Technology changes with time, but the fundamentals and recipes in photography remains. This article was first published in 2006, revised in 2018
There is a reason why many photographers choose to shoot only during certain hours which is popularly known as the golden light period. This period is usually in the early sunny morning and late sunny afternoon when the quality of light is good and not harsh. At the same time, one will also have many opportunities to experience a lighting phenomena call “Backlight”.
Backlighting is a technique which many photographers like to adopt for their shots, be it for portraits, floral shots, still life etc. It is not hard to find many award winning shots which have elements of backlighting and this is why many serious photographers would grab every opportunity to take pictures in an early sunny morning or late afternoon. They can also make use of the studio strobe lights in a studio to create the backlighting effect. Outdoor backlighting is beyond the control of the photographers as they cannot control the lighting from the sun. A cloudy day will certainly spoil the day.
No special lenses are needed to capture the backlighting effect. The handphone camera with its Program mode is able to do the job well outdoor. But of course, the Digital SLRs and Mirrorless cameras provide the photographers with more options to play with, such as the higher range of ISO and wider range of aperture amongst others.
One main problem would probably be camera shake due to shutter speed slower than 1/(focal length). In this case, you may have to consider using a higher ISO and a bigger aperture to get you a faster shutter speed to minimize camera shake.
The below shall serve as a useful guide to aid you.
The ingredients for getting good shots with backlighting:
- The best time to get good backlighting will be early morning or late evening on a sunny and non-cloudy day. The quality of light is at its optimum during this period known as the golden light period.
- It is important to have a prominent main subject. Every picture should have a main subject and you can execute the backlighting technique on the subject.
- Choose a darker background so that the backlight effect on the subject can stand out.
- The light must come from the back of the subject.
- Use a lens hood to help minimize lens flare.
No doubt these simple tips look so simple; it can be a challenge to spot the main subject and the angle with which to execute the backlighting. It is good to look at more pictures where this technique is executed and analyze how the photographers choose their main subject and angle.
With the above in mind, you can use this technique and begin your quest for the backlit shot.
Matrix metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO100, Program Mode, Shutter speed 1/125s, Aperture f3.5
We were in Chiangrai, Thailand when our minibus passed by this dirt track. The lighting was exceptionally good and the dirt track proved to be a good place for some backlighting shot. We waited for a while and set our camera settings. ISO 100 was sufficient to result in a fast shutter speed of 1/125s with the P mode. We were rewarded by 2 cyclists. However, they cycled too fast. One boy was trying to catch up with them but gave up. We took our aim and fired away when he got into our view. The “rim light” effect around the boy’s body outline is characteristic of backlighting.
Center weighted metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO400, Program Mode, Shutter speed 1/125s, Aperture f3.5
It was a very cold morning when this shot was taken. We were seeking shelter in a tea house where the waitress was clearing the table. She breathed hard and the condensation of her breath was highlighted by the strong morning light. Her body outline was clearly defined by the light. ISO400 was used to ensure a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action and minimize camera shake.
Centre Weighted metering, ISO250, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter speed 1/500s, Aperture f4.5
A walk in the market place in Xinjiang saw this fruit seller selling his load of grapes. He raised a bunch of grapes and posed for this picture. It was late morning and the lighting began to appear a little harsher. The backlighting “illuminates” the grapes hence rendering it a fresh green colour. I decided to use ISO 250 despite the bright lighting condition as I needed as faster shutter speed to shoot in the shade where the lighting can be low at times. Candid shots do not give second chance if you missed it. Though he posed for me but it is always good to capture the very first moments when he first posed as the expression will be more natural.
Centre Weighted metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO320, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter speed 1/500s, Aperture f7.1
The isolated leaves were spotted on a branch and they were “illuminated” by the backlighting. Centre weighted was used as the exposure was based on the leaves which happened to be in the centre region of the frame. A slightly smaller aperture of f7.1 was used as I wanted the trunk and branches to be relatively sharp. I did not bring my tripod, hence a higher ISO 320 helped to result in a faster shutter speed to minimize camera shake.
3-D Matrix metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO125, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter speed 1/250s, Aperture f3.5
The classic “rim light” effect of the backlighting was exhibited here when the backlight shone on this monk. The lighting was strong hence an ISO 125 is good enough to result in a faster shutter speed to minimize camera shake. A telephoto lens and big aperture of f3.5 were used to render the background blur due to a smaller depth of field. I shot many pictures of this angle so that I have more choices to choose from.
Centre weighted metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO100, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter speed 1/750s, Aperture f3.5
We were waiting for our tour bus and there was this thick growth of lalang next to us. The backlight highlighted the lalang and they looked like dancing flames in the bushes as the gust of wind swept past. The lighting was very strong and a fast shutter speed of 1/750s froze the lalang. Some digital enhancement was made with the “shadow/highlight” feature of the Adobe Photoshop to bring out the details of the background.
Centre weighted metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO100, Program Mode, Shutter speed 1/90s, Aperture f4.5
This model has very nice dyed thick hair. We posed her at the doorway where the morning light shone into the corridor. Her hair glowed beautifully. A reflector was placed a distance away from her face to avoid harsh direct reflection. This resulted in her face appearing to be naturally lit. We avoided having a flash fired on her face or a reflector put close to her as these will result in a harsh light which may look unnatural.
Centre Weighted metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO100, Program Mode, Shutter speed 1/250s, Aperture f4
Obviously a bad hair day for this monkey at the zoo. Its hair was standing and it was scratching itself. The backlight highlighted its standing hair. ISO 100 was good enough to result in a fast shutter speed as the lighting was strong.
3-D Matrix metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO400, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter speed 1/250s, Aperture f5.6
This morning shot which was captured in Lijiang Old Town in China saw a lady’s body outline highlighted by the backlighting. The dark background revealed the “rim light” very well. A higher ISO 400 was used to result in a faster shutter speed to capture her sweeping the floor. I stayed in my position and shot many shots as different passer-bys walked past her. Keyword here is to avoid clutter of too many people.
Matrix metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO320, Aperture Priority Mode, Shutter speed 1/500s, Aperture f2.8
Dancers gathering for a rehearsal for a major event held in Chiangmai, Thailand. The setting sun emitted a nice glow of golden light which shone on the dancers. Aperture f2.8 was used to throw the background out of focus and a higher ISO 320 was used to result in a faster shutter speed to capture them. There was no second chance as the dancers walked away quickly. I hardly had time to compose the picture as they were rushing away. In such cases, I would shoot as many pictures as possible and choose the better pictures later, given this nice setting and beautiful subjects.
Centre Weighted metering, Daylight White Balance, ISO200, Program Mode, Shutter speed 1/400s, Aperture f5.6
This specie of orchid had its edge highlighted by the backlighting. I chose an angle where the background was dark green (dark green trees) so that the “rim effect” was obvious. It was a sunny morning and I was using a telephoto lens. ISO 200 was used and the focal length was 300mm. The shutter speed of 1/400s was fast enough to minimize camera shake with the long lens.
