Rediscovering Backlit Subjects
“Look where the sun is coming from - then position yourself with your back towards it so that it light up your subject’s face.”
This was the very first piece of photographic advice that I was ever given as a child entrusted with the family’s camera for a school excursion. The intention behind it was good and in many photographic situations over the years it has actually served me well.
However…. sometimes in photography it can be easy to get trapped in a mindset that actually limits the potential of your shots. My suspicion is that many people are being limited by the above piece of advice - lighting your subject from the front and avoiding backlighting at all costs.
The problem is that a
- backlight can add drama to an image
- backlit images can show the delicacy of a subject (think transparent or translucent things like flowers or insects)
- backlight can help create real mood in a shot
- backlit images can highlight details on the edges of subjects
- backlight can reveal textures that might previously have been hidden
- backlit images can show off the shape and form of a subject
- backlight can create shadows that add points of interest to an image
Check out some of the following images that show the beauty of power of ignoring the age old advice of always lighting a subject from the front.
PS: just because your subject is backlit doesn’t mean you need to forget about how they are lit from the front. Using a Fill Flash and/or some sort of reflector is often a great way to get the balance right for a well exposed shot.
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Nice!
I love taking pictures agianst the sun…like this one:
http://flickr.com/photos/svenmoniek/475672489/in/set-72157600193741348/
Sven
great advice and beautiful shots. One of my favorite pics I’ve ever done was created through a strong backlight.
I think though, that there’s a typo. If I’m not mistaken (and if I am, just call me crazy and ignore me), you meant to say “mood” instead of “mode”
Nice piece of advise…
Need to get it in practice .
Very nice images above.
These are pretty hard snaps to get absolutely right. Some great example images.
great examples and great tips, back lighting is something amateurs are very afraid of, and thus never really try to master it
I have always liked silhouette photos that can be made with the back light. There is something mystical in it. You try to see details in a shadow and your mind plays tricks with you. It can add some abstract figures and straighten the mood. Wonderful shots.
I really love the way those shots came out.
My favorite is the one of the girl. Enough light on her to tell which direction she’s looking, but not enough for any detail. And the glow around her is really cool.
Always nice to recieve a little push in the direction of something I don’t try all that often. Will go out tomorrow and see what I can find to practice this tip on. (if there is any sun / light in England!)
Lovely set of pics above… thanks
Beautiful images :-) tx for the inspiration
Some more useful tips:
1. Put the sun (or light source) behind an object (as in all examples above).
2. If the sun (or light source) is just out of the frame, beware of lens flare - use a lens hood.
3. Experiment with exposure (bracket judiciously).
4. If using film, note that the sun can burn a hole in the film - stop down to compose and do so quickly.
5. Looking at the sun, even through a viewfinder, can damage your eyesight - proceed with caution.
Here are some of my own favourites:
Mt. Fuji sunset with rainbow effect
Torii at Miyajima
SeraphimC’s shot is great! Next time I’m working with a human I’ll have to see if I can do something like that. Silhouettes aren’t unheard of, but the hair and positioning in that I really like.
these are brilliantly backlit
it’s a technique I’d like to do more of
thanx for the inspiration
Isn’t this dangerous? Won’t this burn the camera sensor? (I just bought my first digital camera, a Canon 400D.)
Thanks.
Good advice and great shots. When i look at a possible subject, the first thing i ask myself is, “where do i want the light” and imagining what the image could look like and back lighting is certainly thought of where possible.
cheers..R