SHAPING SHADOWS

Mike Harris shows you how to use artificial lighting and a ring to cast a heart-shaped shadow on the pages of an open book

- Mike Harris

If you’ve ever dismissed working with artificial light because you don’t have the space or the funds to invest in expensive lighting equipment, here’s a neat little project that anybody can do at home – all you need is a ring, a torch, a tripod and a book.

This tried-and-tested method combines the circular shadow cast by a ring and the folds of an old book to create an impression of a heart. It’s a popular image that’s sure to do well on Instagram of Facebook, or wow family and friends as the basis for homemade greeting cards. We’d recommend using a hardback book, because the pages are more likely to remain open under their own weight when splayed out.

If you want to go the extra mile, consider what you use carefully, as relevant text will add an additional layer of meaning to your shot. Hopeless romantics may opt for a dictionary opened at the definition of love, while fantasy fans could pair their ring with J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth epic – we opted for an old leather-bound tome on photography. You then need to position your ring in the fold between the pages of your chosen text, and position your light source behind the subject to cast the heart shape. You can alter the shadow’s form by moving the light closer to shorten it, or further away to elongate it as you please.

1 OPEN BOOK