How to use backlighting

Backlighting is lighting in a photograph setup that comes from behind the subject. Backlighting can enhance finer details in a picture on the subjects edges or make your pictures more dynamic by creating a unique silhouette.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Camera
• Bright light behind the subject (the sun or lamp)

1. Set up your shot by placing your subject directly in front of a bright light, such as the sun or a lamp in a studio.
2. Set your exposure time for regular a sunlight setting.
3. Then, set your aperture to a higher number so that the aperture is smaller and lets in less light. An F-stop of f/8 or f/16 should be sufficient. A smaller aperture will make your picture more crisp and focused.
4. Now take your pictures keeping the subject directly in front of the backing light, so that it creates a silhouette of the subject.

Tips & Warnings

• Attaching a lens hood to your camera is helpful in keeping the bright backlight you are directly facing from making a glare in the picture.