The first trick is to simply notice that shadows and silhouettes are all around us, as common as weeds. You can chose something as simple as a dandelion to make an outstanding silhouette, if you wish. Just hold it in front of the sun, get as close as you can and than take the picture. If you don’t have a macro lens or a macro setting on your camera just focus as closely as you can and crop if need be.

f/26 @ 500/sec. ISO 250

Shadows are everywhere so be sure to look on the ground, the walls, even the ceiling. This typically boring, and usually ugly, shopping cart, abandoned in a parking lot, became special because of its eerie shadows. Once you start noticing shadows you will be amazed that an object so pedestrian and common as this cart can be transformed into a gothic narrative. These shadows are elongated because the time of day was late afternoon with the sun not far from setting, a time when shadows are usually longer than other times of the day.

(f/22 @ 125/sec. ISO 250)

These condiments on a diner table magically create monumental skyscrapers. The possibility of a fun photo was easy to see, but it also required standing on a chair in the middle of a restaurant to get it just right.

(f/16 @ 1/250 ISO 250)

This shaft of light, with the help of a bottle of orange hot sauce and a bottle of water, further dramatized through a green window in a Mexican restaurant are….well…simply beautiful. It, too, required standing on a chair. Sometimes, getting the shot, means that you have to let yourself go and look a little silly. Once the people who had been watching this creation unfold saw the image on the back of the camera, they all agreed that the spectacle I made of myself was worth the final result.

(f/16 @ 1/60 sec. ISO 250)

One thing that is important in every image, but especially so when dealing with silhouettes or shadows is an understanding of “negative” space.

This image was taken by resting the tip of the Bird of Paradise flower on a large piece of paper. The dark shadow is being created by the sun a few million miles away and to the left of the image. The white area is the “negative” space. Its what gives the flower and the shadow their shape and drama. Its what makes them prominent in a compelling way.

The white sheet of paper was originally just going to be the background of the picture, but when I began to play with the shadow my original vision took a whole new, and more interesting, turn.

f/22 @ 1/400 sec. ISO 100

Take a look at these two images and see how much difference the “negative” space makes.
The difference is positively and powerfully different. Notice how the one with the horse’s mouth below the horizon is not as pleasing as the one that is surrounded by space. The “negative” space makes it easier to “read.”

f/16 @ 1/125 sec. ISO 225

The silhouette of the jumping people was a fairly fast exposure because it was so bright. The fast exposure stopped the action in midair. This picture above was taken after sunset and needed a 1/30 of a second exposure which explains the blur of the dogs…which helps illustrate how much faster it is moving in comparison to the people. The camera was on a tripod and there were seven different shots that were later assembled in Photoshop.

all 7 images (f/16 @ 1/30 sec. ISO 500)

The same trick, silhouettes and multiple exposure with photoshop added, was used to create this image as well. Take note that you don’t have to have a sunset to create a silhouette. All you need is to have the background brighter than the foreground. This effect is fairly easy to create, if you use a tripod, look for action that happens within the scene and simply clone them into place. The baseball caps added a nice touch.
(f/16 @ 1/250 sec ISO 250)

In this case it was only 1:00 in the afternoon and the captivating shot required no post-capture editing. It was a particularly stark and contrasty day. The kind of light that is “no good” for taking pictures. There’s no such thing as bad light. You just have to take the kind of pictures that look good in that kind of light. If the day is overcast and flat, take pictures that look good using even lighting. Portraits can be particularly flattering on a “flat” day.

(f/22 @ 1/250 sec ISO 200)

This romantic scene was taken on the same beach about 10 minutes later. Note in both images and in all of the silhouette shots that it is important to have separation (negative space) between all the subjects so they can stand out from one another. When they are not blurred together, each person is able to tell a different story, in this case tranquil excursion, surfing and various beach time memories in progress.

(f/22 @ 1/250 sec ISO 200)

You don’t have to have the perfect light, but when you get it take advantage of it, as was the case here about 10 minutes after the sun had set, sometimes even 20 minutes after, depending on the clouds, humidity and temperature. This is my favorite image from the dozens that I took in the fast moving fading light in Joshua Tree National Park. They look like they are preparing to party all night long.

(f/16 @ 1/60 sec. ISO 300)

SOMETHING SILLY

Another note about shadows is that they can be downright weird, which can make for some playful and eye-catching imagery. This is true especially early and late in the day when the sun is angled closer to the horizon versus directly above so you get elongated and oddly shaped shadows. One above and three below make this case well.

(Below: f/22 @ 1/250 sec ISO 200  –  f/16 @1/125 ISO 300  –  f/16 @ 1/125 ISO 250)

CHILD’S PLAY

Here’s perhaps my favorite picture of my son, Christopher. Not because of the way he looks, but because it expresses his creative, playful self.

He often reminded me that if you want to take wonderful pictures, you need to be full of wonder. Photography gives us the license to look at the world the way we once did as children. That is more than half the fun.

Now, go play!