Photograph Silhouettes - How?

Mp4 · 16 Mar 2011 at 10:57

Hi all,

I've got to take pictures of Silhouettes for college but I've never done this before. how does one achieve it & can a flash be used?

PaulStat · 16 Mar 2011 at 11:01

personally I would use spot metering, I'd meter for the brightest part of the image, then the darkest part would be silhouetted (assuming there's enough contrast between light and dark)

D.P. · 16 Mar 2011 at 11:05

Expose for the brighter image areas. Or use matrix metering and under expose by a couple of stops. It is something very easy to rectify in processing once you are close.

aztechnology · 16 Mar 2011 at 12:30

Depends on what you want to achieve, but, put the subject in front of a background that will expose at a different f - stop.

Meter for the background.

Flash will only be of use if you want a "negative" silhouette. i.e. subject exposed, background under exposed.

john_s · 16 Mar 2011 at 13:31

aztechnology said:
Flash will only be of use if you want a "negative" silhouette. i.e. subject exposed, background under exposed.

What about using it to light behind whatever you want to silhouette?

Alpherah · 16 Mar 2011 at 14:32

Shoot raw, its easier to tweak the image to get the contrast you want if the lighting wasn't perfect.

Scam · 16 Mar 2011 at 16:25

Given that it's for college, I think it would be a more useful learning experience for the OP if he didn't use RAW and actually experimented with different physical lighting.

Divide by Zero · 16 Mar 2011 at 16:57

still shoot in raw though - but get it right in shot

Sunset can give a nice silhouette, moon light or flash (white light) will give a creepy effect.

Just make sure your subject isn't lit or reflected from any flash or lighting, be sure to pick an interesting backgroung but one that is plain enough to display the shape of your silhouette.

Mp4 · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:46

Thanks all ill give it ago in the weekend and i shoot in raw always

DB_SamX · 16 Mar 2011 at 19:28

Mp4, have you got a copy of Understanding Exposure? Bryan Peterson covers silhouettes, and other general and easy effects, in there.

Mp4 · 17 Mar 2011 at 09:25

^ i do own that book

cheers ill take a look at that too!

Hodders · 17 Mar 2011 at 09:34

To get a good silhouette you will need about 3+ stops difference between the background and the subject. If it's college you should be able to get your hands on a light meter get one as it will help you understand it all.

Meter the subject - lets say you get 1/125 at F2.8 and ISO 100. Now you need to get the background to meter 3 stops more so aim at 1/125 at F8 and ISO 100. So up the level of light until you get that and shoot.

If you are not using studio lighting you will need to make sure that the subject is standing in front of a bright light source like a big window but you will also need to make sure the subject is not well lit otherwise you will struggle to get the 3+ stops difference.

Good luck - and post some results.