When you take a traditional photograph, your light will be in front of your subject. But you may also backlight your subject for an interesting twist.
Backlit pictures are taken with the primary source of light behind the subject. It makes for a dramatic effect. The problem is, if the front of the photo isn’t illuminated, it may appear too dark. So what do you do to ensure all angles are well lit? Read on to find out.
Shoot in RAW
It is always best to shoot in RAW when you’re backlighting your images. As opposed to JPEG, where the camera processes the image for you, RAW allows you to do the processing so you can retain higher quality during editing.
It’s likely that you will need to adjust the exposure in processing so working in RAW is an ideal choice.
Use Manual Mode
Manual mode differs from automatic mode on a camera. Rather than let the camera make judgement calls on the exposure, you can adjust the settings to come out with the perfect image.
Most cameras will provide a live view of your picture on the LCD screen when you shoot in manual mode. This will allow you to make adjustments so you can get the look you want. You will see changes on your screen in real time.
If you are unsure of how to work with manual mode, you can shoot in automatic and use exposure compensation to keep your photo well lit. Dial in plus one or two to brighten the picture and keep tweaking until you are happy with the result. This process is effective, but it will take longer as you will need to tweak each picture separately.
Note, it is always better to underexpose than overexpose. Overexposing can cause you to lose details that you may not be able to bring back in the editing process.
Select Spot Metering
Most photographers use a metering mode set to auto, but spot metering may be best for backlit photos. This mode will allow the light meter to set the exposure according to a small area of the picture instead of the whole photo.
The challenge here is to make sure that the camera is focusing on the right part of the image. If it focuses in the wrong place, the exposure will be off.
Work With the Light
Keep in mind that you won’t have control over how the light falls. Therefore, you will need to make your own adjustments. If the light is not offering the effect you want, you may have to change angles or you may even have to change the time of day of your shoot.
A lens hood can also be useful in minimizing unwanted glare at certain times of the day.
Use Reflected Light
If the subject is appearing too dark in the front, you can brighten things up by adding reflected light. You will need to have the right accessories on hand to achieve this effect.
Post Processing Backlit Photos
Post processing will play a major role in how your photos turn out. As mentioned earlier, be sure to shoot in RAW.
The best thing to do is to increase contrast. This will deepen shadows to heighten the backlit effect. When boosting contrast, be sure to keep clarity on the subject’s face and to maintain accurate skin tones.
Backlit photography can provide impressive results. Now that you know how to achieve the effect you want, the possibilities are endless. How will you be integrating the technique into your next shoot?
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