Use of shadows

As photographers, shadows can either be a burden or a huge help for us. Anyone have pictures of how to use shadows effectively/neat use of shadows?

Here's my lame attempt. Me taking a picture of my shadow:)

Enjoy,

Jared

Edit: For verification, I'm not growing any obscene body parts around my torso. Those are merly my camera bag on the right, my water on the left, and my backpack all molded into one.

Does this count as shadows? It's taken from inside one of those triangular looking buildings in Africa somewhere...

[QUOTE=jar_e]As photographers, shadows can either be a burden or a huge help for us. Anyone have pictures of how to use shadows effectively/neat use of shadows?

Here's my lame attempt. Me taking a picture of my shadow:)
QUOTE]Didn't I just see your picture over on Critique where the shadows add a nice counterpoint to the pattern of the bolts and nuts and rivets?

Here are a couple from my last shots in 2004.

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by prbowhay

Dear Jared:

This is a cool shot and I really like it! I will dig through my photography repertoire and see what I can find to contribute to this post.

Thanks for sharing your creative imagination and for encouraging a study on shadows.

My Best to You,
Penny

P.S. Your torso exhibits nothing obscene -- only alluring intrigue. ;)

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Penny,

Thanks for the words. I always found shadows a burden, until I started to notice the positive effects that you can obtain from them. And for my torso, well, we'll just keep that hushed:D

Jared

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chunk

Didn't I just see your picture over on Critique where the shadows add a nice counterpoint to the pattern of the bolts and nuts and rivets?

Here are a couple from my last shots in 2004.

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Chunk,

That is true, let me put that one in this thread too. Downbyfive, Nice light at the end of the tunnel aspect, neat shadows there too. Chunk, great shadows on your pics, love how the shadows make that steel one much more complex.

Jared

I am a big fan of chiaroscuro even though it technically is supposed to by devoid of color.

Here's a contribution to the Use of Shadows collection.

Enjoy

-CDP

CDP,

Glad to know I'm not the only one who finds photographing their own shadown interesting!

Shadow is a very important and useful compositional element. Often times the use of shadow can create, so to speak, other compositional elelments in the photograph.
If I had a "favorite compositional element", I'd say it were shadow.
I have a few photographs on my site, that use shadow. I even have one that is a shadow.
Look at my avatar, it's my shadow too!
Brian

You have given me an excuse for mine :)

This was an experiment with some studio lights for a class I took last fall.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jar_e

Chunk,

That is true, let me put that one in this thread too. Downbyfive, Nice light at the end of the tunnel aspect, neat shadows there too. Chunk, great shadows on your pics, love how the shadows make that steel one much more complex.

Jared

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This one kicks ass, Jared! I love it. So many different, and seemingly conflicted, colors and tectures. At first I thought it must be too different images put together. Very, very nice. You should add this to the abstract gallery, if you haven't already.

Stumbled upon this one...A picture of me taking a picture of my shadow...Beat that!

One more that I took years ago.

I am not sure if I posted this one or not, it's from last year..
I did this in Moab.
Brian
Ride On!

Wow, I leave for a week and this thread is still somewhat active. Great shadow pics, love the bike ones Brian, nice lines and geometry. Great shots everyone.

Penny, wonderful shots. I love how the first one, the shadow is almost an after thought to the full pic. Very nice, and the moon, wow, beautiful.

I love moon shots.

Jared

Here's a shadow I found this morning. Just a few weeks ago I posted a shot of these steps with winters salt stains. I like the spring sunshine a lot better.

This probably has the most shadows of anything I've taken (including my own). Shame I blew out the highlights though, otherwise it may have been a half decent pic!

http://mattgcp.smugmug.com/photos/19184740-M.jpg

matt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jar_e

As photographers, shadows can either be a burden or a huge help for us. Anyone have pictures of how to use shadows effectively/neat use of shadows?

Here's my lame attempt. Me taking a picture of my shadow:)

Enjoy,

Jared

Edit: For verification, I'm not growing any obscene body parts around my torso. Those are merly my camera bag on the right, my water on the left, and my backpack all molded into one.

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Great thread idea Jared!

Here's what I got.

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...76corihead.jpg

Being a B&W fan I find shadows crucial in the compostiion of a photo.
Here's one of my favs...

Lovely pics everyone. Mattp I love your cemetary shot, very strong and powerful.

Nice shots everyone!

Jared