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Dark and Light, Ecuador, Hacienda Guachala Ecuador, Light and Shadow, WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge - Illumination
First Light: Sun-drenched Datura
The WordPress photo challenge for this week is Illumination. The above datura illustrates the dramatic effect of early-morning light. The image below shows the opposite view, which also captures a golden beam of light while the rest of the landscape awaits its turn.
We often associate illumination with man-made objects like ethereal church windows or dreamy night-time settings. Artists often seek the sun’s dramatic light, which creates shadows that are just as important as the light.
Palm Shadows
Light & Shadow Foliage Guaranda Ecuador
Agave – Light and Shadow
Early-morning outings often reward one with classic examples of soft illumination. Late afternoon light can capture calm, dramatic or turbulent moods.
Sunny Light & Shadow
Sunrise – Balboa – Republic of Panama
Dramatic End-of Day Light
Cruzita (Ecuador) Nets
Late Afternoon Whoosh! – Playa Rosada – Nicaragua
Night offers dramatic lighting moments. The calabash lights cast a soft mood over the Palo Santo Cyber Cafe’s lounge area. Street lights also offer great photo moments when one least expects them. A boring arrangement of brooms suddenly transforms with lighting.
Calabash Lights by Luchy – Jama Ecuador
Sidewalk Shadows – Cruzita Ecuador
Soft daylight enhances an old church’s presence. One enters with reverence and basks in the early-morning light. “Here I am,” the church seems to whisper…
Iglesia Nueva – Hacienda Guachala – Cayambe, Ecuador
Art Lessons: Reflected light & Shadows – Morning sun splashes the ancient wall and bounces shadows in all directions. Shadows darken the left side of the pew and the right side of pedestal.
Old Iglesia – Hacienda Guachala – Cayambe Ecuador
Old Iglesia – Hacienda Guachala – Cayambe Ecuador
Dramatic light often begs to be captured. Marie and Enrique trusted me when I asked if they would HOLD THAT POSE!
Enrique – Light and Shadow
Strong Afternoon Sunlight – Dec 23, 2012 – These two brothers wandered into the Cevallos’ corner store and paused just long enough for a photo!
See more samples of Illumination HERE at the WP Daily Post.
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Nice!
thank you!!! z
These are illuminating and uplifting. I love the palm shadows and those last three portraits…strong faces and an artist’s eye.
i’m not surprised that you liked the palm shadows! they really tempt me to a painting/study, though there are so many that tempt me.. tis a nice problem to have!
gracias! z
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A lot of wonderful light, a lot!
thank you! heading to see your post now.. z
Great pics! I love the palm shadows and the lamps…Great job!! 🙂
thanks, carol; yes, the palm’s shadows seem to drip down the wall! thanks! z
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Lovely Z. You have such a wonderful eye! 🙂
thanks amiga! your post today with that amzing image states that you have a great eye as well!!!! z
Muchas gracias! I need to start brushing up on my Spanish if we get down your way this next year.
Beautiful illuminations. The Agave are stunning. The Datura are lovely too in their illuminated state. They are naughty plants here capable of giving hallucinations as well as illumination. Not many people grow them anymore.
i love the datura, even if they are powerfully dangerous. their evening fragrance permeates the air – ahhhh. thankfully 80 percent of the people that visit my place are not aware of its dangers, or they might wonder why i was growing dangerous plants!
i think the agaves will find their way into a future painting.. thanks so much!
lisa/z
Look forward to the agave painting, one day.
thanks! so much to paint.. so little time to paint them all!!!
¡qué perspectivas interesantes! and what lovely photos too! Love the Late afternoon Whoosh: it doesn’t look real! but I’m sure it is 🙂
hey! grrrrrrrrrrracias!
petite playa rosado/nicaragua has amazing wave action when the tide is coming back in. there are countless areas where i go back and forth like a cat trying to catch the elusive mouse! every so often i get splashed, and every so often i get a great shot!
thanks so much for your comment!
lisa/z
Painting with light, such inspiration here! The effects of illumination from diverse angles – you have a sensitive eye!
thanks, but i’m not doing anything that you don’t do/see. when the light is right, wow, the eye doesn’t take a time out! z
Light yes, but must admit i’ve not paid much attention to shadow’s fall and play. I’m taken by your shot of the palms falling on the wall. Love the long lines, and the balance of the shadows, as with the portraits – one’s eye is drawn to the illuminated side, but the image looks softer for the shadows. Perhaps an artist’s eye picks up on the nuance of the relationship of ‘space’ … the inbetween places?
true; one of the tricks to drawing well is to look at the negative space and draw that.. for instance, if someone places their hand on their hip while standing, it’s easy to draw that rectangular negative space.. and then you have a great start for the arm and torsp!
thanks, amiga!
z
wonderful photos
thanks amigos.. your flowers should be really happy with all of this rain! z
Thank you for helping us see the world more clearly through your eyes!
it is my pleasure! thanks, hugh! z
You are a master of light! What an eye! I think my favorite is the shadow of the palm. But, then again, it’s so difficult to choose. 🙂
yes, that palm caught my eye immediately, and i dashed for my camera! thank you, amiga! z
Your images are AMAZING!!! I LOVED the light!!!
muchas grrrrrrrrrracias! most of them are happy images, so important to al of you suffering through winter! z
GIRL YOU KNOW THAT’S THE TRUTH!!! Although it’s still unseasonably warm again!!!
What a great sense of humor you have! z
Well I try to laugh at my self and I asure you I LAUGH A LOT LOL!!!
Palm shadows. Looks like it’s raining off the tips of the palm leaves.
Balboa. Ahhhhhhh. 🙂
the palm photo is unique and makes a great example for teaching about the importance of shadows.
balboa – ahhhhh – you are so right! that’s a sweet area right there on the pacific end of the panama canal.
These are all gorgeous photos and I laugh at myself as the two that attract me most are the nets. As you say – through the eyes of an artist. I have done many prints using nets… so interesting to see the impressions.
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Natural lights are the most beautiful ones – you have proved that thoroughly! Beautiful!
you are a master at light and shadow as well! thanks!
Illumination and enlightenment… Espectacular Lisa!
Un viaje fascinante a través de la luz.
muchas grrrrrrrrrrrrrracias, amigo!
esta semana: sin luz – pero mucho barro y ludo!
Words sometimes fail… Mud is “lodo” 😉
lodo! whoops! thank you so much! so i’m going to post for frizztext’s ‘c’ a few photos of goats..though the books show ‘chivos’ or cabras, the people around here call the goats, chivatos’ or so that’s what it sounds like.
any suggestions?
Z
very entertaining and thrilling entry on illumination! Thanks for sharing such beauty!
i had lots of great material to work with! thank you as well!
Z- You hit this one out of the park! Love this post and your photos! – B
you are so great! thank you! z
What a great interpretation of the photo challenge. I love the playful way you play with light and shadows.
thank you, rosie! those bright lights and dark shadows just jump out at me! a
A tour de force. So many angles and thoughts!
thanks! i could bask all day in those yellow flowers!
I think that photo with the shadow of the plant is unique. 🙂
thanks, zen! yes, it’s unique, as if there’s paint dribbling down the wall! z
Wonderful !
I am lucky to be able to see through your eyes (artist’s eyes, of course), thanks to this blog.
I wish everybody could watch our world, men/women, nature, with such eyes. If so, world would be better ! For sure…..
I do think we should try to adopt your “eyes” and “viewing”, and to share such “eyes” and “viewing” with our friends. This would really make the world evolve in a positive way !
(sorry for my english. I hope the meaning is OK for the readers !!!!!!!)
Helene, from France
Dear sweet wonderful Helene!
Your English is wonderful, and your message is filled with your beautiful spirit. Of course you would see beauty in this post, the same beauty that shines out of you and your always-present smile!
Thank you, dear friend!
Lisa/Z
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…an old church’s presence.
”Here I am,” the church seems to whisper…
🙂
An excellent post. The text is informative and helpful and the photos illustrate the points beautifully.
your photos are always beautiful, louis! thanks! z
Gorgeous Lisa! Love the portraits and the ‘sunny light & shade’ museum (?) shot.
thanks.. i really loved the light that day of the portraits. it’s great when people trust you and don’t get tense for the pose.
z
The play of light and shadow in your photos is lovely. I especially like the light reflected on the net. The wave was also exceptional. 🙂
thank you so much! nets have a way of capturing light, and the challenge for me is to capture that ‘essence.’
thanks for trekking through so many posts!
lisa/z
I love the flora and leaves … fantastic.
the palm shadows continue to inspire me to do a painting like that.. but so many paintings, so little time!!!
Sunrise, Balboa–spectacular!
thanks! almost every time i tip out to that area for sunrise, there’s an amazing photo moment waiting! z
Hi Lisa, love the photos!
You have such a touch! The Panama water scene and agave really stole my heart! Keep up the lovely work! Susan
thank you very much! i’m glad you enjoyed them! lisa