LAPC #198: Light and Shadow

Light and shadow, a symbiotic relationship that Patti’s asking us to explore this week. Without light there is no shadow and I do love both light and shadow.

“The brightest flame casts the darkest shadow.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

The Visitors Center at Saguaro National Park is full of wonderful shadows and you know there’s lots of sun in Arizona to do the light part of creating shadows!

“There is strong shadow where there is much light.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Götz von Berlichingen

You can find shadows inside the house as well.

Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides. ~Junichiro Tanizaki

Light and snow can create beautiful shadow images such as this one taken from a second story window in our home in Illinois.

“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin

And then there are more subtle shadows created by the combination of late spring light and vegetation.

But as attractive as shadows are in these instances, may your week be filled only with light and may the only shadows cast be those that are beautiful.

The power of light

“Not all the wings are made up of feathers my dear. Some are made of glass too.”
― Akshay Vasu, The Abandoned Paradise: Unraveling the beauty of untouched thoughts and dreams

Let’s take one last look at the ultimate group of sculptures on our walk. Notice how the backlighting from the sun fires the beauty of the glass.

“I don’t wish to argue,
whether the glass is
half empty or half full,
as long as what it holds,
is pure and delightful.”
― Akash Mandal

A few grace notes.

“When you look at a piece of delicately spun glass you think of two things: how beautiful it is and how easily it can be broken.”
― Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie

Moving to a different spot adds the interest of shadow.

That ends our tour of the 2022 Chihuly installation at the Desert Botanical Garden of Phoenix. I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip. It’s possible you’ll be treated to some of non-glass sightings in coming days or maybe even a few shots of glass that I didn’t use before. For now, thanks for walking with me and enjoy your Wednesday.

2020 Photo Challenge 18: shadows

I’m joining a new (for me) photo challenge today. Jude combines teaching and challenge at Travel Words, this month with the focus on light, this week looking at using light and shadow.

This week’s assignment – Look for shadows. Strong light, casting well-defined shadows, can create interesting abstract images. Layering light and shadows brings a sense of depth to an image and can convey mystery.

Here are a few of my favorite shadow shots, the first one taken in the living room of our home in Ohio.

This shell on the beach at Cape May, New Jersey had a lovely shadow.

Light and dark

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.
–Aristotle Onassis

Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.
–Desiderius Erasmus

Light and shadow