All the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.
Leo Tolstoy
Launching the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week is Ann Christine inviting us to share shades and shadows. With two trips under our belts this year, we’re finding shadows that we didn’t even remember as we review our photos and note them with interest.
Previously, we shared a post — Shadowplay: Castine, Maine — featuring the artfulness of tree branches on white clapboard houses in a beautiful town Down East. But since we’ve recently returned from a trip along Route 1 in Maine once again, we’re sharing more shade and more shadows — like the photo above taken in New Harbor as we walked past it on our way to a puffin tour.
Along the coast of Maine, shadows — long ones, in fact — hover over homes and gardens, along craggy shores, and into the sweetest gardens.



You can only come to the morning through the shadows.
J. R. R. Tolkien
But in Newcastle, Maine, the view from our garden window at the Newcastle Inn revealed a shadowy spot for a New England respite, complete with flowering shrubs and perennials and a lovely glimpse of the Damariscotta River.

At our other favorite vacation spot, Pawleys Island, South Carolina, morning shadows defined the walkway to our beach cottage for the week as light played with the wooden posts, forming a grid of lines and rows.

The brighter the light, the darker the shadow.
Carl Jung
And just after sun-up, those who woke early were treated to shadows formed by the rocking chairs on the oceanside porch. Ah, morning at Pawleys!

Both light and shadow are the dance of love.
Rumi
To see more examples of shade and shadows, head to Ann-Christine’s post here. And if you want to share a post of your own, add the tag Lens-Artists.
Travel in the shadows,
Rusha & Bert
rajkkhoja
Beautiful photography.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much!!! I’m working on my picture-taking skills, but it’s slow!
WanderingCanadians
Wonderful shots to showcase that there is beauty in the shadows. I especially liked the shot of the shadow along the boardwalk.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much. I loved having that dock while we rented the week we were there. Walked out often!!!!
Tina Schell
Terrific shadows Rusha. I love it when the shadow is so distinct you don’t actually need the shadowed item to know the subject. Exhibit A your wonderful rocking chair image! Happy to see our neighboring Pawleys!
Oh, the Places We See
I’d love to be back rocking in one of those chairs right now! Thanks for your comments and for taking a look.
Rupali
Lovely gallery.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much!
JohnRH
Nice selections, all. Excellent. We will do our first trip to Maine this fall. I’m looking forward to it.
Amy
I love this series, Rusha! I’d enjoy sitting there by these flowers… Dance of Love, oh so beautiful!!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much, Amy. Spring is beautiful this year!
Toonsarah
Ah, when I read your Castine post I was thinking that it would have been perfect for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge theme, but now I see that you have more Maine shadows for us here 🙂 However my favourite shot is the one of that walkway to your beach cottage in Pawley – just lovely!
Oh, the Places We See
I thought I’d just stick to Maine but those two shots at Pawleys just leaped out! It’s fun to see what turns up when I’m searching through photos! Thanks for your comments.
kzmcb
Beautiful shadow play on a variety of situations.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks, as always, for sweet comments.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much!
I. J. Khanewala
Beautiful photos. I love that library building in Maine. The sun brings out interesting textures in all your photos.
Oh, the Places We See
Once I got started looking for shadows, I found them in many places. Now I’m more in tune with the influence of sun even when it’s only partially there.
Rose
My two favorite shadow photos, sun-up on the oceanside porch and the two white chairs with a view of the Damariscotta River.
Oh, the Places We See
I agree!! Both chair photos were the best seats for morning views! Thanks for weighing in!
Pat
I love morning shadows. Great photos – especially the last one of the porch. My kind of place. 🙂
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks fir commenting. And oh, how I’d like to sit a spell on that porch again!