Sunlight and shadows

It takes sunlight to make shadows, but here in the Northeast we haven’t had sunlight much in the past couple of months. So instead, we have photographed using “God’s softbox.” Photographers use “softboxes” in the studio to spread light over a subject to eliminate or soften shadows. Clouds and overcast skies are often called “God’s softbox.” After all, clouds diffuse or soften light from the sun to eliminate or soften shadows. In the studio, it’s an accessory that we can control, but in the sky, we have no control.

Direct sunlight helps us see things more clearly, and when we use it as backlight, it helps us see through things to reveal details that we didn’t know existed. But it also causes objects to be defined by the shape of their shadow and doesn’t allow us to see what’s inside.

People are the same way. Some like to be lit directly for all to see. Others are like some of these backlit leaves, transparent for all to see what’s inside. Still other people like to hide in the shadows, some out of fear or insecurity, or perhaps like the leaves, they are all doing the same thing but don’t want the attention that results from being in the light.