Ephemeral Treasure (2): Tree Shadows

This winter I was often drawn to the long, soft shadows of trees on the snow. Even at noon, there were long shadows, similar to those endless late-afternoon shadows during the summer. The low angle of the sun was kind to trees: they displayed their naked beauty twice – first in distinct contrast against the sky, then, as their much softer shadow selves on the snowy ground. The shadows draped themselves almost lovingly across the white shimmering landscape.

This is a stand of oak trees

Afternoon shadows

By playing around with color on PhotoShop, the shadows become more festive, more vivid, as if the trees are partying with their shadow selves.

Purple shadows

By doing a simple color inversion, the picture takes on a very different mood, snow becomes beige sand still holding the tree’s reflections faithfully. Now the shadows have transformed into light shadows. Maybe this can show us the way in dealing with our own shadow shelves (our not so desirable qualities): When we acknowledge them and dance with them, they transform and we become lighter and more whole.

Shadows inverted

This post is a second response to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Treasure.