How to More Effectively Use Shadows in Your Photography

We talk about how to add light and shape it in a scene quite a lot, but as important as that is, so too are the shadows in your photos. This great video tutorial discusses how you can use shadows to create better, more dynamic, and more compelling images. 

Coming to you from Kebs Cayabyab, this interesting video tutorial details some of the ways you can use shadows to improve your photos, and though it is oriented toward street photography, the lessons certainly apply to many other genres. One thing I have always noticed about master street photographers is how they use shadows in a wide variety of interesting ways. Instead of abhorring the often complex patterns of light and shadow present in cities due to the numerous structures, they use them as a compositional tool, where narrow shafts of light provide an effective way to isolate a subject amidst an often cluttered environment. The interplay between light and shadow can be much more than simply a way to effectively expose and render your subject; it can itself become an integral part of the image and lend it a certain mood or convey a desired message. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Cayabyab.