How to Photograph Silhouettes

By Heide Braley

How to Photograph Silhouettes How to Photograph Silhouettes

Rate: (7 Ratings)

Have you ever seen the picture where your eyes are just drawn in and then you realize the subject is totally black? The whole trick is to underexpose them and position them in front of a bright background. The best subjects are things that are instantly recognized, like a sailboat or tree or even a person. It is fun to play around with this type of photography. Sometimes you can get some very dramatic effects.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Camera
  • Flash turned off

Step1
Look for a bright background. It can be a sunset, a bonfire, a lake or any such setting. It needs to be overly bright so that your subject will be completely black. Also it helps the structure of the photo if the background is uncluttered.
Step2
Now the secret is to position the subject directly between the camera and the background. You might have to move around a little to achieve this effect. For instance, if you are shooting a picture of a rowboat in the moonlight, try to catch the full brightness of the moonlight with no obstructions other than the rowboat.
Step3
Most photography is not done during full sun, but this type of shot can lend itself well to overexposing the background and underexposing the subject. Maybe you can catch a zoom shot of someone swimming but the sun's reflection in the water blinds you. This is a great opportunity for a silhouette if the subject is clear enough. Just watch for sun flare by keeping the sun out of the picture.
Step4
Use any kind of camera, but one with a zoom lens will help you to zoom in on the subject for a clear outline..
Step5
If you found this article interesting, please take a second to rate it.

Photo/Video Credit

http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/07/07/30/

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article: How to Photograph Silhouettes

eHow Member: Heide Braley

Heide Braley

Authority Authority | 8833 Points

Category: Electronics

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads