Self-Portrait & Truck ... © Kerry Drager
I love the striking interplay of brights and darks, since a strong shadow makes such a dynamic visual statement. But when the sun gets low in the sky, I also like to play with "self-portraits" - an ongoing personal project that I pursue whenever spare time and good light coincide.
The image shown here, taken a year or so ago, is one of my favorites ... captured on the side of my old 1942 Ford Dump Truck in Northern California. (Photos of this wonderful truck, by the way, is another self-assignment, but that's another story!)
In particular, shadows produce a quick and powerful impact, since they emphasize form over detail ... this is what makes them such excellent photography composition elements. When shooting shadows, the key is to choose subjects that has a strong, simple, and readily identifiable form. Also, the usual "rules" of photography apply. For example, my shadow not only appears off-center in the frame, it also faces into - rather than out of - the main part of the scene.
Contrasts in lighting can fool your camera meter. To ensure that a shadow becomes very dark or black, and the sunlit areas show good color and details, try the following: Temporarily fill your viewfinder with a middle or average tone that's in the sunlight (i.e., a mid-blue sky, or an object that's mid-brown, mid-gray, or middle-whatever). Take a meter reading, lock in those settings, re-compose, and fire away.
For great examples of all sorts of shadow images, check out BetterPhoto's gallery:
Shadow Shots: Photography Composition Elements
That's it for now ... have a great week!
Kerry Drager
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