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Playing with Shadows and Light

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

Playing with Shadows and Light.

When taking photos I love playing with light. Light and shadows. Low-light.

I was at my parents’ house recently and noticed the sun shining in through the blinds leaving strips of sunlight across the carpet. I was watching the light and wanted to do something, anything with them.

I took a few photos but didn’t love what I ended up with.

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

ISO 500, SS 1/125, AP 5.6

For one thing, the glare off of my parents’ TV was distracting, especially with the white wall. I knew I needed something different. I saw the potential in the light but didn’t like what I what I ended up with.  Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

ISO 100, SS 1/125, AP 4.0

I called over my younger son, Apollo. I liked the way the light fell across his face gently curving. But the TV and glare was still an issue.

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

ISO 100, SS 1/125, AP 4.0

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

ISO 100, SS 1/125, AP 4.0

Apollo had his g-tube removed in November. He ended up with a terrible staph infection and it has just recently healed over. I have been wanting to get a good photo of the scar and was inspired by the light. I asked Apollo to removed his shirt and got this shot. I didn’t like it at all. Not only were the stripes distracting but one fell directly over his scar.

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

ISO 320, SS 1/125, AP 4.0

I asked Apollo to turn around so I could get photos of the scars on his back. I wasn’t happy with this image either. You can clearly see one of his scars below his shoulder bone…but the second scar isn’t even visible.

At this point, a cloud moved in front of the sun and the stripes disappeared as if someone had flicked a switch.

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

ISO 320, SS 1/125, AP 4.0

Then I took this.

This is the image straight out of camera. No editing. I went home knowing this was the image I had been wanting to create.

Sometimes playing with shadows and light can create magic!

I converted the image to black and white using my usual method. I took the photo into Photoshop and darkened the background slightly.

To me, this image is magic.

It is exactly what I was hoping for.

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