2021 WEEK 23: People / Silhouettes

Expose for the sky

Let’s try and combine some technical and creative aspects of photography: We are creating some interesting shots of people’s silhouettes. And with silhouettes I mean real SILHOUETTES and NOT SHADOWS.

Technically this can be easily achieved by exposing for the sky or some very light parts of your image. By doing so you deliberately underexpose any person standing in front of this light area and create a silhouette. Try to find settings with enough space and directed light and place your subject accordingly.

The more interesting silhouettes are in the process of doing something still recognisable: walking, jumping, dancing with a little separation between their limbs. Framing, leading lines and the rule of thirds might also help to capture the viewer’s attention.

Links and technical advice

Please find a very useful wrap-up of the process of taking photos of silhouettes including tips for exposure settings here:

https://www.captureyourdays.com/silhouette-photo/

Example photos

More ideas and unique approaches in the
Pinterest moodboard

Challenge Summary

Take a new photo of a person’s silhouette
Apply the basic elements composition and expose carefully for the bright parts of your scene
SOOC (straight out of camera) or edited post your photo during the week of Sunday, June 6 and Saturday, June12.
Please remember to comment on at least FIVE photo submissions this week by answering the question “why?” in your comments. In other words, “why do I like (or not like) this photo?” or “why did this photo catch my eye?” Thank you!

The friendly community guidelines are pretty simple

Take a new photo for the current weekly theme, not something from your back catalog or someone else’s image.
Post your photo each week to our active communities on Facebook or Flickr (or both). Tag the photo: #2021photochallenge #photochallenge #tempusaura
Don’t leave home without your camera. Participating in the 2021 Trevor Carpenter Photo Challenge is fun and easy.