most shadow hunters know i enjoy taking walks around the small town where i live looking for shadows and reflections. there are so many different environments in a very small area. on top of that are the seasonal differences and particularly for shadow enthusiasts, different times of day. the sun never gets directly overhead because we are close to 60 degrees north. nonetheless in the middle of a spring day the sun is high enough to reveal shadow patterns that were not possible to see in the winter
here in the old military area there is a canal with a very nice old wooden bridge. below and beside the bridge are docks which extend partway out into the canal.
these shadows are from the dock, not the bridge itself. while it is easy to focus on the white lines, the shadows are of course the darker areas in a figure-ground relation.
where the shadow falls on the clear water we can see down to the bottom of the shallow canal with all the algae growing now that the ice is gone and the sun is stronger
and the area where there is no shadow we get a nice reflection of the trees and the banks of the canal. i love how the lines of the light and shadow are continuously changing with just a hint of breeze. compare this photo to the top one.
on the right a ripple has started from water dripping through the dock which runs the full length of the canal
zooming in gives a better view of just how contorted a line of light passing between the straight boards of the dock can become
and of course the shadow becomes equally writhed
while these next clicks are taken with a setting on my lumix called impressive art, none of the photos are edited in any way.
this next shot is my contest entry.
as the water surface becomes more still a wave of thankfulness passes through me as i have found such beauty in this simple unexpected and overlooked place.
here's a few monochromes for those allergic to color
images such as these have played on the water for over two centuries.
sepia photos like these last ones could have been taken more than a century ago
but i wonder how many through the years have taken the time to stop and take a closer look. i am glad i have.
