Shadow hunters

I’m a pretty big fan of shadows. I like that they are there one moment and then gone the next. Outside in the world they are constantly on the move, so we have to chase them as they slink across the pavement and up the wall. What makes them especially interesting for me is that they are always at least one step away from reality. They aren’t ‘things’ as such, but they represent things, give us an impression of things and distort those things by stretching their shape like a pulled piece of gum.

Shadows are abstract, but the best ones are recognisable – either as a reflection of the solid matter that causes them, or as something completely new in its own right. When a shadow takes on the form of something else it is like a visual joke, something to make us look twice and make us smile.

For this competition I want you to go shadow hunting. You’ll need to take your shadow-spotting state of mind with you otherwise you’ll behave like a normal person and not even notice them. Study those shadows (though not for too long – they have no patience) and make the most of them. Make the shadow your subject and give it plenty of love and attention. Expose a bit dark if you need to so that we can feel its full depth, and make it stand out from its background.

If you use Photo Styles, Landscape will help to deepen the dark bits, as will Vivid. Use your Highlights/Shadows controls as well to add extra weight.

So, show me your pictures of shadows, or pictures in which shadows play a key role in the composition. Look hard and open your eyes and mind. You never know, it might well change the way you see forever.

You have until Sunday May 12th, so get busy.

The Prize

Manfrotto NX camera shoulder bag II

The winner of this contest will receive a fabulous kit bag from Manfrotto. The NX Camera Shoulder Bag ll is designed for small systems and will hold a Lumix G9 with a couple of lenses in its main compartment, while the zip-up rear compartment can hold your other tat – a camera manual, train timetable or spare memory cards perhaps.

The top flap has a zip that runs all the way around leaving the zippers on the side of the bag near your body, making it hard for naughty people to get into it while you are carrying it. It’s a neat cool grey colour too, and is compact enough that it won’t get heavy or stand out.
For more information see the Manfrotto website.

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