5-Minute Backlight Photography Tips
- Nikon D4S 16.2 MP CMOS FX Digital SLR
- Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens
- Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens
How often are you out during the daytime wanting to take photos, but find yourself stymied by the harsh daytime lighting? When the sun is high in the sky, it produces harsh shadows, blown out highlights, and generally doesn’t look all that great, especially if you’re taking a portrait or if the sun is illuminating the subject from the front.
Indeed, midday lighting isn’t ideal, and it often leads many photographers to simply give up, put their cameras down, and move on to some other activity.
But that doesn’t have to be the case!
By simply changing the direction you shoot and placing the sun behind the subject, you can gain more control over the light. When the scene is backlit, your subject is in shadow, so rather than having washed out, bright light, you have nice, even, soft light illuminating their face. What’s more, you can use the backlighting to highlight your subject’s form, which is perfect for portraiture.
In the video below, Corey Rich from Adorama TV gets into the nitty gritty of using backlighting to improve your photos. Give it a quick look, and see how his tips can change the way you tackle daytime photography.