20 Inspiring Shadow Photos: Welcome to the Dark Side

August 2, 2010 · 16 comments

in Inspiration

We talk about lighting so much in photography that we sometimes forget how shadows can be an interesting subject itself. Shadows can create depth, texture, contrasts, geometric shapes and even illusions. Here are 20 great examples that will have you look at shadows in a different way.

Now along with cloud spotting, there’s something else to look forward to during the day.

Glaring shadows by Yiie

Angles, lines, light, and shadows by kevindooley

Shadow by Rickydavid

Shadow of a Doubt by Daniel Y. Go

Divine Shadow by Rob Overcash Photography (robotography)

Cemetery by andrew.deci

Sombras by André-Batista

Shadows by [jazzalnero]

House of the long shadows by fazen

My shadow on stilts by Jasmic

Broken Shadows by bramanz

Out Of This Shadows, Comes The Light by Toni Blay

The cat and his shadow by * starrynight1

Shadow Balloons Red & Green by trish1380

Shadow on the wall by duesentrieb

Urban Shadows by blackheartking.com (xtyler)

Camel caravan shadow by causalien

Shadow and light by Ferdi’s – World

Shadow Play by ebergcanada

Sunset lamp shadow by tortipede

Tagged as: dark, different, geometric, Inspiration, inspire, light, lines, photo, photography, shadow, sun, unique

Article by

1 part ad agency. 2 parts freelancer. An avid urban photographer, traveler, and streetwear lover. Geeky curator of all things awesome. Sustains on Vegemite, meat pies and lamingtons. Follow me on Twitter or Flickr.

Yi has written 69 awesome articles for us at Photoble

  • Lea

    awesome tips..keep it coming guys! <3

  • Lea

    awesome tips..keep it coming guys! <3

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yi

    Thanks Lea! 🙂

  • Simone

    Lovin’ your collection. Thanks Yiie. 🙂

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yiie

    Thanks Lea! 🙂

  • Simone

    Lovin' your collection. Thanks Yiie. 🙂

  • http://fotosxalvaro.blogspot.com Alvaro

    Excelent work,…

  • http://fotosxalvaro.blogspot.com Alvaro

    Excelent work,…

  • Gravityjack

    Thanks for sharing,i just like it.

  • Gravityjack

    Thanks for sharing,i just like it.

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yiie

    Thanks Simone! If you also have any ideas for our future posts, let us know!

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yi

    Thanks Simone! If you also have any ideas for our future posts, let us know!

  • http://twitter.com/greatgagagod lee harth

    I will have to keep an eye out for shadow shots from now on.They look good.My favorite would be the camels.

  • http://twitter.com/greatgagagod lee harth

    I will have to keep an eye out for shadow shots from now on.They look good.My favorite would be the camels.

  • Pingback: Waxen Media » PB&J shadowed in mystery

  • http://www.facebook.com/SergeBouvet.photographe Serge Bouvet

    About shadow photo :
    In Japan, I discovered the works of Lotte Reiniger. (To see an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxkIGXVwZTM&feature=related).
    I saw some very good cartoons where the shadows made it very
    effectively evoking the posture of the protagonists and the plot was
    more striking narrated.

    So I noted in my notebook December 5, 2006: “Shadow and narration. Photography”…

    One day, I took my camera and I went down into the courtyard. My 5
    year old girl looking for ladybugs and snails in the pile of dead leaves
    that lay along the shed. She wants to give me the benefit of each of
    these discoveries.

    It is by chance seeing our shadow on the lawn that I remembered the work of Lotte Reiniger.

    I came back at home to draw an animal and devil on thick paper. The animal and devil are a
    fawn paper which I drew the outline of a box that I put on a low wall.
    The photo was taken at dusk. The best time to photograph the shadows.More shadow photos : http://sergebouvet.com/blog/2011/06/contes-crepusculaires/
    or in italian magazine : http://photo.rivistahydepark.org/serge-bouvet-2/
     

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