Lens Artists Challenge #152: Shade and Shadows

Before Ann Christine posted this challenge, I hadn’t thought of the difference between shade and shadow. But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered whether we sit in the shade of the tree or the shadow cast by the tree! Here’s a definition I found on line, “Shade is the darkness of an object not in direct light, while shadows are the silhouette of an object’s shape on another surface. Created by the same light, shades and shadows react differently, and both influence how one perceives space, color, and feeling.”

Here, some trees cast their shadows to give us shade!

This is building situated so it casts shade.

Here mushrooms grow in the shade. As the sun almost intrudes.

In these examples, shadows create patterns. We photographers love patterns!

Lastly, the sun helps two buildings to cast both shade and shadows.

So which comes first, the shadow or shade? Only the sun knows. Thanks Ann Christine!

18 thoughts on “Lens Artists Challenge #152: Shade and Shadows”

Love how you capture the patterns in shades and shadows. Glorious trees, and the lovely mushroom. 🙂

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Anne Sandler says:

June 13, 2021 at 7:14 pm

Thank you Amy!

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I like your exploration of shade and shadow. And thanks for giving the definitions as well!

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Anne Sandler says:

June 14, 2021 at 7:43 am

Thanks Anne! And you are welcome for the definition. I needed it!!

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Ann Christine got me thinking about the difference between shade and shadow too but I didn’t get around to searching out a definition, so thank you for that 🙂 You’ve chosen some very appropriate images for the theme – I especially like the mushrooms and the Sacramento waterfront.

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Anne Sandler says:

June 14, 2021 at 7:39 am

Thank you Sarah! It was a fun theme to do.

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Clever girl to look up the definitions! That mushroom photo is my favorite – patterns, shapes, abstractions. Great perspective.

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Anne Sandler says:

June 14, 2021 at 7:42 am

Thanks -N! I still think shade and shadow are used interchangeably. We say we sit under the shade of the tree not the shadow of the tree. But in reality, the tree does cast a shadow. I suppose the shadow creates shade. We could go on forever!

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1. -N- says:
  
  June 14, 2021 at 8:29 am
  
  I agree with you – nitpicking words can be fun, but also ridiculous!
  
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Beautiful photos. My husband always corrects me. He is native speaker. I find it hard to guess right.

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Thanks Alessandra! English is a tough language. Many words have different meanings. We are all guessing!

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-N- It’s basically which came first, the chicken or the egg!!

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In putting my response together, I hadn’t contemplated the definitions of the difference. Thanks for sharing, I found it quite clarifying.
Prior to reading your post, I might have said that I don’t know the difference between shade and shadow, but I know them when I see them. >grin<

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