Epic Backlit Photo Techniques from a Nat Geo Pro (VIDEO)
Instructor Andy Parkinson is a National Geographic photographer and Nikon Ambassador who has traveled the world to capture stunning imagery under just about every lightning condition imaginable. He’s also very generous about sharing the secrets to his amazing work that have earned him over 130 domestic and international awards.
Today’s episode is all about using backlighting to capture dramatic nature and wildlife photos with a unique look. Parkinson introduces the comprehensive video with this: “When used effectively and in the right conditions backlighting can produce some astonishingly beautiful images.”
This type of lighting will bathe subjects with a warm halo of glowing light, which is why Parkinson says that if he had to choose one method of lighting outdoor subjects he would turn to backlighting 100% of the time. He describes how to overcome several potential pitfalls, his recommended camera settings, and a few other key considerations that are important to understand.
Parkinson says the first big bonus with backlighting is the stunning effect it creates when photographing birds, other forms of wildlife, and even environmental portraits. He provides several inspirational images to illustrate the power of this oft-ignored technique. In basic terms the idea is to position subjects with the sun behind them—preferably against a shadowy background for reasons he explains.
This technique is most effective when photographing animals with fluffy fur or birds with outspread wings. Another benefit of backlighting is that is results in high contrast that can contribute to dynamic photos that really grab attention. Situations like this also makes it easier for your camera’s autofocus system to lock on to moving subjects with maximum speed and precision.
The lesson process with a thoughtful discussion of the quality of light, exposure setting that work best with different types of backlit subjects and scenes, and a few compositional tricks that can make a big difference.
Bottom line: If creative images are your goal forget about those “Kodak moments” with a subject facing the sun and experiment with dramatic backlighting instead. Then head over to Parkinson’s content-rich YouTube channel where you’ll find many more instructional videos that will help you mimic his spectacular imagery.
We also recommend watching a tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who provides a reality check on the difference between how many megapixels you want vs. how many you really need for your style of photography.
