YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Capture the character and atmosphere of narrow streets in the Medina without people physically in the frame, or by using only their shadows. Produce 6–10 images that emphasize architecture, light, texture, and mood, letting streets tell the story on their own.
Your series should include:
• Empty alleyways that convey a sense of place and scale
• Scenes where only shadows of people appear, suggesting presence without showing faces
• Composition that highlights lines, shapes, and textures of walls, doors, tiles, and surfaces
• Atmospheric use of light and shadow to create depth, contrast, or mystery
This assignment trains you to see the story in spaces themselves, and to make absence as compelling as presence.
ENCOURAGING CONSIDERATION
– Scout for light and shadow. Narrow streets often have dramatic lighting — shafts of sunlight, reflected light, or shadowed corners. Observe how it moves during the day.
– Think like a storyteller. Even without people, alleys can suggest narrative: an open door, a bicycle leaning, a shadow crossing the wall.
– Use shadows creatively. A passerby’s shadow can act as a “ghost” presence — conveying scale, movement, and life without showing a body.
– Focus on lines and geometry. Walls, tiles, arches, doorways, and uneven pavements create natural leading lines and patterns that guide the viewer’s eye.
– Wait for the decisive moment. Sometimes a shadow will perfectly intersect a line of light, or a door opens slightly — anticipate these moments.
– Emphasize atmosphere over detail. Mood, contrast, and light are more important than every object being in focus. Let minimalism and abstraction tell the story.
• Experiment with perspective. Low angles, side views, or framing through archways can transform ordinary streets into visually dynamic compositions.