Digital Speed Challenge #901: Chiaroscuro

[RDWP]

DSC #901: Riffing off the Noir theme a bit, this week - images that show strong light/dark, light/shade contrasts. Any subject type, portraits to landscapes.

This challenge begins when posted and ends at midnight GMT on 16 March 2026. The winner will be announced shortly thereafter.

The Challenge Rules:

1. Camera: Any DIGITAL CAMERA is allowed.
2. Time: Any on-topic photo taken at any time is eligible, although photos that have won other competitions should NOT be entered.
3. Size: Maximum image size is 1600px on the long end. Minimum size is 800px.
4. Post Processing: Do whatever you like, and the host will decide if it works.
5. Posting: ONE PHOTO per photographer per challenge. List camera model & lens used. Post brief EXIF data: ISO, shutter speed and aperture.
6. Commenting: No commenting and Likes during challenge. After the challenge is closed discussion is encouraged.
7. Keep it clean, and both family and work safe.
8. Have lots of FUN.
9. This text is available in a sticky. Copy the text and paste it in the new thread.

>> THE WINNER ALWAYS SETS THE THEME FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE, POSTS IT AND JUDGES IT - BE PREPARED <<

 

[Zeno Evil]

I Can See The Light


ISO 6400, 1/2000 sec @f/5​

 

[Dilopix54]

Nihilistic Rembrandt

 

[great grandma Rosalie]

Stalactites in Harrison's Cave, Barbados

 

[OldCrow]

Light and Dark

 

[gerards artzone]

Village carillon

(Fuji X-E1 + 18-55mm | iso 1600 | 1/350sec f/13)

 

[ShipleyNW]

 

[RDWP]

Competition is closed. And now the difficult part. These are all such good submissions! Any / all could be winners.

But being required to choose, I'm going with Ken Shipley's boxcar (I believe?): covers the full range of light and dark, sun and shadows, with great textures and warmth.

HMs to the rest. OldCrow - lovely; gerards artzone - not sure what I'm looking at but it makes a really good shot; Rosalie - great colours and textures; Dilopix - NiloRembrant indeed, creepy wow; Zeno - love the soft lighting/contrasts (I have that same camera and lens!)

Yours Ken!

 

[gerards artzone]

gerards artzone - not sure what I'm looking at

??
You are looking at a carillon that has been located in my village for years, as is also indicated above this photo.
Probably you're not (yet) familiar with a technique called 'double exposure,' or the combining of 2 or more image layers — in this case, a positive and a negative image layer.
Hopefully, it's clear now.

 

[RDWP]

??
You are looking at a carillon that has been located in my village for years, as is also indicated above this photo.
Probably you're not (yet) familiar with a technique called 'double exposure,' or the combining of 2 or more image layers — in this case, a positive and a negative image layer.
Hopefully, it's clear now.

Sorry - I should have been a bit more specific. I'm not sure which parts of the carillon we're seeing. The image looks like long pipes and small bells? Some parts look like organ stops even. Double exposure explains a good bit of it.

Yes, I have done a good few double exposures myself, but more often back in my darkroom days.

 

[OldCrow]

Congratulations Ken.

 

[gerards artzone]

Sorry - I should have been a bit more specific. I'm not sure which parts of the carillon we're seeing. The image looks like long pipes and small bells? Some parts look like organ stops even. Double exposure explains a good bit of it.

Yes, I have done a good few double exposures myself, but more often back in my darkroom days.

Yeah, that's exactly what a carillon is: a carillon, or bell set, is a musical instrument, consisting of one or more sets of bells. A carillon consists of at least 23 cast bronze bells in a fixed suspension, tuned in chromatic order that can be made to sound harmoniously together.

 

[Dilopix54]

Congrats Ken! Crackin' images every one

 

[ShipleyNW]

Thanks everyone. Good challenge. I'll get a new one up this evening.

 

[ShipleyNW]

New challenge is up:

Thread 'Digital Speed Challenge #902: Three Things -- Compositions with 3 elements'

17 Mar 2026

DSC #902: Three Things -- Compositions with 3 elements

This is going to take a little explaining. This challenge is more compositional than topical.

By three things, we're not necessarily looking for three of a kind, but three, and no more, distinct compositional elements that make a simple image. A group of things can be considered one thing. If you have a good sky, that can be a thing if it helps the composition. Your three things should work together to make a simple, attractive, easy-to-read image.

Example: Ducks, Trees, Fog


This challenge begins when...

• ShipleyNW

 

[RDWP]

Yeah, that's exactly what a carillon is: a carillon, or bell set, is a musical instrument, consisting of one or more sets of bells. A carillon consists of at least 23 cast bronze bells in a fixed suspension, tuned in chromatic order that can be made to sound harmoniously together.

Yes, I've seen the 50-bell outdoor carillon in Toronto - made in Netherlands! (Royal Eijsbouts) Donated by our Danish friends at Carlsberg.

Carillon Tower - The 50-Bell Musical Instrument at Exhibition Place

Carillon Tower, originally the Carlsberg Carillon, is located in Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place in Toronto. The tower features 50 bells...

www.torontojourney416.com