The Power of Shadows in Visual Storytelling

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We talk about light a lot, but what might be even more important to discuss is what light creates: shadows. When photographers refer to how dynamic light can be and that we continually need to be aware of the light around you, what they’re actually saying to a great degree (knowingly or not) is: look for how light hits your subject and how subtle or overt the shadows are pronounced as they’re cast by that light.

Shadows speak powerfully. For photographers, it’s nice to know exactly what they’re saying. Deep, dark shadows are typically perceived as harsh, mysterious, or masculine, while soft, wrapping shadows tend to say the opposite. While these are the extremes, the truth of the matter is that shadows (in variations ranging between the two extremes outlined in the earlier sentence) work in conjunction with the image’s content in order to convey a particular mood for the shot.

Take for example the image of the old Scottish cemetery above. That day was like any other Perthshire day: overcast and damp. Overcast days provide fairly even, soft lighting with minimal shadows. However, under the low trees in the cemetery, the shadows were more pronounced, and they became deep enough to push the extremes of the camera’s dynamic range. Even though the graves were all old, the age of the headstones increased the more they got closer and under the trees. The gnarled, lichen-covered stones were stained over the years to an even darker color, and underneath the trees, they took on a dominatingly sinister look. The dark, moody shadows under the large tree’s canopy leant the image a greater emotional appeal.


The same could be said for this image of some dagger-like lechuguilla. The plant itself is as rigid as a tree rooted in the ground, and it is sharp enough to pierce through thick leather. At a height of 12 inches, it is certainly not a plant into which you would want to fall. I lit this image with a hypersynced flash and a very fast shutter speed in order to knock all the ambient light out of the scene. This allowed the deep, directly lit shadows to fade to black quickly, and the plants themselves look even more menacing and dangerous.


Let’s not forget how shadows fall on people as well, and what those shadows are saying. Although the darkness of the shadows is evident in the portrait above, the amount of the subject’s face that is covered in shadow helps dictate our perception of the person. A sandstorm was raging behind the subject, and I wanted to use the muted sky as a relatively muddy background. The shadows cast by the small softbox were large, and even though there is plenty of detail within them, the physical real estate they cover on her face sends a dark emotional message to the viewer.



Shadows are important to keep in mind when you are trying to represent an individual appropriately in relationship to their personality. In the case of the image made during the sandstorm, the dark shadows, combined with her facial expression, do not really speak to the subject’s normally easy-going, energetic mood. Working with models is one thing, but if your goal is to show your subject in the same “light” that they appear to others, make sure your shadows help you convey the same feelings. The image of Kippra Hopper, an art writer in West Texas, uses rather soft light with very soft, highly detailed shadows falling to camera left. Everything in this environmental portrait speaks to the person that Kippra is in many ways, including the shadows. If they were hard-edged and very dark, the image would take on a completely different visual nuance. Instead, they visually deliver a feeling of comfort and non-conflicting engagement with the writer—very much the characteristics I think even she would use to describe herself.

Shadows are very important. They’re the reverse product of light, and when we begin seeking strong, vibrant, and dynamic light, there’s no doubt that the associated shadows are just as important to consider when shooting. Shadows are very emotional, and they speak to image viewers. Attention to shadows is one more step toward becoming versed in how light (and everything that goes along with it) operates and allows us to conduct our work as photographers and storytellers.








Image Specifications:

Scottish Graves:
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L
Aperture: f/1.4
Shutter Speed: 1/400th of a second
ISO: 100

Lechuguilla:
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Lens: Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L
Aperture: f/3.5
Shutter Speed: 1/2000th of a second
ISO: 50
Flash: Canon 580EX w/ Pocket Wizard radio transmitter and receiver

Sandstorm Model:
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125th of a second
ISO: 100
Flash: Canon 580EX w/ Pocket Wizard radio transmitter and receiver
Modifier: Westcott 28-inch Apollo

Kippra Hopper:
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/80th of a second
ISO: 400
Flash: Canon 580EX w/ Pocket Wizard radio transmitter and receiver
Main Light: Scrimmed window light
Fill Modifier: 60-inch shoot-through umbrella



Written by Jerod Foster - www.jerodfoster.com