Weekly Photo Challenge: A Series of Shadows…
“Look round and round upon this bare bleak plain, and see even here, upon a winter’s day, how beautiful the shadows are! Alas! it is the nature of their kind to be so. The loveliest things in life, Tom, are but shadows; and they come and go, and change and fade away, as rapidly as these!” Charles Dickens
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadows - A Shop under renovation at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Take 1
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadows -A Store under renovation at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Take 2
Pike Place Market
Like the changing weather, our lives have their share of sunlight and shadows. Some might see the shadows as those dark nights of the souls; our times of struggle and suffering, and the sunlight as the opposite. I believe both are important to our development and the telling of our stories; for without the shadows, how will we recognize the light?
“No matter how dark the night, somehow the sun rises once again and all shadows are chased away. David Matthew Click
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadows - Side entrance to Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge
Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge, UK
This assignment gave me a lot to ponder. Not only did I have to search through personal photographs for pictures depicting shadows, I had to decide if they had enough light to qualify as a picture for submission. Interesting… How much shadow do we need to see the light? How much light do we get before the shadow appears?
“The other day when I was walking through the woods, I saw a rabbit standing in front of a candle making shadows of people on a tree.” Stephen Wright
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadows - Wall Art; Painted shadow on Street Wall in NYC
NYC
In the short years that I’ve been a blogger, I have met both those who live in the light and those who dwell in the shadows. The anonymous and spammers hide behind the comfort of the shadows, leaving behind clues; sometimes even IP addresses. Those who dwell in the light, stop by to leave a comment or just to read a post and sashay on their merry way; understanding the joy of reciprocity.
“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” Blaise Pascal
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadows - The Underpass at Highline Park NYC
Highline Park, NYC
I don’t mind your anonymity, it’s the hate and strange words that sometimes make me pause… If we could spend this much effort communicating from the shadows, how much greater our efforts will be in the beautiful rays of sunlight. The shadow has its beauty but so does the light. Step away from the dark for a moment and say hello; after all, in both your sunny and shadowy ways, you are, and I bet those who know you say … You are beautiful!
“You can only come to the morning through the shadows.” J.R.R. Tolkien
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadows - On a Walk around the grounds at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck
Omega Institute
If it weren’t for the shadows, we wouldn’t appreciate the light… As a dear friend said to me, we can be at home in both; it all depends on our interpretation. Great point. What does the shadow mean to you? Do you view the world in shadows or in light, or both? what are your thoughts? I’d love to hear from you. Thank you! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: The rays of light seep through the shadows to remind us there is a way through. Seek the way to your goals.
Related Articles
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- Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadows (ceceliafutch.wordpress.com)
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Photo series of scenes depicting shadows in various locations are from my Personal Collection
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I like the first photo best – there are shadows everywhere!
Indeed there are shadows everywhere … and you know, it’s not all bad and they are not all online either. 🙂
Thanks for the visit!
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth
Although not about shadows I enjoy the following words by Leonard Cohen…
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
Me too… You know, I wrote a post on that line as I do love that Leonard Cohen song…. Add it after this comment. 🙂 Thank you for bringing it up and for stopping by. Looking forward to your next post too. 🙂
Elizabeth
Here is the link to that post: http://eof737.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/perfection-not-required-that’s-how-the-light-gets-in…/
A wonderful series of photos with equally wonderful reflections written under each — I like!
Thank you so much Dee. I really enjoyed your shadow photos too. Plus you have a very interesting blog. Will visit again. 🙂
Elizabeth
Can’t decide between the first two. I like the second one because of the architecture but the first one with all the shadows and the light reflection is interesting.
Thanks Eliz for listing my Shadow photo. 🙂
I had the same situation because I loved the picture from Cambridge, UK and just wanted to add that side entrance from the Church… The Seattle shot is truly the winner and now that I look at it again, I’m glad I didn’t delete it… 🙂
Deleting pictures that don’t look quite clear is something I do sometimes when I think a shot is too dark…
Who knew it could be considered artistic? I enjoyed your series of shadow shots too… 🙂
Thanks again for stopping by!
Elizabeth
Love how you include a reflection with each photo. Very inspirational. Maybe I’ll try that with the next photo challenge. AND, thanks for listing my photos 🙂
Thank you for stopping by Cecilia. I’m finally catching up on comments…
The events of the last day have kept me occupied in other ways. I loved your photo. More this week on Home.
Thanks for stopping in 🙂
Elizabeth
“…understanding the joy of reciprocity…”
flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2011/03/05/weekly-photo-challenge-shadow/
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P.S.:
I like that you take SHADOW as a metaphor for writing anonymous!
Let’s be bold enough to walk in the sun:
you helped me to do so …
Thank you Frizztext… You know, I look at the pictures and then I just go with the flow. I wasn’t even thinking of spammers or even the anonymous but as I wrote it, it made sense and I left it in the post…
But yes, I love the joy of reciprocity… Nancy wrote a great piece on 7 things for building traffic and reciprocity was one… Plus, it shows you appreciate the effort the other person is making right?
Thanks again for your support. 🙂
Elizabeth
Ooh, love this post, Eliz.
“The loveliest things in life, Tom, are but shadows; and they come and go, and change and fade away, as rapidly as these!” Charles Dickens
Wonderful quotes, photos, and thoughts.
Thank you Nancy. I loved it too when I saw it. I appreciate your feedback. It was hard to decide…
Thanks for stopping in 🙂
Elizabeth
Beautiful pictures! I like the last one and the quote as well. Life truly is both shadow and light and you need to experience both to live fully.
I keep telling myself I will visit the Omega Institute someday. Maybe I will yet.
Thanks for a lovely post!
Hi Barbara,
You will really enjoy the tranquility and beauty of Omega. it is a serene place and every time I visit, I discover another path, a new plant… precious.
Thanks for stopping in 🙂
Elizabeth
just a quick thank you for sharing your “illuminating” blog- I enjoyed the pictures- architecture is one of my favorite subjects, when out taking pictures. I think I missed my calling, not in photography- I suck at taking pictures, but I love viewing historic and even modern-day architecture. 🙂
Also liked your use of Shadows as a metaphor for those of us who are content to lurk and then move on-I always considered myself a “lurker”, I barely have time to stick with my own blogging regiment.
I’m glad I took time to read this one; it was for me, evidence that my blogs do not go unnoticed as I sometimes believe. I’m sure it will inspire me, when I am blogging, later tonight! 🙂
Hi Stella,
I appreciate your feedback and checked out your store with all the wonderful trinkets in it. I love those hat pins very much as I wore them on jackets and kilt skirts back in the day… I couldn’t find a link to your blog so stop by and leave it for me as i love to reciprocate.
Thanks for stopping in 🙂
Elizabeth
Loved the photos and write up. It has a soothing hynotic flow to it.
I like the first picture most but all show aspects of the shadow.
The highline shot is lovely and I noticed all the human forms in it wjen looking closely.
I suspect it would look richer on a wider photography blog.
B
Bree, I agree that if I had my old template back or a classic photography blog template, the pictures will show better. This blog can be customized but I didn’t go that route… I appreciate the feedback.
Thanks for stopping in 🙂
Elizabeth
My favorite photo, Side entrance to Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge, its a beautiful photo with so much meaning behind it. A reminder we can see the light before our shadows take over.
I really like the quote:
“No matter how dark the night, somehow the sun rises once again and all shadows are chased away. David Matthew Click
You are very talented in your stories, I like detail and you give plenty in only a few words. 🙂
Penny,
I must admit that i really enjoyed this one… I agonized over it for a while but once I decided on photos and the quotes, I was a happy camper.
I love when I find the right quotes… I don’t find them all the time.
I do love the St Mary’s Church shot which I should give one of my daughters credit for… 🙂
Thanks for stopping in! 🙂
Elizabeth
Great discussion on the variety of interpretations between both “shadow” and “light,” not only as words with obvious meanings, but as concepts which can mean so much more than they’re credited with.Lovely photos too, as always!