When shooting this image I needed to choose between exposing for the shadows or the highlights. I chose to expose for the highlights. By choosing to expose for the highlights, half the image is in the dark shadows, giving the image a feel of mystery. However, I was not expecting what I felt when seeing this image on my monitor. The shadows seemed to be the only thing I could focus on. It asks the questions: What is in the shadows?
Here’s one answer to that question. The arrow is pointing my heart towards the shadows. Within those shadows are life’s risks, the unknown, my doubts, fears, insecurities and my wounds.
For years I told myself, and believed, I was not good enough to be a photographer, or writer or whatever else I dreamed of pursuing. Always in those shadows were the desires and dreams to be more, a voice whispering in my soul.
We only venture into into the shadows when we listen to the inner voice, and with whatever courage and faith we have, discover what’s there. If you were to step into the shadows of this image you would find a recessed door to the back of a restaurant. For me the door symbolizes the opening to new opportunities, more doors.
Yes, walking into dark shadows can be frightening to me. It requires a risk and accepting all the many lessons to be learned. Lessons improve my craft, build confidence and encourage me to venture into even more shadows.
I just may have to go back and shoot this image to expose for the shadows. Could be another lesson. 🙂
“We all have the dark, ignorant shadow inside us. I have worked endlessly to reveal it and heal it in me.” Anne Lamott
10 Comments
Steve Skinner
I agree that many of life opportunties reside in the shadows!
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Steve!
Tom Dills
I’m attracted to the mysteries that lie in the shadows. I like this because there is just enough detail to know that there is “something” back there, and it provides a bit of assurance that it isn’t scary. And something about that heart at the back of the arrow adds a little whimsy to the whole scene.
Monte Stevens
That’s pretty much what I saw and felt. After a short time I connected my shadow side to the shadows. Thanks, Tom.
bill stothers
Excellent post, and an invitation to us all.
Monte Stevens
Thank you, Bill.
Cedric Canard
Monte, I have liked many of your photos over the years but this one trumps them all (a pun on the three clubs to the one heart 🙂 ). This is the kind of photography I like over any other genre. The kind that provides room for abstraction which in turn engages imagination, memories and emotions. As always, I looked at the photo for quite some time before reading your post in order to let my own feelings for it emerge without influence. However, I found your words fascinating, both for their depth and heartfelt meaning, and for their divergence from my own thoughts triggered by your image.
Where you see the shadows as “frightening”, I saw them as a safe haven, the place where there is no need to shine, no need to be bright, no need to stand out. Love (depicted here by the heart) thrives in the light but stepping out there, into that light, heart on your sleeve so to speak, in full view of everyone, that takes courage, strength of character and something akin to faith. Interestingly, your interpretation and mine, while coming from opposing views, result in the same meaning. Hence my fascination.
Anyway, I won’t bore you further but will leave you with a passage that your picture, with its starkly defined division between light and dark, reminded me of; a part in Marianne Williamson’s book “A Return to Love” (often wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela). You probably know it.
“…Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Monte Stevens
Love your comments as they “always” bring on more thoughts and give me another view or perspective on life. IMHO you have a gift of articulating your feelings and thoughts very well. If that inflates your ego just a bit, then so be it. 🙂
I find it interesting how you will spend time looking at images and letting them work within you while I will only do that is the image really stirs me. Otherwise, I move right into the written content.
I like your reflection and now that you “pointed” your view to me I can totally relate to it. As I settle into the image and your words I can see where the shadows can also be a place to hide and avoid the risks. Awesome, my friend!
A while back I found Marianne Williamson’s twitter account and followed her for a short period. Not sure why I stopped because I really liked some of her quotes. I’ve not read any of her books but I do like the passage you’ve shared. In doing some research on her books I was surprised at how many she has put out. And, I completely agree that it is within all of us!
Mark
Nicely written post Monte. I agree there is always something a bit scary but draw to what lies in the shadows. The unknown seems to provoke this in us.
Monte Stevens
Thank you, Mark. It’s interesting how we can be scared and you still want to look.