Silhouette: not dark enough

[stefanoc]

Hi folks!

Here is one of my first attempts of capturing a silhouette. It's a war memorial in Stonehaven, Scotland UK. When I took it I didn't notice the silhouette was not as dark as I hoped. Also is there a way I could have got rid of the glare from that position?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Stefano




EXIF:
Camera Canon EOS 500D
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture f/10.0
Focal Length 12 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

[EOBeav]

This would be a really cool shot a few hours later with the sun low on the horizon.

[benchdog]

Right idea wrong time of day. This could be a really cool shot either early in the morning or late in the evening.

I'd suggest you try some different angle and focal lengths and see what you came up with.

Love the subject

[LenDog]

Originally Posted by benchdog

Right idea wrong time of day. This could be a really cool shot either early in the morning or late in the evening.

I'd suggest you try some different angle and focal lengths and see what you came up with.

Love the subject

+1, different time of day (with the sun just a little lower) and change the angle as needed to get rid of any flare. You'll also need to get well beyond f/10 for a silhouette in strong sunlight, more like f/32. (f/32: Prague Silhouette | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)

Some subjects simply do not work well as silhouettes, it needs to be a solid structure. I don't think this subject would ever make a decent silhouette photo.

It would, most probably, be a smokin' pic if you captured it with the sun over your shoulder.

Happy hunting!

[stefanoc]

Thanks all for the tip about time of day.

Len Dog, what do you mean by a solid structure? Do you mean the light passing through the columns always spoils the silhouette?

Cheers

[stefanoc]

I'm not sure I understand the point about the aperture though. Did you all mean to set a smaller aperture and compensating it with a longer exposure or just a smaller aperture? I guess you meant the latter, am I right?

[LenDog]

Originally Posted by stefanoc

I'm not sure I understand the point about the aperture though. Did you all mean to set a smaller aperture and compensating it with a longer exposure or just a smaller aperture? I guess you meant the latter, am I right?

You'll need to increase the exposure as you decrease the aperture, just not proportionately. Try using AV mode to get an idea, I've found that works well for silhouettes. Somewhere in the ballpark of f/32 and 1/125. A CPL filter may enhance a silhouette also.

Here's an example using AV mode and with a CPL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lendog64/5417928725/

Originally Posted by stefanoc

Len Dog, what do you mean by a solid structure? Do you mean the light passing through the columns always spoils the silhouette?

Light thru the structure can effect metering, especially in other than manual modes, but after relooking that's not so given the composition in your photo.

[SwissJon]

Ok, I'm going to disagree with Lendog here.. I think this is a brilliant structure for a silhouette. It's got strong lines and it's solid. I've no idea why he's suggesting you go down to f/32, I don't see how that would help in this picture, depth of field isn't your problem, nor is speed.

You've got two problems here, glare caused by shooting into the sun, and sidelight caused by the sun not being directly behind the subject..

I agree with EoBeav about this being a cool subject for late evening, or early morning with a bit of mist in the air.. However, if you're only able to get here at this time of day, you needed to move so that the sun was directly behind the structure and hidden.. This would have given you the darkest silhouette.

I can see that you wanted to get the shadow in, so you needed to zoom so that the sun wasn't in the picture, make sure the exposure under exposes the structure, then put your hand so it's out of shot, but casts a shadow on the lens glass, that way you won't get that glare.

[williamawalker]

I think the silhouette looks good, but the sun is just in the wrong position. Retake it later in the afternoon or early morning.

A structure that is not 100% solid can still make a good silhouette, if done correctly. I think with the sun in a better position this picture will really come together.