Most beginning photographers are taught to shoot will the sun at their back and avoid composing scenes with the sun behind their subject. While that technique is super easy, it often results in photos that could best be described as snapshots.
Today we’ll encourage you to be more inventive and creative by switching up your vantage point and experimenting with backlighting for a far more artistic look. Here’s how instructor Shelley Pearson summarizes today’s six-minute tutorial: “In this video I dive into the magic of backlighting in bird and wildlife photography, sharing essential techniques for creating stunning, dramatic effects.”
The value of everything you’ll learn is equally valuable for other genres as well, whether you’re shooting a landscape with an important inanimate object in the frame, making dynamic environmental portraits, or even shooting on the street. Pearson is a longtime Australian pro whose goal is “to share my love of photography, wildlife, and the natural world—with tips, techniques, and insights for photographers of all skill levels.”
Pearson covers a lot of ground in less than six minutes, so we suggest being prepared to jot down a few notes for future reference. Thoughtful composition is a big part of the process, and she describes how to identify perfect backlight for breathtaking images. Her tips include how to modify your vantage point and employ unusual camera angles to accentuate these backlit effects.
She explains how to “play with exposure; namely, when to go lighter or darker depending upon the specific scene at hand. Another important topic is understanding the best methods for creating captivating bokeh and rim light around a subject for images with a very unique appearance.
You’ll want to configure the camera in a way that differs from when conventional photography is the name of the game, and Pearson walks you through all the important settings. She also describes the best times of day for getting the job done to perfection, and how to use your newfound skills to capture dramatic silhouette photos.
Take a look at Pearson’s instructional YouTube channel once the video concludes for more helpful tips and techniques from down under.
And on a related note, be sure to watch a tutorial we featured earlier with another accomplished pro who demonstrates the finer points of creating spectacular silhouette photographs, with camera settings, exposure metering, shooting techniques, and more.
