Shadows
Shadows are one of the most overlooked elements
of lighting. The role of shadows can have as great an impact on a scene
as light itself. Shadows are used to define shapes, enhance contrast,
and give a spatial orientation within a frame. The study of light would
not be complete without a full understanding of shadows.
When we seek shade from the sun, we look to shadows. Someone
standing in the way of our light produces shadows. The city streets at
night have interplay of light and shadows. These are all part of the textured
world. It is this textured world that we strive to recreate in an image.
What is a shadow? A shadow is the interrupted flow of light
rays by an object, thereby producing an absence of light in the form
of that shape upon a surface. The intensity and quality of the light
source determine the density of the shadow. To further our study of
shadows we will look at two categories:
Attached and Cast Shadows
- Attached shadows help us to define an object's shape
and texture. The two spheres are identical. The example on the right
demonstrates a slow falloff in the shadow area thereby giving clues
to its natural shape. The sphere on the left is lit from the front,
no visible shadows. It appears as a flat disc.
In each of these examples, you can see how shadows or the lack of
assist in defining an object. The visual impact can be greatly enhanced,
creating a more dramatic effect.
Stop a moment and look at your hand. Notice how the shadows wrap around
allowing your eye to decipher the curvature and texture of each finger.
The direction of a light, the density of the shadow gives us points
of reference. They have a psychological and emotional impact on a
scene. Attached shadows are as important as the light falling upon
an object.
- Cast shadows assist in defining the spatial surroundings
within a frame. A cast shadow can be attached to an object or separate.
The two frames show the spatial orientation of the sphere.
The cast shadow helps to determine the proximity of the object to
the floor along with light direction. Examine both frames; see how
the shadows assist in formulating a judgment. Frame one has a connected
shadow that grounds the object to the floor. The second frame shows
the height of the object in relationship to the floor.
The cast shadow helps to determine the proximity of the object to
the floor along with light direction. Examine both frames; see how
the shadows assist in formulating a judgment. Frame one has a connected
shadow that grounds the object to the floor. The second frame shows
the height of the object in relationship to the floor.
Shadows can also assist in the area of time orientation. This will
allow you to set a particular time of day for a scene. Look at the
following image.
What time of day is it?
Where is the sun?
Is it high in the sky or is it setting?
This is an example of time orientation. Without any other information
in the frame, we can guess at the time of day just by the way the shadow
falls along the ground.
The influence of shadows has a profound effect on
an image. Learning to use shadows will increase your ability to communicate
and enhance your story telling. The human eye/brain connection has been
conditioned for light and spatial orientation. The brain filters out
extraneous information: Light direction, shadows created. This is referred
to as selective seeing.
Selective seeing is subjective to each person. It is a
filtering out process. One of the main objectives is to broaden your
perception and interpretation of your surroundings. By doing so, you
will begin to utilize your emotional response to a subject and relate
the response within your work. Understanding the way you personally
see the world is the beginning.
