Mastering Shadow Play in Photography: How Light and Depth Transform a Simple Shot”

Discover how shadows, composition, and perspective can turn everyday photos into compelling puzzles of our world.

Two Chickens. Photo by Matthew Bamberg

All along, I thought the two chickens were the centerpiece of the shot above. I hadn’t studied the shadows. I perceived two dimensions. Then, voilà! I studied the shadows and wondered where part of them went, only to discover steps distorted them.

Shadow plays a vital role in your shots. It can enhance an image, from giving it added dimension to having it communicate added feeling. Shadows can disrupt an image, too. It can get in the way of what would otherwise have been a gorgeous shot. In the cover shot above, look closely. Shadow and dimension deceive. By studying the shadow, you’ll discover the dimension of the shot — the steps — change your composition.

Just as lighting can change from moment to moment, so can shadows. They can disappear when the sun goes behind a cloud, only to come back dark and unruly. Creating a compelling image with shadows takes time and experience, but once you know the tricks like the one described above, it’s easy to t…