All the variety…

Lens-Artists Challenge #387 — Shadowed

All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life
is made up of light and shadow.^†

Wildflowers are one of my passions and I spend a lot of time when I’m out on the trails, shooting them.  ‘Though there’s a certain appeal in recording a wildflower meadow or a clump of wildflowers on a sunny, summer’s day, finding and capturing one that lies in a shadow usually reveals many more details of the blossom.

Conversely, sometimes the sun penetrating the leaf canopy highlights the subject, perhaps (if the photographer does her job properly, Pam!) increasing its appeal and adding a little drama. 

Fancifully, walking out of the shadows and into the light feels, somehow, uplifting, whilst the opposite feels a little mysterious, like entering the unknown.  Daft?  Of course.  But, alone in the woods, true none the less.  

Out of the shadows:

Into the shadows:

Sometimes, the perceived privacy of being shadowed emboldens the wildlife, perhaps making them believe they are concealed from view.  

Sometimes a break in the shadow allows a “spotlight” of sunshine to enhance the landscape or scene.

The measure of a photographer’s artistry is often based on their ability to capture and feature the clash between light and shadow and, in that one instance of pressing the shutter release, capturing the best of both.  Thanks to John, I spent some time conning my photo library and discovered that I have clearly not spent enough time pursuing that which is shadowed, nor the play between light and shade.  New personal challenge for the months ahead!  

Now, if you want to see expert images featuring the play between light and shadow, I urge you to check out Johnbo’s truly brilliant post, the inspiration for today’s challenge:

Lens-Artists Challenge #387—Shadowed

’Til next time, y’all…

^†Leo Tolstoy, page 48, Chapter 11 in his novel “Anna Karenina”.