“Only the Shadow Knows”

A constant theme of our photography for this trip has been the low angle of the sun which can produce unwanted shadows. Sometimes shadows in a photo can be great as they can tell a story. But when the object you are trying to photograph is partially bathed in shadows, it can become a annoyance. It’s hard enough avoiding shadows of big rock formations (at least they do not move), but when your own shadow conspires against you, then it brews real trouble.

I became adept arranging my shots to avoid most of the unwanted shadows. But… at times it got so bad that I couldn’t get out of my own way. I would stand, facing my subject and there would be my shadow stretched out in front. I would move to the left. My shadow followed. I tried leaning to the left. My shadow followed again. No matter what I did, my shadow got in the way of my photo. There was nothing left to do.

So, if you can’t beat them, join them. It had become obvious to me that my shadow wanted it’s day in the sun. Since arguing with my shadow became fruitless, I decided to photograph him instead. Unbeknownst to me Kassie was having the same problem with her shadow.

Kassie tried to sit on her shadow to get rid of it, but it survived. You can see it under her, mocking her.

Mine showed up at the worst times.

If dealing with my shadow wasn’t difficult enough, here her shadow is on the attack.

My shadow even conspired with my tripod.

OK, time to join them. I started with a portrait of my shadow.

We did some couples shots too.

At the end of the trip we became friends. We even double dated.

Thanks for joining us on our trip. And remember, it’s all about the light. Shadows love the light.