Living in the Shadows (5)

I started this little series to honour the living things that exist on the shadows, as I was able to find so many examples where I was. This was absolutely the most striking example. While walking down a path, I came across a series of narrow channels running across the path. I originally thought they were erosion channels caused by runoff, but upon closer examination I was stunned by what the shadows revealed. They were actually paths, worn deep into the ground, by the traffic of ants...thousands and thousands of ants. Each path seemed to go from a colony to a single tree, where the ants would scour the tree for their needs. As I watched this particularly shadowy path (sections of it were actually tunneled under grass), I could see ants returning with seeds, dead insects, ant eggs from other colonies successfully raided. It was incredible! I realized at that moment how truly trivial and fragile humans are on the Earth compared to the the power of the ant.



A close up of the above.

Living in the Shadows (4)

Upon reflection, it is amazing how many living things actually require a shadowy environment to survive. This plant is but one them the many needing this environment. I love the the softness of the moss-like plant in the shadows. So soft.

Living in the Shadows (3)

Not everyone living in the shadows is an animal. Found the mushroom poking out of the ground on the side of a path.

Living in the Shadows (2)

Found this slippery fellow lurking in the bullrushes on the lake shore. Fortunately, he decided to leave the shadows and enter the light, perhaps looking for food.

Living in the Shadows (1)

A toad taking a break in the shadows. The Toad's skin againts the sand and in the mottled shadows made it almost invisible.

Shadow Waters

While looking for shadow gems, it is so easy to over look the more obvious finds. In this case, the ripples on the lake, taken from the end of the dock. When I look at this video, I find the ripples mezmerizing.

Shadow Waters (Whirlpools)

Hidden in the shadows of the bridge, the whirlpools wrapped around the support. The sound is subtle and gentle, broken by the swallows annoyed by my presence.

Shadow Waters (Spillway 2)

This was the second video from inside the spillway. It was fantastic. I felt so alone and special watching the shadows of the falls flicker across the wet rocks, with the mist blowing against me.

Shadow Waters (Spillway 1)

The first of two videos I took after climbing under and behind the waterfall of a spillway. Treacherous, but worth the risk! These videos were neat because I was in the shadows of the spillway and water shooting out. And the sound is wonderful!

Shadow Grass

The softness of the dried grass overlayed by the shadows of other grasses creates a soft, natural beauty. I found it very soothing.

Shadow Playground (Swing)

I started with simple stills, but am increasingly fascinated the incorporation of movement and sound. Shadows are not always quiet!

Shadow Playground (Slide)

I love the shadow of the leaves on the polished surface of the slide. Unique.

Shadow Playground (Monkey Bars)

Came across a playground set in the trees. I wondered what shade creatures played here when the humans were away.

Shadow Train

While driving I came across a huge lone of grain cars. The were lined up for kilometres by the grain elevator in a small town, waiting for the harvest. The line was broken only by the occasional road crossing. I took the picture showing the train and its companion...the shadow train running beside it.

Railway Tie

I love the subtle shadows of the grass crossing the railway tie. So many lines. The whole section of track was graced this way.

Shadow E

A friend's shadow. It is amazing that even though there are no details in a shadow, the outline alone allows me to know whose shadow this is. It still reveals shape and outline.

Light passing through the plastic bowl revealing the contents inside.

Life Inside the Shadow

I think this is one of my most amazing photographs/finds to date. A planked sidewalk, with the shadows covering everything underneath. The exception was the light allowed in by the knothole. It allowed a tiny column of light through the shadow and at the end of it a plant was growing. Amazing!

Strings

Another texture picture. The shadows are from the strings used for holding the beans up in the garden. They look nice on the red wall's colour and texture.

Shadow Contact

Separated by the length of the bridge, it felt good to know that my shadow kept my friend and I connected. It really made my shadow feel warm and reassuring.

The sun low in the sky made our shadows incredibly long. I loved the transition from asphalt to gravel and the sound that our "shadow feet" made

Shadow Walkers

The sun hanging low in the sky made our shadows incredibly long. I loved the transition from asphalt to gravel and the sounds that our shadow "feet" made.

Shadow Reflections

The shadow of the the bridge and riverbank caused the shaded water to reflect my image, with the whirlpools along the bank providing a unique take on the shadows impact.

Shadow Traveller

The shadow of the van traveling down a gravel road gives the appearance of some great hulking shadow beast moving at speed through the grasses. I find it a bit eerie, even during daylight hours.

The Hook

This is the harshest shadow I have seen. It seems cold and violent, like some kind of medieval polearm that was good at what it was supposed to do.

Kaleidoscope

A chance encounter with a coloured shadow. Breathtaking in colour and pattern.

Burial

It seemed that the tree was laying its dead branch to rest by covering it with it's shadow. It seemed so caring and peaceful.

Dreamcatcher

The shadow of the leaves and branches forms a natural dreamcatcher pattern on the cobblestones. I think it is so beautiful.

Fern

I love the soft/exoskeleton contrast that the fern shadow provides

Branches

The pattern defies any sense of the true origins of the shadow. View "Shadow Embryo" posting for a true appreciation.

Inner Shadow

I wonder what lives just inside the shadow?

Face

The shadow of the glasses forms a striking enhancement of the face. Beautiful.

Thermostat

The angle of the shadow forms a hanging basket from the thermostat. I love the geometry of the juxtaposition.

Carpet 2

I love the texture that the carpet gave the shadows and the complexity of the criss-crossing shadows. A web of metal shadows.

Carpet

I love the texture that the carpet gave the shadows

Stairway

The contrast of glass and beam shadows broken by steps

Hardwood

Table

I love the layering of the darker shadow over the lighter on the table top. A water-colour of shade.

Grill

The pattern of the grill work affecting the shadow is beautiful in its intricacy.

Shadow Embryo

I took this video in my bedroom. The shadow was on my closet door. It is actually a shadow of the cedar branches outside of my window blowing in the wind. Dark magic!