Moon shine reflected in the sea and framed by shadowy trees
Landscape,  Sunday Stills,  Themed galleries

Gallery: the sound of silence

January 25, 2023 / 63 Comments

And the vision that was planted in my brain

Still remains

Within the sound of silence

Paul Simon

How do you photograph silence? Photographing a sound seems challenging enough, being invisible; but the absence of sound even more so.

Searching for photos to meet Terri’s Sunday Stills brief, I realised I was being drawn to images with the absence of other things. No people, no animals, no movement. These absences became proxies for the absence of that invisible sound. And when people or animals did sneak into the image, they only served to emphasise the silence around them.

Many of these were taken, perhaps unsurprisingly, early or late in the day. Others were taken in places where few other people go, or at least where few were present at that time. Some you will have seen here before but hopefully many will be new to you.

See what you think. Do these photos speak to you of silence? Are there better, or different, ways to represent silence through photography?

River reflecting pink light in the sky and the sun low on the horizon

Sunrise over the Chobe River, Botswana

Misty lying in a valley with a few trees and buildings visible

Dawn over the valley near Bevagna, Umbria

Sun rays breaking through clouds above sand dunes

Early morning in Wahiba Sands, Oman

Sun rays shooting upwards from pink tinged clouds

Early morning at Mandina Lodges, Gambia

Cup of coffee on a table by a still river

Morning coffee at Mandina Lodges, Gambia

Wooden bench by the edge of a lake with forested mountains

Early morning on the beach by Lake Crescent Lodge, Olympic NP, WA

Path through a wood in hazy sunshine with a deer in the distance

Early morning mist in Bardia NP, Nepal

Tall trees with vivid green leaves either side of a path

Path through the Hoh Rainforest, WA

Stained glass window in St Mary’s Church, Wylye, Wiltshire

Cross silhouetted against panels of stained glass
Two people sitting in a small boat poled by a standing man on a river surrounded by reeds

Paddling in a mokoro, late afternoon in the Okavanga Delta, Botswana

(the only shot in this set to feature any people)

Snow covered mountains reflected in still waters

Near Dyrholaey on Iceland’s south coast

Lamppost with a sunset sky and thin crescent moon

Sunset in Tallinn, Estonia

(the only shot in this set taken in a town, perhaps unsurprisingly)

Sunset from Lagarta Lodge, Costa Rica

Looking across a forest towards the sun setting over the sea
Dark stormy-looking sky with the sunsetting through a break in the clouds

Sunset from our terrace at Senda Monteverde, Costa Rica

Moon shine reflected in the sea and framed by shadowy trees

Moon setting, Lagarta Lodge, Costa Rica

(my feature photo was taken shortly after this one).

We had been woken at 4.00 AM by the light shining straight into our room, grabbed our cameras and went out on to the terrace. I paid for it later with a nice collection of insect bites but it was so worth it!

You might also enjoy

Mist hanging over a lake

Gallery: Morning mists over Matthew’s Linn

January 26, 2021
Sun rising above a tree

Gallery: our fire returns

April 7, 2022
Landscape with high mountains

Gallery: what makes a photo dramatic?

January 14, 2024

63 Comments

Do share your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you!