Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #152: Shades and Shadows

House in New Harbor, Maine

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 postShadowplay: 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.

Home near Ocean Point, Maine
Shadows fall over the rocky shore and home facing the ocean in Ocean Point, Maine.
Shadows on the library in Castine, Maine
Almost overshadowing the library in Castine, Maine, are the outlines of trees forming interesting configurations.
Morning shadows at Portland Head Light
At Portland Head Light, strong afternoon light casts dramatic, angular shadows

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.

Garden at Newcastle Inn, Newcastle, Maine
Oh, to return to the shadows!

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.

Morning shadows on a dock at Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Almost symmetrical shadow lines led us back to our beach house at Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

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!

Morning shadows at Pawleys Island beach house

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

22 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #152: Shades and Shadows

  1. 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!

  2. 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!

    1. 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.

  3. Rose

    My two favorite shadow photos, sun-up on the oceanside porch and the two white chairs with a view of the Damariscotta River.

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