Project 8: Shadow and Light

The shadow and light project was a great experience in utilizing shadows within photography. Darkness and detail were two aspects that I focused on throughout this shoot. I took one photo shoot in the early morning around seven am, and one at dusk, around six pm. Photographing at this time allowed me to capture the shadows, darkness, and detail that I did. Throughout this shoot, I learned that you have to be careful not to capture your own shadow in the photographs. I learned that the later it gets during dusk, the more of a problem this becomes. Several of my photos were ruined because my shadow was present. In the future I will make sure to pay more attention to this.
Originally, I was not planning on using the photographs from the graveyard for the shadow and light project. When I looked back at these photos, I loved the way these photos captured light and shadow. I think that the contrast between shadows and gravestones is very striking and can be very beautiful. In may of the graveyard photographs I shot, a pattern forms of shadows and gravestones. Sometimes this pattern seems never ending. I enjoy the contrast between the finality of a graveyard and the never ending feeling of these photos.
Several of the photographs I took capture a sole gravestone with flowers in front of it. I took these photos to capture the intimacy of a gravestone. The flowers presented to the dead is a very interesting concept to me. A connection to and a respect for the past are demonstrated by the act of giving flowers to the dead. To me, this was a very peaceful environment.