Embrace your Shadows: A lesson for Light and Life

I'm fascinated by the wisdom and depth in this piece. A book with similar subjects inspired a new journey of growth and self-discovery for me. "A Life Unplugged: Reclaiming Reality in a Digital Age" by Theodore Blaze

Something that I've also taken to heart is that it's okay to blow your highlights. Usually this is with backlighting or bright sky, I let it blow to pure white. This would be for a very light and airy picture, almost the opposite of your style.

I think one of the key takeaways is don't be afraid of what you can't see. Just like you can line up your camera to choose what and what isn't in your frame, you can use light and shadow to push insubstantial parts of your image to nothing.

Great video - as a serious amateur photographer and a retired Ph.D. psychologist I can appreciate this on both levels. I don't know how I missed this video when you made it years ago, but I was so glad to discover it today. Thanks - it is really terrific!

Thank you Sean, love your lectures. Best to you!

All time great and extraordinary ❤

Excellent, Sean… thank you 🙏

Wow, thank you, I was blessed professionally and spiritually by this ❤

I LOOOOOVE THIS VID

I took a photography class once with a teacher whose only hard rule was "no pure black in the image." It was great fun shooting entirely high-contrast, minimalist black and white photos for that class. The teacher ended up asking me to show my work in her gallery after the term ended so I like to think that I got her to let go of that hang-up

I love this video!!!I am a fan of shadows and light, and I see many people want to have light everywhere and just forget that a shadow will give something, something great! and that we do not need everytime all the time, light!

This was inspiring all the way through thank you 🙏🏾

Yep, that is what I do. Messing with low ASA (100) adds to the fun, meaning the shadows remain soft without grain.

I love your thoughts, observations and keen insight into life and photography. Thank you!

When you said at the end the only times in our life we are really growing and changing are in dark times. I'm not afraid to admit I had a good cry. My mental health has been a struggle lately, so it hit hard, in a good way. Thank you, from a fellow photographer. Your videos are outstanding.

you have no idea how much this has help me both in my life and in this new photographic trip I'm on thanks

Every year I find myself watching this video 🥺

I needed go hear that tonight. Thank you.

Wow. I don’t think I can say anything more than the comments here already say. I found you by accident but have enjoyed your videos so much more than the ‘buy this lens’ merchants we are bombarded with. I came to learn how to make better images (and I have) but I’ve also learned some philosophy, found Fan Ho and gained life lessons and. You are right, shadows are important, without the dark we don’t realise how important the light is. Thank you and keep making your wonderful videos.

thought i was just here for some photography insights but then you nailed something about that darkness in our lives... thank you for this beautiful video.

bravo ❤️

Sean, I look through the comments and find there is probably no praise not expressed. So many ways to say you, your photography, your technique and your life philosophy are absolutely outstanding!
I heartily second all that.glowing praise Thank you so much for all your teaching.
All the best from Argentina

This is the third time I've watched this presentation since it came out. I return to several of yours when my creativity hits a slump, as you have "good medicine". Today your soliloquy on the bench was especially meaningful. Thank you for your work.

very interesting

Protect your highlights + Embrace your shadows !!
I TOTALLY LOVE IT !

this was amazing

I like to watch your videos. I always waited for your new videos. You are a great instructor and motivator ;)

I love your photography styles and philosophies in life I’m saving money to attend your workshops one day in the States. Take care

Great video ! I shoot in RAW with my x100V and I use Capture One. What are good settings to have direct hard shadow when you take your photo ? Thanks in advance for your reply!

Благодарим ви!

Thanks!

OMG! This was a wonderful, powerful and unexpected message about life and photography, that I've watched during a tricky time for our family. I've been watching so many of your videos and loving them, but not commenting, until now! Thank you Sean for the powerful blend of philosophy and photography you are sharing. 👏❤

Thanks mister Tucker. Your videos are not only interesting for the technical advice but above all for the deep understanding you have of photography and creativity. The allegory between light and shadow in relation to our life is surprising and profoundly true. Greetings from Berlin

Thanks

powerful lesson when you reflected on Mandela, Ghandi and Doctor King shadow stories...so brightening!

I belong to this channel. Very great video and the close remarks about life are life changing words!

This is an amazing video that has really got me thinking. I feel that it will have a profound effect on how I will now make photos over the coming days & weeks. The philosophical perspective really added an extra dimension that made a lot of sense. Thank you

That was so much more than a lesson in photography. Synchronicity! yesterday I had a realisation about myself. Not a good one but true. Funnily enough, very liberating at the same time.This morning I watched this video and it has not only changed the way I want to do photography but also the way I view dark times. Informative and healing. A special moment and a discovery of an honest and thoughtful photography teacher with a scope that is far wider than an image could ever reach. Thank you.

Very interesting ... By the way, I love the short haircut. 😊

Man, did I need to hear this today. Thank you. Prophetic as always, Sean.

My favorite photographer, talking about my favorite cinematographer 😭

I am so lucky that I found your channel! You're a gift to the community!!!

First time to your channel. So good! Appreciate your work

I wish I saw this video before I f*cked up my work for a project…just to please others.
I’m definitely taking this video in mind for my future work 😬

The golden hour, the perfect light, is also the one that casts the most perfect shadows.

Thanks so much for this beautiful reminder Sean. When/where will you be stateside next?

Thanks Sean! Now, I can live with my shadow, both in my photography and my life. Cheers!

I remember directing a young videographer on set one time. He had only done commericals/corporate work before, but working like this (more traditional?) he got so... inspired? , you could almost see a spark in his eyes. He just seemed so excited after it 'clicked', and that he could work more in a more 'creative' way.

The biggest pitfall of digital photo/video is the 'perfection' you seek to attain, and how 'wrong' it can feel to do this. Sharpness can also become a similar trap.
I still fall back to this exposure/DR trap from time to time, and have to remind myself that "No, stop. The dark areas are great for the image."

I've been watching all the videos in your channel, I'm on my way to become a true fan!!! Your book is sitting in my desk waiting for the right time ^^ the reason why I post in this video from 2018 it's because just after I finished watching this video I saw the trailer for the new Batman movie, and I think it has a lot of what you analyze in this video.

Thanks for all the free knowledge you offer! 🤓 Cheers from Colombia! ☺