Page 14 - Cape-Camera-September-2023

Cape Camera September 2023

“Stairwell” by Jean Bradshaw shows the depth added by
shadows.
Left: Shadows become the subject.
Shadow photography (continued)

as a compositional component to add visual interest. A as done by Rupert Vandervell in street photography.
shadow can also be used on the subject or in the back- Shadows can be the focus or subject of an image and
ground, or as an element on its own.
the subject can be absent — this works well when the
Emotion, drama, or mystery, can be added by shadows subject has a strong outline that is easily recognisable.
— e.g. in portraits, or when a subject is partially ob- It help viewers to understand context by showing
scured, or in low-key photography. where the light source comes from. Architects design
Contrast or Chiaroscuro is a concept that describes the buildings by considering how light changes and that is
contrast between light and dark, with some details why architecture is a great subject matter for shadow
highlighted and less critical details kept dark, especially photography.
in monochrome photography where it can add interest A well-known artist who used shadows in his photo-
(e.g. Robert Maplethorpe’s or Martin Barber’s portraits) graphs was Man Ray.
Composition is influenced by shadows and the contrast If you’re looking for further inspiration, you can look at
between light and shadow by hiding or revealing features. the work of Luisa Lambri, who photographs the inside
Shadows can direct the viewers’ attention to the main of private houses and buildings, focusing on small and
point of interest — e.g. in landscapes or portraits, where marginal details. See examples of her work at www.
you mask some aspects to create lines to draw attention, thomasdanegallery.com/artists/42-luisa-lambri/works.

Shadows add objects (left), create dramatic effects (middle) and direct the viewers’ attention to the main subjects (right).

Read more: Shadow Photography Ideas, Tips and Examples by Pye Jirsa, www.adorama.com/alc/shadow-photography-
ideas-tips-and-examples; Shadow Photography (8 Great Tips for Using Light and Shadows) by Chad Verzosa, https://
expertphotography.com/shadow-photography-tips; How to Successfully Work With Shadows in Your Photography by Christina
Harmanby, https://contrastly.com/working-with-shadows-in-your-photography; How to Photograph Abstract Shadows by
Stephen Walton, https://www.iphotography.com/blog/abstract-shadows.

Cape Town Photographic Society 14