Outside of the realm of portraits, backlighting is often overlooked. Still, it is nonetheless an essential skill that can enhance your creativity in many fields of photography. As it is used in a variety of settings, you'll find that you're able to easily showcase your subject. Thus, with options such as transparency of fabrics, hair lighting, and even silhouettes, you'll be able to achieve some stunning results.
Just because backlighting simply means positioning lighting behind your subject, don't assume that the process is simple. Careful planning is essential to success. With this mindset, you'll be able to avoid some of the most common mistakes that will make a difference in your photography. Thus, planning is a worthwhile step to backlighting.
Setting Up Your Backlighting
While many questions will come to mind as you begin planning, there should be one main question that overrides all others. Ask yourself where your subject is focusing. As you consider this question, you'll be able to appropriately use flash. If the focus is outside of the frame, you'll need flash. If the focus of your subject is within the frame, there will be no need to use flash.
After you've established whether or not you need a flash, you can focus on composition and exposure times. The general rule of thirds should be at work, but exposure time will greatly depend on the type of lighting that's available. The brighter or harsher the light, the shorter your exposure time should be. Another way to look at it is that your shutter speed should be faster, the brighter your lighting is.
Unexpected Backlighting
Backlighting can occur when you least expect it to. If you are shooting a special event and find that during your group photo, the lighting changes every minute as the sun is setting, you may soon find yourself in a backlighting environment. By utilizing your flash, you'll be able to rescue the day, but you may be pleasantly surprised by the results you have with natural backlighting!
Just because backlighting simply means positioning lighting behind your subject, don't assume that the process is simple. Careful planning is essential to success. With this mindset, you'll be able to avoid some of the most common mistakes that will make a difference in your photography. Thus, planning is a worthwhile step to backlighting.
Setting Up Your Backlighting
While many questions will come to mind as you begin planning, there should be one main question that overrides all others. Ask yourself where your subject is focusing. As you consider this question, you'll be able to appropriately use flash. If the focus is outside of the frame, you'll need flash. If the focus of your subject is within the frame, there will be no need to use flash.
After you've established whether or not you need a flash, you can focus on composition and exposure times. The general rule of thirds should be at work, but exposure time will greatly depend on the type of lighting that's available. The brighter or harsher the light, the shorter your exposure time should be. Another way to look at it is that your shutter speed should be faster, the brighter your lighting is.
Unexpected Backlighting
Backlighting can occur when you least expect it to. If you are shooting a special event and find that during your group photo, the lighting changes every minute as the sun is setting, you may soon find yourself in a backlighting environment. By utilizing your flash, you'll be able to rescue the day, but you may be pleasantly surprised by the results you have with natural backlighting!
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