19. ADD BACKLIGHT FOR SEPARATION AND AFFECT

image

WHEN IT COMES to creating dimension with light, nothing stands out like good use of backlight. Otherwise called kicker light, backlight helps separate the subject from an abstract or busy background, creates depth to the face and body of a subject (even if what is backlit is actually out of focus), and looks cool (Figure 19.1). Backlight, depending on how intense it is and how much of it shows up on the subject, can be an aggressive, dramatic light that provides a certain type of edge to the portrait.

Technically, backlight is comprised of a light source hitting your portrait subject in the back with ...

Get The Enthusiast's Guide to Portraiture now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.