Mel does not need much of an introduction. She is a prominent member of this site and most of you will have seen her work. I have always been drawn to her photography because much of it is infused with gentle humor and an equally gentle sense of mystery. The images invite one to stay a while and relax, the way a comfortable living room does, while one tries to figure out the mystery.

 

I am very curious what theme she picked for this batch. So far it is a well guarded secret, but I am certain that her unique perspective will turn it into something beautiful and perhaps even gently humorous. Mel will explain what she has in mind in this thread. Thank you for running this batch, Mel!

 

Great! Looking forward to see what Mel will ask us... :)

Thanks for your introduction, Martin!

 

As someone who is fairly new to photography, I'm always keen to try to find ways to be creative. This is what I'm hoping to see from anyone who wants to join in here.

 

Shadows have always appealed to me, and I'm on the lookout for them whenever I can. Sometimes I go out of my way to shoot them in the studio, as well as searching for them in nature...

 

I'm hoping that you can share images that show shadows in a way that makes us say WOW!

 

I've included some from my portfolio that use shadows...... the first two are NSFW.

 

http://1x.com/photo/441935/all:user:5092

 

http://1x.com/photo/49816/all:user:5092

 

http://1x.com/photo/29767/all:user:5092

 

http://1x.com/photo/13285/all:user:5092

 

Please leave comments about the participants images to help share some insights!

Wonderful examples. I have been known to create shadows with lighting gear when they didn't want to appear on their own. Here is an example: http://www.martingremmphotography.com/instants/e51d87a5e.

 

I am looking forward to finding out what the group does with this mandate!

Great theme!

 

Here's one:

 

http://1x.com/photo/72521/group:160:all

 

And here's another, because shadows sometimes live their own life...

 

http://1x.com/photo/69154/group:160:all

Martin that's fabulous! I love the action that's imparted by this image!

 

Paco your shadows tell such good stories too!

 

My internets are not working too well at the moment, but I'd like to mention the work of Peter Coulson, an Australian photographer of some note. He uses shadows in some of this work, and it's been very inspiring to me. Google search for his images and you'll see why. His vampire series for example....

I like this theme! Most of the time, shadows are not welcome, but they also can "make" the image.

 

@Martin: your example is exquisite.

 

Here are my contributions, 2 very different ones

http://1x.com/photo/447586/all:user:149724

http://1x.com/photo/446955/all:user:149724

I think this is a great theme and love all the examples submitted so far. Can't wait to see more! Here are two shots I took because of the shadows. Paula

 

http://www.1x.com/photo/447948/group:160:all

 

http://www.1x.com/photo/414733/group:160:all

A contribution from my side

http://www.1x.com/photo/429445/group:160:all

I've always been attracted to the shadows of trees, kahi, beaut effort! The mud is much more subtle, but lovely!

 

Coming from the sub tropics, I'd automatically pick the Fence image to be sand, Paula, however I'm thinking it must be snow. Brrrr! The shadows with repeating patterns are wonderful! Tension has been well named! :)

 

Thomas, those hard shadows in Shadow and Silhouette are amazing! I love the way they make me want to investigate further, since I'm disorientated by what is what.... and that's a bonus, imho!

Hello Mel,

I hope you will keep this open for a while? I need time..:)

 

Thanks,

Phyl

A wonderful topic, Mel. Here is my contribution. Taken at Grand Central Terminal in NYC. Nice shadows from the afternoon sun through the windows.

http://1x.com/photo/435243/group:160:all

 

Here's another one:

 

http://1x.com/photo/449249/group:160:all

 

Mel, I left a little "dedication" to you in the info tab ;)

Trying to get back into the swing of things after a long break over Christmas/New Year when other things have taken my time and energy.

 

Mel's topic has got me going again. Thank's Mel!

 

This is a minimal image, but for me the shadow is a key element!

 

http://1x.com/photo/449593/group:160:all

Hey everyone, thanks so much

 

Once you have added your own links, it'd be great if you could comment on others, as Clyde had with his batch. I think that's a tradition that needs to continue. :)

 

Thanks!!!

 

I love all of the shadows that have been posted so far but in particular I find Martin's image very captivating; the shadow seems to have come alive and be moving on it''s own ...

 

http://www.martingremmphotography.com/instants/e51d87a5e

 

...and I also love Linda's; the shadow is very static in this one but it also becomes the central point of interest in the picture. I love the minimalist approach, the position in the frame and the great colors.

 

http://1x.com/photo/449593/group:160:all

 

Paula

I like the images that have been uploaded on the topic. A wide diversity. Different interpretations.

I like the example by Martin, as it is a nice story-telling image. It is simple in its language, but at the same time one keeps wondering.

Broken Shadows by Paco is completely different, almost abstract, but also there one is wondering what we're seeing. The railing is obvious, but the three "figures" are less obvious. Mysterious.

Linda's minimalistic picture is interesting. Very nice patterns, nice lines. Not much story though.

And, I have uploaded a second image, where the shadow is crucial and makes the image IMO: http://1x.com/photo/53806/group:160:all

Looking forward to see more contributions,

Frédéric

 

I read this and before clicking I thought I knew which picture you were talking about... and I was right :)

 

I love that picture. I remember it from when it was published in the older 1x V2, with its' problem in display... lol.

The shadow here plays a crucial part indeed, because it tells us what is outside the frame ("hors champ" or "hors cadre" in french). So in some sense we see what we don't see.

 

My goodness Frédéric, that is indeed fantastic story telling with shadows! Congratulations on the publish and the photo!

Thanks for the Invitation, Mel Brackstone. I contribute a Photo I shot through a Gate of a Warehouse in the Harbour. I think Shadow is a very important Theme in Photography, and I don‘t understand why there are so few Contributions by now. I especially like the Picture of Leslie Shurin Caldwell.

Good Light.

Frank S. aus HB

well, I submit two entries on a more 'strict' interpretation of shadow :-)

 

http://1x.com/photo/455546/all:user:235988

http://1x.com/photo/455545/all:user:235988

 

I actually have a small series for the Shadow of Trees in my website for those want to see more.

 

Shadows of trees on wood... excellent! You're a poet Shiwanlin!

Here's a link to Frank's image

 

http://1x.com/photo/388450/group:160:all:admin:5092

In my images i mostly search for the play with light, but I rarely focus on the shadow itself.

Still I have this one combining very well the interaction of light and dark, with light coming in from 4 sides, but where the shadow of the girl produced in the sunny side gate is a consistent part of the image

 

http://1x.com/photo/56716/all:user:13704

Hello , " secrets " is a work based on light and shadows at all , there is no strong shadow behind the person that You can see but is from shadows land , i create special mood of blacks and maybe someone like that ?

 

This is a work, i am sorry i do not understand well english so i think i must delete my works, someone translate me your message and now i understrand , i use translator as well ,

 

http://1x.com/photo/451710/all:user:257429

http://1x.com/photo/448727/all:user:257429

 

Dziekuje ,pozdrawiam

 

Thank you Paco! That's what one can take during the winter in the Midwest :-)

Taken this past weekend in Woods Hole on Cape Cod MA. I liked the texture of the building, the shadows cast by the boat and the shadowed entrance below.

 

http://www.1x.com/photo/456767/group:160:all

"The back of a shadow"

 

http://1x.com/photo/459183/group:160:all

I'd love it if everyone who leaves a link could also comment on some of the other photos that have been linked. It does help all the participants!

Morgan and Marley

 

High Contrast was a choice...it was very late in the day....and taken with a cheap lens. :) So I had to add some grain. I hope I have understood correctly that this is about shadows..hence the shadows on his eyes from the cap...and of course all of him..in the street.

 

http://1x.com/photo/461569/group:160:all:admin:21245

 

I have more which I will try to do tomorrow.

Paco,

I love this one...

http://1x.com/photo/72521/group:160:all

 

It is sharp and so well defined..and it has the abstract feeling but a hint that maybe those shadows are making people..:) It is an interesting shot. :)

Phyl

Another favorite of mine is this one...as it looks like a tapestry...you could print this on silk for a beautiful scarf...

 

I hope I am right..it is from Shiwanlin

http://1x.com/photo/455545/all:user:235988

 

Phyl

I agree, the Photo "Broken Shadows" from Paco Palazon is great.

Hi,

 

I'm not finding much time these days to hang around 1x forums, so sorry for late replies.

Thanks for the compliments on "broken shadows". It was one of my very first uploads on 1x more than a year ago now...

 

I like your shot very much Phyl. The one with the guitar player. I don't know, there's some "vibe" coming out of it I guess... can't really explain it but it feels like "a real life moment". Not really a comment on shadows... sorry Mel!

That's ok Paco, I'm very time poor too, and lately 1x is at the bottom of my list of places to visit, sadly!

 

I'm away for 4 days as of now, will check back when I return.

 

I have been so busy lately, but I read this batch, shadows, a few days ago, and shot a shadow on a wall with my iphone, it was fun!

http://1x.com/photo/464952/group:160:all

 

I really missed this group and love the photos for this batch, will have to take some time to look back through some of the other batches that I haven't been able to look at yet. Have a great weekend.

Hi, my first posting to this group. I hope this is on-topic:

 

http://1x.com/photo/467360/group:160:all

Hi Mel,

 

Phyllis invited me to submit a photo here, so I here is a first attempt. Hope I am navigating the site correctly.

 

http://1x.com/photo/468177/all:user:138434

 

I call this image hair lines because the shot is taken in a museum and what is sandwiched between the panes of glass is human hair (I know, gross!). Of course, I was more interested in the great shadows on the wall and floor.

When I first looked at Martin's Surprises I said to myself this was one those images I wish I were the photographer :-) I asked the question if I were to take a variation of this, what I could do to be different. I could think of almost no alternative for the theme, the scene (the girl in flight and the bag left behind), the setup (the multiple barrier/walls and escape routs from dark to light shades) and how all the elements came together in this image. (Even the water stains in the floor seem to be of the shape of a running figure and seem to be perfectly in the right spot of image.) Well at some day I may be able to take one variation of this with only the shadow in flight and the bag left behind it :-)

 

I also like Shadow and Silhouette by Thomas Herren:

 

http://1x.com/photo/429445/group:160:all

 

It was such a mind-twisting image - the intriguingly intertwining of the shadow and silhouette, the well-controlled tones including the blur shadows of the moving branches and the finally the fine composition that places all these together. It had kept me looking at it...

 

The next one I like is The Back of a Shadow by Nihad Omerovic:

 

http://1x.com/photo/459183/group:160:all

 

I like the texture and shades of the screen as the backdrop of the shadow of the hand that is seemingly up to something... I guess you have perhaps resisted the temptation of making this image more contrasty, turning the shadow more gloomy and highlight more bleak...

 

The last one I want to comment on is L'ombre de la chaise by Linda Wride:

 

http://1x.com/photo/449593/group:160:all

 

Evident in many of her images, Linda has keen eyes to look at things in unique perspectives and to compose creatively. This is another example. It's quite gutsy to cut the chair off like that and put it in such an 'edgy' composition with the stark white background. It works. (Not sure though if the almost invisible rectangular shade in the image background was intended.)

 

Thanks for your wonderful input, shiwanlin! I'd love to have the gift of critique, however I really struggle with explaining how I feel about an image!

 

Cheers!

With a week to go for this batch we are rather light on submissions. It it time to emerge from hibernation!

 

Shadows is such a malleable theme that I am sure everybody has something suitable in their archives. Most of the submissions so far are literal interpretations in that they are straightforward pictures of shadows.

 

I apologize for posting links to my own work, but that's where I know to find examples. A shadow can complete the story (e.g. http://bit.ly/VaQB4V), it can mess with the perspective (e.g. http://bit.ly/1bDtASD), it can be a dominant graphical element (e.g. http://bit.ly/1fERnko or http://bit.ly/1bwXkxr), it can suggest that what's going on in the shadows is more important than what's exposed to the light (http://bit.ly/1f1YeCR).

 

There are other interpretations. Do you have a picture of someone who is a shadow of their former self? Of the shadow economy? Of someone or something that's casting a long shadow over something else? Shadows don't exist without light. Do you have a picture that has something to say about that?

 

Let's not be too literal! This is about creativity and story telling. Give us a mystery, something that makes us laugh or think or both. Give us something we haven't seen before!

Hi all,

sorry I disappeared in this batch, I thought I had a few selections on the group and should let other members give it a try but I had a shot today and Martin reminded me the "Shadows"...so this is it :

 

http://1x.com/photo/475254/all:user:249644

 

have a good time Mel :)

Gianni

Hello All,

 

This is one from the archives. It is a light placed under a folding fan-shaped steamer left to cast its shadows on the wall.

 

http://1x.com/photo/475574/all:user:138434

 

I am very impressed with Martin's "Surprises". The enervated shadow gives the scene energy and intrigue.

 

I also like Nihad Omerovic's image, "The Back of a Shadow" for its gritty appeal and mystery.

 

An imaginative collection...

Excellent work those examples on this subject Martin !!!

 

 

One more from me taken with film in 1989 and using a 24mm lens on a Nikon FE..

 

I do not have the negative only the actual photo which is 3x5 inches. (about 7.60 cm by 12..7 probably wrong conversion) Anyhow very tiny

 

I scanned it and converted to B/W in Photoshop. It is not technically grand, but still I submit it - for its shadows.

 

I found the Amalfi Coast the most beautiful drive I have ever experienced. I could live in Ravello!

 

Ravello in the Afternoon

 

http://1x.com/photo/475800/group:160:all:admin:21245

Evan -

http://1x.com/photo/475574/all:user:138434

I like your fan shaped shadow...as it is an excellent abstract also. My wyes can wander and I could try to guess just what I am looking at.

 

Thomas

http://www.1x.com/photo/429445/group:160:all

 

Ilove the high contast, and the bold black shapes. It is dramatic.

 

Thank you for your additional images. I've added a "Shadows" album on my facebook page if you're looking for any more ideas, and also asked if anyone on my friends list would be interested in adding work.

 

https://www.facebook.com/mel.brackstone/media_set?set=a.690139327703254.1073741833.100001215800401&type=1&notif_t=like

 

It's a public page, but you need to be logged into fb to see it, sadly...

 

Evan I'm loving your steamer shadows, Gianni the light is magnificent, and Phyl, I can see why you'd love to live in Ravello. What a beautiful place!

 

I read Martin''s post and went to look for something else.

 

This is an old one.....but I dug it up because at the time it was a Fresh Idea for me.

 

I took a picture of the shadow of an Amaryllises plant.

Then I took a picture of the Amaryllis alone.

 

Then I put part of the Amaryllis over the shadow and blended it in....

Some texture...

 

This is the result.

http://1x.com/photo/475830/group:160:all:admin:21245

 

Will share one thought...

When I first saw it now after many years, I thought..oh wow..it needs more space ont he right there...and then I thought...no..maybe not..that is just what people say...

over and over..put more space around things....and I realized I have become indoctrinated which is antithesis of creativity. So I let it. ;)

 

Martin - if you have seen this before....you were inside my hard drive. :)

 

Phyl

 

Certainly worth visiting, beautiful work Mel, I love it !!!

 

Phyllis, you added some nice textures to the plant making it look like a painting in you recognizable style.

We had enough of this "space in the right" here in Greece (politically speaking) ;)

Gianni

 

Hello,

 

After being absent for a while, I would like to comment on a few submissions...

 

Nihad Omerovic's http://1x.com/photo/459183/group:160:all

This is one of my favorites of this batch. It has a great deal of mystery and I also like the texture of the curtain.

 

Leslie Shurin Caldwell's http://1x.com/photo/397300/group:160:all

This is an unusual processing and it makes me keep looking again and again, and this is good. Although it is very much processed, and the shadow does not look any more like a shadow, it fits the theme very well in my opinion. Especially the kind of "bleeding" into the snow, and vice versa of snow (?) into the figure.

 

Mel Brackstone's http://1x.com/photo/13285/all:user:5092

It is not a "real" batch submission, but merely a "teaser" from the batch curator. However, this is a classical beauty, captured in beautiful light, where the shadow is the icing on the cake.

 

And I would like to add another one myself

http://1x.com/photo/477096/all:user:149724

 

Regards

Kathrin

 

I hope it is okay to keep putting pictures.

 

This is an Oak Leaf on Snow with a heavy shadow...the snow was like ice.

 

I inverted the photo and solarized a part of the top..

 

http://1x.com/photo/477150/group:160:all:admin:21245

This batch is now closed. Mel will post results shortly. Thank you all for your submissions!

Thanks Martin!

 

Stay tuned everyone, thanks for your participation.....

I'd like to start off with a huge thanks to Martin for starting this group, and keeping the momentum going. Thanks for your patience too, Martin!

 

Thanks also to everyone who has participated in the batch. I've tried to keep the gallery batch pure, (if that's the word,) so that only the images mentioned in this thread are shown.

 

Sadly, some of the other images we've seen in this thread aren't shared in the gallery, which makes it difficult for me to include them. Since I'm on such a slow internet, everything takes forever to load.

 

I did note though, that the two images by Evan, and one by Piet were beaut interpretations of the shadows brief, so thanks you two!

 

Special mentions go to Phyllis for her Ravello image, it makes me want to be there, also Paco for his lonely shadow. That's very clever, and is a great example of finding ways to step outside the box! Katherine's "shadows on the wall" is the sort of arty farty blurry image I'm attracted to, so that also gains a special mention, as does Paul's hot air balloon! (Wonderful story!)

 

My four final picks are quite a mix, and I've no idea how they're going to work as a cover image, but here they are, in the order of upload.

 

Thomas Herren's "Shadows and Silhouette" has such sharp lines, good contrast, and disorientating shadows, I can't help but love it. The image draws me in to try and deconstruct what's happening there! Thanks Thomas!

 

Next is Linda Wride's eye-burningly bright "L'ombre de la chaise!" As we've come to expect from Linda, there is wonderful graphic shape and great design. Also, it's very sharp, with fabulous contrast. I even like the off-beat framing, which jars the eye and makes me want to see past the top of the chair. Thanks Linda!

 

Frederic Verhelst's image "The Trap" was next in the upload list. This has such drama built into it! At first glance I thought the woman was just walking aimlessly into a trap set by the invisible person... and that's enough to make me want to know more! With reflection, it seems she's just taking a photo, however while the heart is still racing with anticipation, I still felt that there might just be some danger there after all! Thanks Frederic!

 

Last but not least, Nihad Omerovic's "The back of a shadow" brings more drama and mystery into play. It's a simple subject, but the ominous feel is quite breathtaking! The monochrome works so well to add more feeling to this. Thanks Nihad!

 

I'm honoured to have had this opportunity to curate the batch, it's been quite a good experience, in teaching me to try and see what others see! Shadows have always been a favourite subject for me, so thanks so much for sharing this batch with me.

 

Mel

Thanks Mel, for the time and effort you put into this. I know how hard your Internet connection is. Thanks for the mention...maybe we can meet in Ravello some day.

Congratulations to all those with selections...excellent choices Mel. :)

 

My best,

Phyllis

Mel - Thanks for the effort you put into this. And thanks, everybody, for some very interesting images.

Dear Mel,

Thank you for curating this batch. Congratulations to all the photographers that participated. This was a nice topic. Thank you for the selection of my image "The Trap".

Best regards,

Frédéric

Mel, thanks so much for your topic, shadows, I learned a lot from this batch and look at shadows with a new respect.

It is not an easy task to curate, and must be even more difficult with a slow internet connection.

Could Martin or another member post links to your choices, ( call me lazy :)

 

Thanks again for this batch, Mel. I am looking forward to seeing the banner.

Congratulations to all those selected, great shadows! This was a very interesting topic and I too am now seeing shadows in a new light. Thank you to Mel for curating and thank you to Martin for keeping things new and interesting.

Message to Mel: Thanks for the time and opportunity you gave with this batch and, of course, for your feedback. Compliments to all the contributors for sharing their talents. Best Regards to Martin for leading the way. Evan Oz

Mel, thank you for selecting my image, and I apologize for not participating more (in the discussion) - I somehow struggle with comments... Also thanks to everyone who did commented - shiwanlin, Evan, kahi and others,

and congratulations to the photographers.

 

Regards

 

Nihad

Great selections, Mel! And congrats to everyone who got mentioned. The new banner certainly looks great!

Wow what a marvelous picks and comments Mel! Congrats to all the selections and mentions. (I take some pride in that all the three I commented made Mel's selections :-)

 

Now it's time to jump in Batch 20 and have another round of fun!

Thanks everyone!

 

I look forward to seeing what happens in Batch 20!!!

Many thanks Mel and huge congratulations to all those mentioned....The subject inspired me to put together a set of shadows taken on an iPhone and put them in a Facebook album, just for the fun of it!

 

Sorry I have been unable to be an active member of the group recently - not through choice, just circumstances (we have been preoccupied by flooding and health issues since the start of the year) .

 

Hope to able able to drop by from time to time and contribute whenever possible!

 

Linda

Thanks again, everyone, sorry to hear about the flooding and health problems Linda!

 

Onwards and upwards to corners with Batch 20@

Thank you very much shiwanlin for your appraisal. I feel very honoured to get such encouraging comments.

You're welcome, Thomas, I'm glad you saw the banner before the new batch replaces it!