by Editor Jacob (Jian) Xu
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 19^th of September 2025 

‘We are here waiting for you’ by Shenshen Dou

The word 'photography' comes from the Greek words 'phōs' (light) and 'graphé' (drawing), meaning 'drawing with light'. This etymology reveals a fundamental way of thinking: that light is the essence of photography. It's clear where this idea comes from. Without light, a photograph is meaningless. Light reveals form and colour, sets the mood and defines the atmosphere.

Understandably, most photographers focus primarily on mastering light, learning how to apply it best to highlight subjects, balance intensity and control direction.

However, light alone tells only half of the story. Shadow has equal power. It is shadows that give an image dimension, presence and balance. Without them, photographs often appear flat or lifeless. They create depth and space, sculpting and contouring the scene to hide or highlight elements.

By using shadows intentionally, a photographer can influence how an image is perceived, invite interpretation and add mystery. Sometimes, revealing less can be more powerful. Understanding how light and shadow interact, and learning to harness them purposefully, opens the door to more powerful photography.

Through a collection of photos, we will explore several approaches to using light and shadow, including well-known high-key and low-key techniques, strong contrast, subtle transitions and the emotive force of directional lighting. Each method has the potential to transform an image from mere documentation into something more poetic and evocative.

High Key & Low Key Imagery
High-key and low-key lighting lie at opposite ends of the tonal spectrum, evoking distinctly different feelings.

High-key photography is characterized by a predominance of bright tones and minimal shadows. Images in this style often appear clean, soft and ethereal. The tones convey joy, openness, simplicity and a dreamlike quality. Subjects are evenly illuminated, creating an overall effect of lightness in both tone and mood.

‘Tenderness’ by Chris Latham

‘Blue silence’ by Jose Beut

‘ZEBRAS’ by Juan Luis Duran

‘Lovely Morning Dance’ by Fauzan Maududdin

‘Cold Angel’ by Henrik Delfer

By contrast, low-key photography is centred on darkness and negative space. Deep shadows and controlled highlights dominate the composition, creating a sense of drama, intimacy or mystery. The mood is often more intense and introspective, encouraging viewers to take a closer look and interpret what is hidden from view. In low-key imagery, what is not shown can be as powerful as what is illuminated, leaving room for the viewer's imagination.

Both techniques demonstrate how tonal control can influence not only the appearance of an image, but also the emotional impact it has on the viewer. Importantly, shadow is not merely the absence of light. It is also a design element, a narrative device and a creative force.

‘Lovely Dawn’ by Marek Boguszak

‘Mom bear with cub’ by Xavier Ortega

‘Rivero’ by Jose C. Lobato

‘White queen in the dark night...’ by Thierry Dufour

Strong Contrast
Strong contrast is an eye-catching visual style that relies on pronounced differences between light and shadow. When used effectively, it simplifies the visual field and strengthens compositional clarity. Shapes become bold, subjects stand out powerfully against their backgrounds and the viewer's attention is drawn with precision.

Contrast can convey tension, movement or decisiveness. It can also isolate moments, enhance abstraction or impose order on chaos. In street photography, for example, strong contrast can capture fleeting gestures in hard midday light. In landscape photography, it can render dramatic skies or crisp silhouettes. Regardless of genre, high contrast enables light to create strong visual statements. Shadows play a central role in amplifying this impact, acting as the darkest reference point in an image.

‘Light illuminating the stairs’ by monkichi

‘Virtual capture’ by Giorgio Pizzocaro

‘In company’ by Yuan Su

‘Sand Dunes 3’ by Aidong Ning

Subtle Transitions
Whereas contrast is assertive, subtle transitions between light and shadow provide a gentler, more nuanced expression. Such gradations often occur in soft light, on overcast days, in shaded environments or in scenes lit by diffused window light.

Such transitions create a sense of atmosphere, depth and tranquillity. They suggest rather than declare, enabling viewers to linger, explore and absorb the tonal complexity of a scene. Rather than directing your attention to a single focal point, subtle light invites participation and draws you in.

In these images, the shadows are usually neither hard nor dramatic, yet they remain essential. Even the softest shadow gives shape and structure to a scene. In these photos, notice how the shadows reveal the contours of the subject with quiet elegance while directing the eye to other parts of the scene.

‘Waiting for love’ by Kalynsky

‘Confrontation’ by Jun Zuo

‘No.507’ by ADIREK M

‘On Wheat Fields’ by James Lu

Directionality & Emotion
The direction from which light enters a scene can dramatically shape its emotional tone and narrative power. Whether side, back or front lighting is used, it can emphasise texture, contour the subject or isolate elements from the background. A shaft of morning sunlight breaking through trees, for example, can evoke serenity. A backlit portrait might feel romantic, nostalgic or intimate.

Similarly, the shadow cast by directional lighting can extend this effect. Alternatively, the shadow can contrast with more diffusive shadows. Whether used to frame, obscure, balance or guide, shadows have the power to deepen meaning and lead the viewer through the image intentionally.

‘Morning Egret’ by Michael Zheng

‘Jacobs ladders’ by Hilda van der Lee

‘Thorns’ by Kovács Levente

‘The Japanese Tree’ by Javier de la Torre

‘After Snow Storm’ By Mei Xu

Conclusion
Light and shadow are more than just technical tools. They are the brushstrokes of photographic art. Light reveals and shadow conceals; together, they shape emotion, depth and meaning. The finest images are not defined by perfect exposure alone, but by how skillfully these elements are incorporated into the composition. A shadow can be as expressive as a highlight, directing the viewer's gaze, evoking memories, and prompting them to imagine what lies beyond the frame. In this way, photography transcends mere documentation to become something timeless — the art of shaping perception through the interplay of light and shadow.

‘Play in the rain’ by sherry ma

‘Composition in the nature’ by Mihai Jeic

‘In the evening’ by Eiji Yamamoto

‘zebra’ by Fengying Long

‘Peace and Quiet’ by Elizabeth Allen

‘The red umbrella’ by konglingming