SCENARIO 16

Creating a Silhouette

Quick drama anytime day or night.

GEAR NEEDED:

  • Camera + Trigger
  • Lens of any focal length (though I prefer wider)
  • Off-camera flash
  • Colored gels (optional, but recommended)
  • Light stand (optional)
  • Second off-camera flash (optional)

GOAL IMAGE

This is a fun technique with a myriad of applications. I’ve seen some incredible photographers using this technique to silhouette a subject while another part of the frame is properly exposed. I often use this when I have a not-so-sexy room to photograph in and I want to give my client something more dramatic (Figure 16.1).

The idea behind this technique is that you’re blacking out your subject by creating a brighter light behind them that you can expose for. Depending ...

Get The Off-Camera Flash Handbook 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.

Start your free trial