Project Five - Light & Shadow

Title – Sunlight Shadows
Tags- drain pipe, Senoia, shadow, Digital Photography Class

The shadow assignment was a challenge to find just the right light.  I took numerous pictures this week looking for different subjects.  I took several shadow pictures of my daughter and her friend which were quite fun, but they weren’t quite right.  In this picture, I was trying to “see” more as suggested by the author of our textbook.  I also was trying to focus on a small section rather than focusing on a large picture.   I was driving and walking around a small town and saw this drain pipe out of the corner of my eye.   I really like this picture because it is a representation of many of the composition skills Mr. Long suggests.  I got in close to the subject, and I filled the frame with a little bit of greenery that almost frames the shot.  The rocks add a certain weight to the picture.  I also did a good job on the Rule of Thirds because the opening of the drain pipe is in the bottom right intersection.  I composed with light and dark because the drain pipe is partially dark and partially light.  I love the straight line that shadow casts.  The shadows cast by the plants are beautiful representations of the leaves.  Taking this picture allowed me to practice many composition skills that Mr. Long suggests.

This assignment had value to me because it gave me the opportunity to try the approach “less is more”.  Instead of focusing on the ditch, I chose the drain pipe and the opening draws the viewer into the scene. Since I got in close, I think it is a better composed picture.   I also worked the subject by trying many different angles and different camera orientations. 

I chose the title and tags to describe the photograph and for easy reference in searching for the picture in the future.  I exceeded on all the comments I made for my peers as I gave detailed comments and constructive feedback.   The shadow assignment gave each of us an opportunity to show how light and shadows can create really interesting photographs.

I believe I could use this type of photograph in an educational setting on a lesson about gravity.  Water seeks its own level and all municipal water systems run from highest to lowest point.  Gravity pulls the water down so the water always tries to get as low as possible. We see this in containers and even in drainage ditches.