One of the things I like most about photography is the possibility of turning any obstacle into something totally different. Where our equipment does not arrive, whether due to lack of focus, due to lack of sensitivity of the sensor or due to lack of light, there is always one way or another, not only to solve it, but to use the error as an advantage. This is the case of the silhouettes, which occur simply because the sensors of our cameras are not able to process lights with more than 5 steps of difference (what is known as dynamic range ), and causes us to choose, in situations with a lot of light contrast, between exposing the lights or shadows well.
This could be an inconvenience and many times it is, having to resort to techniques such as bracketing or bracketing to solve it, but it also offers us countless opportunities to unleash our creativity. You do not believe me? Well, I leave you some inspiration in the form of silhouettes so that you open your mouth
1. SUNRISES AND SUNSETS
The silhouettes are not exclusive to sunrises or sunsets , but they are good allies. Since we not only have scenes with contrast between lights and shadows, but we also have photogenic skies that add interest to our image.
Sunrises and sunsets
2. FOG
Foggy scenarios give us more dreamlike or mysterious images. If we also add silhouettes to the recipe, you can get images like the following.
Fog
3. HISTORY
There is always a story behind a photo. If you manage to transmit it, your image will be not only beautiful or correct, but it will also be interesting for the one who observes it.
Tells a story
4. RECOGNIZABLE ELEMENTS
When we strip the image of all information and color, the form becomes most important. That our silhouettes are recognizable is usually essential for the image to make sense to the viewer.
Recognizable items
5. WATER AND REFLECTIONS
To add elements of interest to your silhouettes images, try working in different scenarios. The water and the reflections that are projected in it, can help you complement your image.
Water and reflections
6. THE ODD ONES
Taking care of the composition when working with such formal scenes is basic. In this case the odd rule (a group of 3 and another of 1) is applied to add visual interest to the image.
Composition with odd elements to add interest to the image
7. ATTRACTIVE SCENARIOS
You should not only pay attention to your silhouette, but to everything that surrounds and complements it. Look at the following image, a sky full of stars to encumbrar this beautiful image.
Attractive scenarios
8. ACTION
Not only do you limit yourself to photographing static elements or situations, scenes with movement or where it is intuited, they can give you images like the following.
Action photography
9. SYMBOLISM
The more we strip the original image of elements, the more primitive, formal and symbolic it becomes. See what a mix of sunset, symbology and silhouettes you have in this next scene.
Formalism and symbology
10. LANDSCAPES
Not only from human silhouettes does the man or woman live. You can also use them in your landscapes to highlight the silhouette of some mountains or any other element that you find worthy of tightening the shutter.
Landscapes
11. BEAMS OF LIGHT
Your excursions in the forest can give a lot of yes, and not only to refresh your lungs or practice macro photography , but to obtain images like the following
Beams of light and silhouettes
12. COMPOSITION
As with black and white photography , taking care of the composition in our silhouettes is essential. The rule of thirds, that of the gaze or the horizon, will be very useful when composing your silhouettes.
Composition
13. PERSPECTIVE
The forced perspective gives us impossible images like this. With it you can grab a plane, the sun or the moon, make a dog eat your best friend or anything you can think of. It's all about perspective.
Perspective
14. THE HUMAN ELEMENT
While it is true that you can photograph silhouettes of anything, the human element is naturally attractive to the human eye. And in the case of images with relatively little information, the human silhouette usually works very well.
The human element
15. AMBIENT LIGHT
Yes, I know you know that light in photography is everything , and more when we talk about silhouettes or non-light against the light that surrounds them and allows them to exist. Obtaining a silhouette is relatively easy, the trick for a good image of silhouettes is that you control the ambient light. It is this light that will make a difference.
Ambient light
16. MINIMALISM
The silhouettes are a center of interest in themselves and a good opportunity to test your minimalist compositions.
Silhouettes and minimalism
17. ARCHITECTURE
If you have a good perspective of your city, emblematic elements of its architecture or its skyline can be great protagonists of your silhouettes images.
Architecture
18. HOT AIR BALLOONS
You do not find them every day, it is true, but if you are lucky enough to meet a group or any of them, they are, curiously, a very photogenic subject to backlight .
Hot air balloons
19. POINT OF VIEW
Sometimes, with slightly varying the point of view from which we take the image, we can add a lot of interest to the images.
Point of view
20. WEDDINGS
If you have had the good fortune of having been chosen as the official wedding photographer of your best friend , do not forget to include an image of this style in your Beautiful report , right?
Wedding
21. DEPTH OF FIELD
Do not forget to play with depth of field just as you would any other image. Shallow depth of field in the image, it will help you isolate your silhouette or, on the contrary, you can choose to play with a wide depth of field to integrate it (closed diaphragms) in the background.
Play with depth of field
What, you have not wanted to run away to photograph silhouettes? The truth is that me too Photography is wonderful, and the more resources you have, the more you will squeeze out any scenario you have in front of you. So I really hope that these 21 images have inspired you. If so, please do not hesitate to share it so that this article reaches as many people as possible. Thanks and see you next time .
