I have been doing abstract photography since grade 12. For my photos I always pay much attention to the lighting because photography is basically painting with light and shadow. SO the lighting will be crucial to a photograph. The location of light and the brightness, even the color of the light can change the meaning of the photo because they can all create a different looking shadow. Which got me interested in the relationship between light and shadow.

It is not difficult to figure out that light and shadow always show up together because neither of them will exist if one of them is absent. The world we are living in exist because of light and shadow, otherwise we won’t be seeing anything, therefore there will be no need to have eyes. If I go deeper in this direction maybe human won’t even exist and maybe earth will be an empty ball looking thing.

In week 8 I had an idea of making a film based on a poem of light and shadow.

Where there is light, there is shadow,

A world inseparable,

wax and wane with the flow of moments,

Like waves in the open sea.

Where there is light, there is shadow,

Each a beauty in it’s own,

Do not search a world of light without shadows!

Try if you wish but you will not find it.

When you love the light in a person,

You also love the shadow in him,

Like a full moon,

It’s beauty will manifest in the darkness of the night,

and beautiful soft shadows thus formed by it’s golden light.

Like it said, “Do not search a world of light without shadows, try if you with but you will not find it.” In this way, light and shadow is equally important. But are they equally important to human? I believe to most people, the need of light is definitely higher than the need of darkness. However, as an abstract photographer, do I use lights because I need to light or because I need to shadow to improve the visual image of the photo? I believe it also depends.

Myra Cohn Livingston once said that light and shadow can change an everyday world into a world of mystery and beauty.It is not necessary to identify which one is more important, light and shadow, they both have meanings in different ways. People need light to see things but also need shadow to avoid the sun, photographers need light to brighten up the model’s face but also need shadow to make the shape of her face clearer. I need light to show the main object in the photo, but also need to shadow to build up the atmosphere.

The relationship between light and shadow is complicated but also simple. They are the opposite of each other but also the reason why each other exists.

Light and Shadow. (1993). The Reading Teacher, 46(4), 514.