Paris in Shadows and Silhouettes

The Paris Vignettes series features the inspired work of street photographer William “Bill” O’Such in themed installments

One technique I need to use more often in my street photography is incorporating shadows. As a member of Street Photography France, I often find inspiration in other people’s photos, keeping their creative approaches in mind as I wander the streets in search of a new story. Recently, there was a shadow concours featuring some exceptional images.

Shadows are incredibly elusive, appearing and disappearing in mere fractions of a second. For instance, I caught a hyper fleeting moment of a group crossing Saint Germain with their small dog casting an outsized shadow (“aspiration de petite chien”) and a bird making a quick landing (“atterisage”) on the steps of the BnF.

Bikes are among my favorite subjects, especially when trying to capture that perfect moment (“au vélo”) as they speed by (“vélo le long de la Seine”). Another angle is to look upward and appreciate the architecture, like the roofs (“toits de Nation”), kiosques (“Sommet de labyrinthe”), or the interplay of branches and railings (“regardant vers le ciel”).

Still, the best subjects are often people. One memorable image was a couple with their umbrellas reflected on the rain-slicked black sidewalk (“reflets de parapluies”) as they ascended Rue Beaubourg. Another favorite, purely accidental, was of a gentleman walking along the Seine whose shadow (“le futur dans l’ombre”) seemed to reflect an older version of himself.

Sometimes, inspirations intersect unexpectedly. After visiting the Jackson Pollock exhibit at the Musée Picasso, I walked through the Jardin des Plantes and glanced upward to see leaves (“inspiration Pollock”) that echoed the style of the art I had just admired.

That is the art and beauty of photography — where one experience subtly transforms your perspective, making you notice images you might not have sought before.