Shadows in Focus: Chasing shadows over the mountains in Mallorca
One of the most beautiful sights in Mallorca is the stunning mountain landscape. When combined with the sunrise, it creates breathtaking views; the light from the sun casts long shadows over the mountains and a very warm light.
In the world of photography, light often steals the spotlight, but there's an unsung hero — the shadow. Shadows have the power to become the main subject of a photograph, evoking a sense of mystery, emotion, and intrigue.
Moon over Andratx hills, Mallorca
To capture the stunning moments in southwest of Mallorca, I had to get up early and arrive at the location before the sunrise (around 5:30 am). Having prepared my camera bag the night before I only added water and my coffee bottle and was ready to go. It can be a bit chilly in the morning so an extra layer of clothes is handy.
What was in my camera bag?
My Nikon Z6 camera, telephoto lens Nikkor Z 100-400mm/f4.5.-5.6 and polarizing and ND filter. I almost always have my tripod with me for sunset and sunrise photography. During these magical moments, the available light is often limited, and I may need to use slower shutter speed to achieve the desired exposure and maintain image quality. Landscapes often require using smaller apertures for greater depth of field, especially when I want to capture both the foreground and distant elements in sharp focus. This means slower shutter speeds, which can lead to camera shake if handheld. By using a tripod, I stabilize my camera, ensuring that images are crisp and sharp.
Why do I like using shadows in landscape photography?
We are all hunting light for our captures but I love using shadows too. They create an interesting and dynamic element and sense of depth and drama in photos and they are often use as the main subject of a photo. They create a sense of visual separation between foreground, middle ground, and background, allowing for a more layered composition.
Contrast and Drama: Shadows in landscapes can create a striking contrast between light and dark areas. This contrast adds drama to the image, emphasizing the textures and shapes. When sunlight casts long shadows across the terrain, a whole new dimension emerges. The interplay between light and shadow brings life into even the most ordinary landscapes, creating a captivating image of contrast and textures.
Visual Interest: Shadows can introduce visual interest and intrigue into a landscape photograph. They can highlight patterns, leading lines, or intricate details within the terrain, enhancing the overall composition.
Time of Day: The quality and direction of shadows are greatly influenced by the time of day. During golden hour or the hours around sunrise and sunset, the long, soft shadows can create a warm and magical atmosphere in landscape photography, enhancing the overall beauty of the scene. This is the best time of the day!
Sense of Scale: Shadows can contribute to a sense of scale and size in landscape photography. When a prominent subject or element casts a shadow, it can provide a reference point for viewers to understand the grandeur or vastness of the surrounding landscape.
I used shadow as an important element in my pictures of Mallorca’s mountains. It was not intentional at the beginning but the more I kept shooting and moving around, the more fascinated I became by shadow and its visual scenery.
Shadow and moon over Mallorca hills
Shadow over Mallorca during sunrise
Shadow during sunrise, Mallorca
Mallorca’s sunrise
Sunrise tones, Mallorca
Light and shadow, Mallorca
I have to say it was an absolutely gorgeous morning driving around the hills and seeing Mallorca waking up into another sunny day. Sometimes photographs with perfectly blue sky without any cloud could be a bit boring and than it’s the time to look what’s around us, like shadows. Yes, I had to get up early but it was worth it! And I am an early riser anyway!
See more images from Mallorca on my Travel Photography Collections.
Find your shadow and catchMYzoom!
Jitka
