Photography is all about capturing how light paints a scene. After all, all colour and detail comes from how light hits objects and reflects it back at us, in any given scene.

How the light hits a scene directly impacts its game of shadows. The emphasis and strength of shadows and lowlights in a scene can change how we see and what we take away from an image. 

But how to control and take advantage of shadows in photography?

photo by Hans-wolfgang Hawerkamp

Why is Shadow Important?

As photographers, we aim our sights on the light and how different sources illuminate an area. Too rarely do we take a step back and concentrate on the dark sides of the image. By taking a different perspective on the scene, you can emphasise the strength of the subject, or other elements within the scene. 

Look at how the shadows hit the scene, even before you grab your camera. Place this element as the sole focus of your images for a day, a week, a month and see where it takes you.  Not only will you hone in on those skills, but you’ll also see each scene from a different perspective.

How are Shadows Important in Photography

Shadows Can Change the Meaning of the Subject

Some of my early favourite photographers were those that experimented with lighting and the human body. Photographers, such as Man Ray, commanded light so perfectly, it resulted in the dissolution of the metaphorical lines of the body, leaving a geographic landscape.

With a well placed light source (and a willing subject), you can bend and place the shadows as you wish, creating layers and depths into what was originally a simple scene.. Shadows get the merit for its useful role in creating a new meaning of a familiar subject. 

Photo by Marcel Cristocea

Shadows Fill Negative Space

Shadows play some very important roles in portrait, street and documentary photography. At its most simple, it can be used to fill large areas of negative space. Used properly, you can capture distorted forms and shapes, creating a new narrative, depending on the viewer.

Here, the person’s shadow distorts and extends across the wall in a very fantasy-esque way. Some might read it as a monster and a teenager about to battle, or a boy trying desperately to cling on to his fleeting shadow. 

Photo by Carlo Ferrara

Add Form to Texture

Shadows are the absence of light, allowing shapes and forms of the subject to darken. This can create extremely interesting elements in a scene. You'd have to place the subject between the camera and the light source for the most dramatic effects.

In this case, the texture comes from the water droplets on the umbrella, and the form from the man in the lowlights. The light source floods in from above the man’s head, through overcast weather. By creating the form of the man, you help to create a narrative through a simple yet effective compositional tool. 

Photo by Mobina Eidani

Continue Theme of Contrast

Silhouettes come with harsh sunlight hitting the background, leaving the outline of your subject. They work well in high-contrast landscapes or cityscapes as a repeating theme. Repetition is a huge compositional tool in making your images more important.

Apart from a strong, interesting contrast, you have a well-formed figure to ground composition (described below) keeping your subject separated from the background. Having space there creates depth, allowing the scene to feel more realistic. Having both lowlights and highlights creates a tonal range, adding contrast and interest.

Photo by Nuno Araujo

Figure to Ground Composition

There is a lesser known compositional tool known as ‘figure to ground’ and it helps the photographer to capture a scene where the subject is well separated from the background. This is usually done with a well-lit face on an underlit background. Without the shadow in the background, the subject would lose their facial details and importance.

The contrast of the images can be harsh or soft and will depend on the scene, and in some cases, the shadow area can even frame the subject. The boy in the image is perfectly framed by the shadow, yet still separated from the background powerful figure to ground composition

Photo by Elena Raceala

Show a Different Story

Shadows are a useful tool in emphasising a subject for many reasons. The shadow falls from the forms and shapes, perhaps distorted and disjointed. These malefactions could change the original perspective of the object, withholding the light.

In this example, we see the bones of a dinosaur behind a man walking away. The shadow of the head looks more realistic, covered in skin. This allows the viewer to pick up on the living dino stalking the unaware gentleman. The shadow creates a new narrative layer to an image that has already sent our minds thinking one way.

Photo by Claudio Moretti

Obscure or Hide Important Features

Some elements of a scene are more important than others. Eyes are the most important feature of a portrait. Simply because they communicate with the viewer. To hide them in shade from a portrait scene would be disastrous. But would it? 

Hiding the important elements, you obscure their shape and form. By removing the focal point of the portrait, you help emphasize other areas, such as the lips. You make the image more important because it is hidden. 

Photo by Hamed Khosroshahi

Atmospheric Lighting

With atmospheric lighting comes atmospheric shadows. One could argue, you can't have powerfulness from the light without the resulting shadow. The darker areas obscure the details surrounding the position of the light, placing the emphasis on the lit elements. 

You are in charge of the strength of the shadows, deciding on how much of the detail you want to show. 

Photo by Shahin Khalaji

Emphasize Lines and Shapes

Shadows are by definition an area that is devoid of light. The stronger the light, the stronger the shadows that follow. A scene that shows both very light and very dark areas is a contrasted one, and arranging these elements can be used to generate interest in your scene.

They can create frames to wrap around subjects and place a better emphasis on them. Each element has its own form and shape, which is now brought into play. With a little patience, you can orchestrate beautiful compositions. 

Photo by Eiichi Yoshioka

Add Depth to a Scene

Some landscapes scenes can appear a little flat, and one cause is down to the lack of depth. It feels like a 2D image and not one that feels real. A realistic scene pulls in attention, and it comes from effective use of light and resulting shade.

By having background elements separated by shadows, it gives the impression of distance and space between objects. It's another great way to show texture in a landscape photography scene. 

Photo by Torsten Muehlbacher

Add Helpful Elements

Shadows play an important part of our scenes. We can use the shade and shadows cast by building and structures to break up the scene and add new elements. These elements can be used to help tell a story, or add a sense of humour. 

For attention, there is nothing better than a viewer, dwelling on the thin line between what they see and what they comprehend. The longer they look, the more it will stick with them. 

Photo by Carlo Ferrara

Every image is a mixture of light and shadow, and it is you, the photographer who settles on the ratio, the strength, its stretch and how it affects the overall scene and meaning. The strength of the shadow is what allows or discards details in the darkest parts of the image. 

By playing around with the light, you focus on manipulating the shadows to achieve the look, feel, mood and meaning you want to portray.