Shadows in Photography | Just a few more

In January my spotted photo theme was “shadows” and this is my third blog post on the subject of finding shadows in your photography (spotting it as in finding it in photos you’ve already taken and sharing those older photos with us). You can read more about the idea of the blog challenge linked below, and join the February theme which is “pairs”. I will just share one blog post for this month because I don’t think I have as many photos tagged “pair” that I love, but I am definitely going to keep this word in my mind and look for more pairs in my surroundings, to photograph this year.

But how about shadows? Maybe I like them so much because they appear clearer when the sun comes out and I love the sun, and miss it when it’s a no-show for days. Or maybe it’s just the fact that I like abstract art, and the shadow is like an abstract copy of reality. A carbon copy, a little darker but still evidence. Or maybe it’s the fact that there’s so much beauty in the sharpness of a good shadow, and I like a stark contrast. I love black and white patterns and photography. Love anything bright against white. Love a good contrast between light and dark, between good and evil (when it comes to stories, not in real life) and when it comes to photography I am obviously a sucker for shadows, as we’ve seen already this month. So a few more can’t hurt, can it?

My first one is a recent photo from my kitchen, or rather a diptych of two photos because I wanted to show you what was casting the shadows as well.

Yes, one of the neon pink planters from years ago still hangs in the window, and the big plant from my grandmother’s estate that was not doing great this year, is starting to shoot out little new leaves again. Is that a sign of spring, perhaps? One can only hope.

Then coincidentally I found this photo, that I wouldn’t say is a obvious “shadow photo”, but I still love the shadow that the different dogs cast (especially the head of the tiny dachshund):

This is my tiny dollhouse dog mama with her puppies (playing with a torn shoe) and a plastic dachshund that are smaller than the puppies. I think I was documenting a bunch of smaller toys that I found when going through stuff from my parents attic) back then. I took photos of them before creating a shadow box (!) that I filled with tiny things from my childhood, for my bookshelf.

January’s theme: shadows in photography

Speaking of dog photography…

This is from a kitchen floor at work, from about a thousand years ago:

Definitely more of a photo where I wanted to document something right in front of me where the shadows were in the way of my subject, you know? But for this theme and as a interesting photo I think it works, even though as a puppy portrait it’s not that great. Only one of the paws is in the sun, and the rest of the puppy is quite dark. But OMG… he was cute, and such a great distraction from getting anything done by the computer as far as I can remember. I love “dogs at the office” as a concept, but they’ve never really helped me concentrate. I’d rather sit on the floor and play all day than to hide away behind my screen when there’s a dog around. I know I am at a place of work, but I simply revert to my old, undignified 12 year old self that couldn’t get enough of puppies.

I forgot to share this shadow selfie in my previous blog post on seeing myself in the shadows:

Last but not least, another favorite shadow photo. This one, from a walk a few years ago:

Wishing you a beautiful February month, with lots of creative adventures, art, craft and joy.

xo

This is iHanna’s Spotted Photo Theme Blog challenge. 2025 themes are, January: shadow (selfies | bonus) | February: pair | March: round | April: Yellow | May: Repeating (pattern) | June: Treassures | July: Toys | August: Vintage | Sept – Dec: to be announced, suggestions welcome.

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Ongoing photo project

Photography in found themes 2025