and notice how they can help define our photos. Shadows play a big role in photography, they can evoke many different feelings or thoughts such as peacefulness, tranquility, nostalgia and an appreciation of nature’s beauty. They can also define shapes and patterns, add depth and character to the overall picture and help move the viewer’s eyes around the picture.
“All the beauty of life is made up of light and shadows.” – Miss Darcy’s Adventures
Below and also the header photo shows nature’s raw beauty on displayed among the patterns of shadows, light and darkness in the early morning hours on Kiawah Island in SC.
Evening sunsets on the west coast of Florida can be equally as impressive!
A nostalgic image of a man relaxing in the shadows of the ancient oak tree in Washington Square Park, Charleston, SC.
The following two pictures are examples of how a fence and shadows can help lead the eyes through a photograph. The first picture was taken at one of the golf course on Kiawah Island.
This next picture was taken at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, about 30 minutes north of Naples, FL.
Out for a morning swim in the patterned shadows at the swamp sanctuary.
Hope you have enjoyed seeing these pictures and wishing you a good week ahead. Be safe and enjoy life!
I will end with another one of my favorite quotes which a few of you probably remember seeing before.
“Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” – J.M. Barrie
John, thank you for your kind words! I enjoyed exploring your topic, from now on I will more aware of shadows when composing my shots.
Sylvia, I love those views of Kiawah, a place we’ve only visited once. That opening photo of the Atlantic shoreline is dramatic, but the sunset on the Gulf Coast in Florida is stunning! A beautiful compilation for my challenge!!