How can I create a silhouette portrait without using a window?
Asked 12/30/2010
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2 answers
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I’m photographing a maternity session and want to capture a silhouette, but the location may not have a suitable window. Is there another way to light and expose the shot to get a clean silhouette effect?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
8
Light from behind, whether sunlight or articifical will do the trick. This an example I took using a softbox that was behind and to the left:
You can accomplish the same thing with off-camera flash that is diffused or, if in a pinch, even bright home light sources with a sheet in front. Just expose for the background light rather than the foreground subject.
Originally by user472. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user472
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. A silhouette only requires a bright light source behind the subject and an exposure set for that background, not for the person.
You can use sunlight, a softbox, or off-camera flash placed behind and slightly off to one side. If you don’t have studio gear, even a strong household light can work if you diffuse it with something like a sheet. The key is to keep the subject between the camera and the light so the background is much brighter than the front of the subject.
Then expose for the background light. That will let the subject fall dark, creating the silhouette. A clean profile and a simple background shape will usually give the best result.
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