Light & Shadow

Ultimately light and shadow are all that photography is about, it is used to convey many aspects of photography as well as the overall image. Light and shadow itself can be the whole image such as this spring afternoon shot of shadow branches on a wall. It makes a balanced shot overall with the brighter negative space to the left and odd numbers keep to the composition rules with smaller shadows providing texture to the surface.

This shot of Constitution Hall in Philadelphia as all about light and shadow, first it creates a frame to direct our attention, then provides shapes throughout the image bringing depth and added interest to the shot.  

Three differing shades behind this rain spotted window makes an interesting image on a murky day in London, England.  A wide aperture removed the detail from the background and each raindrop mirrors the dark lower layer providing depth to a very simple image. 

Light and shadow provides numerous way to manipulate the eye through an image, your eye will always be drawn to the lighter areas first so it's important that your main topic is in the brighter area of the frame. The gallery below shows examples of light and shadow leading you in different ways through a frame.