# Shocking Shadow Portraits These Portraits Reveal Shadow-Covered Faces with Emotional Expressions By Ady Floyd | Published 2015-06-15 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shadow-covered References: [designfaves](http://www.designfaves.com/2015/06/dark-shadows-create-mystery-around-dramatic-portraits) & [dylan-andrews.format](http://dylan-andrews.format.com/) English artist Dylan Andrews has created a [illustrated series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color) called 'Charcoal Portraits' that focuses on dramatic shadow-covered faces. Each face is covered with a different shadow. The use of different subjects posed with [different expressions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miror-collection) reveals a deep insight into a different emotion or feeling. The shadows are cast in net-like styles revealing holes of light and dark. The use of black and white images enhances the shadows. Each image has a different use of light exposure and dark contrast. Andrews preferred to use anonymous figures with shadow-covered faces to give them an allusive identity. The image is meant to create a slue of questions without revealing any answers. Andrews decided to leave it up to the viewers own interpretation. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.2/10 - Popularity: 85% | Activity: 64% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Shadow-covered Portraits:** The use of shadows to obscure facial features in portraiture offers opportunities for artists to explore emotion in novel ways. - **Black and White Imagery:** Contrasting light and dark tones in black and white photography can enhance the drama of an image and provide opportunities for unique perspectives on common subjects. - **Anonymity in Art:** Using anonymous figures in artwork can create intrigue and invite viewers to interpret meaning in their own ways, providing opportunities for open-ended storytelling. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fine Art:** Artists can use new techniques for depicting emotion in portraiture to create unique and engaging works that push the boundaries of traditional art forms. - **Photography:** Exploration of contrasting tones and techniques for hiding or revealing elements in images can help photographers create arresting images that stand apart from conventional photos. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Incorporating elements of anonymous figures and shadowy imagery in marketing and advertising campaigns can add intrigue and invite viewers to interpret messages for themselves, providing opportunities for differentiation and engagement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Shadow-Inspired Trays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lightware-series.md) - [Artful Suspended Fashion Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invisible-figures.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Human Duality-Themed Abstract Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/passive-aggression.md) - [Stylized Portrait Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/face-to-all.md) - [Shadow-Mimicking Photography Boards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shadow-boards.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Artful Custom Mirror Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portraits-collection.md) - [Explosion-Damaged Sculpture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/light-into-darkness.md)