Capturing Backlit Photographs with a dSLR

Take Advantage of Backlit Subjects to Create Pro-quality Portraits

Oct 1, 2009

Learn to manage back lighting to capture classic sunset silhouettes and dramatic lighting while eliminating harsh shadows and squinting in all portrait photographs.

Backlighting occurs when the main light source, usually the sun, is located behind the subject and in front of the camera. The classic travel image of a silhouette against a dramatic sunset is one common example; however, photographers use backlighting to create dynamic lighting in a variety of images.

Backlighting adds an attractive rim-light halo to portrait subjects, while reducing squinting eyes and harsh shadows. Unfortunately, most amateurs will find underexposed subjects. Adding a fill-light or adjusting the camera settings can quickly solve the problem while producing dramatic results.

Shooting the Classic Silhouette at Sunset

Capturing the classic travel image of a unique subject silhouetted against a dramatic sunset scene is surprisingly simple. The key to success is understanding the camera’s evaluative metering mode, and learning how to modify the automatic settings.

The situation normally involves a colorful and dramatic sky with a dark subject. Composing the image and using the camera’s automatic settings often results in a flat image that shows a significant loss of detail in the bright sky, while adding only a slight amount of detail in the shadowed subject.

Eliminate the problem by switching the camera to manual shooting mode and zooming in to the brightest portion of the sky, without including the sun itself. Select the shutter speed and aperture required to properly expose this portion of the image. Maintain these settings while quickly recomposing the frame using the rule of thirds and focusing on the subject. Take the shot and verify the results on the LCD. The image should now show the details of the sunset while maintaining the blacked-out silhouette around the subject.

Capturing Backlit Portraits Without Losing Detail

When shooting outdoor portraits, direct sunlight often adds harsh shadows to portrait subjects. The combination results in poor photographs often considered snapshots. Simply reposition the subject so the sun falls behind them. This will add an attractive rim-light to their shoulders and hair, while eliminating the subject’s unattractive squinting eyes.

To maintain detail in the shadowed foreground and bright background, the photographer will need to add a fill or balanced flash in this situation. The camera’s evaluative meter should properly expose the scene, while the flash will reestablish detail in the subject’s appearance.

After composing the photograph, set the shutter speed and aperture in manual shooting mode. Turn on the external flash, adjust it to manual mode, and dial down the power until it displays the distance between the photographer and the subject. To take a balanced flash shot, close the aperture down one stop (for example: f/4 to f/5.6) and take the shot. For fill flash images, dial the flash’s power down two more stops and adjust the aperture by only 1/3 of a stop (for example: f/4 to f/4.5) before taking the shot.

Compare results for the ambient, balanced flash and fill flash on the LCD before continuing. The fill-flash image often produces the best results by maintaining accurate colors and brightness in the background while adding just enough light to maintain detail in the subjects clothing, face and eyes.

The copyright of the article Capturing Backlit Photographs with a dSLR in Photography Techniques is owned by Jeff Bartlett. Permission to republish Capturing Backlit Photographs with a dSLR in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.