Just a week ago, a red light brought me to a pause on a quiet Paris street ??” but the shadows kept moving, kept telling their story. Captured with my mobile phone and later refined into black and white, this image preserves a moment already rich in contrast and atmosphere.
Three silhouettes stretch across the pavement: on the right, my own shadow, marked by the camera hanging from my neck and a shopping bag on my arm; in the center, a photographer ??” arm raised, mid-shot; and on the far left, the delicate outline of a parked bicycle, perfectly still yet somehow alive in silhouette.
There are no faces here ??” only echoes. After a long day navigating the cobbled hills of Paris, this quiet composition revealed itself. I removed a few visual distractions and embraced the monochrome palette to let the shadows speak more clearly. What remains is a brief moment of stillness, mystery, and reflection ??” a shadowplay that lingers just beyond the frame.
Editing Notes:
Minimal adjustments were made. Distractions were removed, and the image was converted to black and white to enhance focus and mood.
3 comments posted
Douglas Gerdts
Wow - the post-processing completely "makes" this photo - classic example of "less is more!" You really did a great job of removing the distractions and letting the 3 subjects speak for themselves. I keep looking at the footprint or shoe in the very center of image - that's the thing, to me, that's telling a story! Posted: 05/09/2025 22:05:13
Linda Mui
Thank you very much, Douglas. I truly appreciate your thoughtful feedback. At the time, it was simply a spontaneous snapshot - I was momentarily drawn to the shadows before crossing the street. The decision to minimize distractions in post-processing was an effort to let the subjects speak quietly and clearly. I'm glad you noticed the footprint - it adds an intriguing, almost narrative detail that I hadn't anticipated but now find essential to the image. Posted: 05/10/2025 01:12:32
Randy Bell
Linda, I like what you have done with this photo. Removing distracting elements really brings to focus the subjects. Looking between the original and your edited version, you made good choices in what to keep and what not to. I also like the footprint in the center of the image. Nicely captured scene! Posted: 05/11/2025 22:24:44
