Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge: Challenger’s Choice (The Architecture of Shadows)

25 May 2015

Lens:

1. Afternoon Light; Copyright © 2015 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

2. Birch Tree; Copyright © 2015 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

3. Bartram Oak; Copyright © 2015 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

Let me know which you prefer and why. I suggest that you click on each image to enlarge.

Pens:

Spring is fresh, lush, verdant and spritely. It dances through the days with continual change. Of course, some revitalization of the landscape is seemingly overnight; other alterations seem to appear little by little. They bolster each other, and yet are true to themselves.

Mostly, it is the light that mystifies. Spring’s illumination brings such inner and outer cheer where winter grey once cast its spell.

Especially in spring I ponder our northern hemisphere’s sun-centric days where the sunrise is earlier and sunset is later. The arc of the sun’s daily journey varies with the seasons, and that has been more and more evident to me this week.

Its more than the extra light that captures my attention. It’s the angle of the sun’s rays that descend straighter to the earth, providing an intensity that is stronger than winter’s beams (which are more slanted).

Last week those forces of sunlight brought me to a serene grove of trees. I went to the university’s botanical garden, because I knew that the trees were not only massive, but in one instance they were joined together in a grouping of several native varieties. They were elderly architectural giants that would be an ideal location for the blazing afternoon sunlight.

There I gazed upon the sunlight filtering through their greenery, giving limey hues that seduced. The mid-afternoon sun produced a meditative performance. The silence allowed for greater concentration on the transformation moment by moment. As a slight wind scattered the beams on lower extremities of the trees, shadows were harmonious.

The sun seemed to have such strength of will, giving a transparency to the design and shape of the trees and their mature branches that were leafing out. It was like observing a small city of ancient architectural features that was bathed in shadows of the day’s natural elements.

Shadows were so pronounced that they seemed to be a permanent fixture. But just as it seemed that way, they altered their appearance with a gentle gusto.

The jarring and sharp light lasted for hours. It’s intensity was so evident that it seemed to blast everything in its pathway. Still, the effects were so intriguing, adding layers of new patterns and contrast that mystified. Usually I do not want to shoot in such exaggerated conditions, but the shadows were given such focus that I had to record what was before me.

In the Lens section the first image is to show you the entranceway to the grove. The second and third image show the harsh beams, and the way that the light flooded across the trunks of the trees.

The intersection of light and shade produced some memorable designs. The soft wind helped to alter the visual appeal. The day was a perfect combination for a monochromatic shoot to display shadows found in Mother Nature.

My attention needed little coaxing. Contrast and shapes grabbed surfaces and brought me to a point of awe. Even when the light did not flatter, I was still transfixed with its abilities to sway my thoughts.

Tip of the Week:

Click here to view some photographs that will show variations on the theme of shadows. The images are from an article,”25 Shadow Images to Inspire You,” by Darren Rowse and posted on The Digital Photography School website. Regardless of the season where you live, shadows are always lurking, just waiting to be seen and stilled. Happy shooting.

“Chairs,” Paris, 1931, André Kertész

View other entries for this week’s challenge:

http://blogagaini.com/2015/05/25/food/

https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-ribbit/

https://patchworkponderings.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/looking-sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-challengers-choice/

http://pilotfishblog.com/2015/05/25/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-challengers-choice-grand-rapids-architecture/

http://thoughtstalesandwhatnot.com/2015/05/25/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-nightscapes/

https://streetsofsfphotos.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/old-cameras-2-photos/

https://angelinem.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-the-birds-and-the-beach/

https://chasinglifeandfindingdreams.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/unplugged-in-jamaica-discovering-my-view/

https://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/people-of-carnival-for-sally-ds-mobile-photo-challenge/

https://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/sally-ds-mobile-challenge-clouds-over-hastings/

http://luciledegodoy.com/2015/05/25/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-challengers-choice/

https://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/all-the-noise-and-the-hurry-seems-to-help-i-know/

https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/mundane-monday-and-sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge/

https://lumar1298.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/sally-ds-mobile-phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-devices-photo-challange-dragon-fruit/

http://nadinetomlinson.com/2015/05/27/we-are-like-stained-glass-windows/

http://artifactsandfictions.com/2015/05/28/autumn-shadows-in-bw/

http://ohmsweetohm.me/2015/05/29/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-challengers-choice/

http://nwframeofmind.com/2015/05/30/sally-ds-mobile-photography-challenge-street-photography-a-quiet-memorial-day/

http://priorhouse.org/2015/05/28/five-stories-one-post/

Note:

As always I welcome comments about this post or any part of my blog.

If you’d like to join the Photo Challenge, please click here for details. If you have any questions, please contact me. Below is a reminder of the monthly schedule with themes for upcoming Photo Challenges:

1st Monday: Nature.

2nd Monday: Macro.

3rd Monday: Black and White.

4th Monday Challenger’s Choice (Pick One: Abstraction, Animals, Architecture, Food Photography, Night Photography, Objects, Portraiture, Still Life, Street Photography, and Travel).

5th Monday: Editing and Processing with Various Apps Using Themes from the Fourth Week.

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