Contour we call this position of light when the source is located behind the subject. The source does not have to be exactly behind the model’s back; it can be slightly above or from the side, but it is always behind. Surely, at least once have you heard from the uninvited advisers the categorical: “Do not shoot against the light!” And there is some truth in this: under such lighting it is very easy to get an incomprehensible shadow in the frame instead of a good portrait. Here we’ll try to dispel the myth and figure out how to use the backlight to take beautiful photos.
Backlight shooting is possible if you can properly control this light. The easiest way is to use the flash so that the face of the subject (if we, for example, create a portrait in backlight) is not inferior in brightness to the background. If the model is close to the camera, then try to make sure that the flash does not overexpose the face. To do this, you can enter a negative flash correction, reduce the pulse power. Or cover the flash with a diffuser: you can make it yourself - with a simple sheet of white paper or a napkin. The light on the face will become soft, and you will have a chance to avoid not only overexposure, but also unpleasant glare on the skin.
How to shoot in the backlight when there is no flash at hand, or the flash is useless (if, for example, you shoot a landscape), but still want to get a decent image? Try setting up the camera correctly. For backlit shooting, it makes sense to choose a spot metering mode - the camera in this case will measure the amount of light from the main subject, which the metering point falls into. Try positive exposure compensation- its value can be selected empirically: maybe ½ steps will be enough, or maybe you will have to set 2 or 3. So you can work out the details that fell into the shade. It must be remembered, however, that the brightness of the background will have to be sacrificed: the background will be overexposed, objects on it will be poorly visible (or not visible at all), but this is quite natural when photographing in backlight.
If the light source enters the frame, glare may appear on the picture - often they look spectacular, but can become an obstacle in the image.
If we want to get a beautiful silhouette, and the details of the foreground are not important to us, then we can do without the spot metering and exposure compensation modes. The background will be clearly visible, and the main subject will be very shaded. To make such a shot successful, you need to carefully monitor the expressiveness of the silhouette. For example, if you shoot a face, it is better to place it in profile. If there are several people in the frame, try to arrange them so that the silhouettes do not merge, do not intersect, are expressive and clear.
Shooting transparent or translucent objects in backlight looks very impressive - you can get a very nice light in the frame, with beautiful outlines of the subject.
