Shadow Fire

This photo was taken in Late September 2011 at 5:45 am

The location was in a parking lot next to a hotel in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The "Take It!"  came after take the time from my fast paced schedule to go to this site that I had been watching develop while taking a freeway off ramp that went by it. The fall was at about mid point for the falling of leaves from trees. It had gotten to a point where I thought I just could not put it off any longer. So with a sort of mental sight of resignation I arrived on the scene to take what I had hoped would be a catch of some pretty cool shadows that were cast on the side of a building. When I arrived I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The hotel was not very busy thus the parking lot was empty on that side of the building giving me an unencumbered view of my subject. This lack of cars also helped in the casting of light from an overhead lamp which gives the foreground some added character.  The star of this photo is the tree and the moment I was able to be there.  There were just enough leaves having fallen to provide just the right amount of a shadow filter for the bright wall wash lights that are placed under the main body of the tree.  The shadows elongated upward on the face of the building had just the right density and distortion to give an illusion of flames going toward the sky. Had I gone to this site any earlier there was a good chance that enough leaves would not have fallen to give this same effect. I like the look of the border on the right side of the canvas being the lit fire escape stair well. The harmony of this photo (which includes just a little of the moon up above it all) makes it one of my most memorable photos. 

The After Take: It has been most gratifying to have all that I have shown this to, express how cool they think it is.  It has a dynamic to it that is both restful and at the same time has an action touch that only flames can bring.  This photo is being shown now as it is one of those that I sometimes encounter that take me lots of time to find  a name for as well as put descriptions into printed words. The process of mulling after periodic repeat viewing's of the photo is sometimes frustrating as I go through it, but always a pleasure when it seems to come together enough to present. I have reached a point in life where I am ok with leaving some of what I have to stretch for, on my mental table.

Thank you for bearing with me as I went through the game of assembling my thoughts to bring this one up for us to share. 

With every best wish,

 Bruce