-Learning-Photographing Silhouettes
A silhouette is an image with a darker subject against the light
or bright background. Silhouettes have been very popular among the art lovers since long. If clicked properly, Silhouettes attract the viewers very
intensively. A silhouette can portray a whole story. With a few points in mind we can
photograph such images exclusivity.
1. Strong Subject: Our subject should be
powerful. If we aim at a weak subject, our image will not leave impact on
viewers’ mind. We should try to choose the subject with interesting shapes and
curves. When our subjects are human beings, we have to aim at shooting their
profiles in order to capture their feelings and expressions.
2. Story Telling Value: The image should convey
some story. A flat image with no message will not be appreciated.
3. Concentration on Limited Subjects: We have to avoid so many subjects in our image. A mix of
various subjects often destroys the image. On the other hand aiming at limited
subjects strengthens the photograph.
4. Proper Light and Situation: The best situation to
photograph a silhouette is that of early morning or late
evening when the sun/bright sky is behind the subject. Furthermore, shooting
the silhouette against the sky with miraculous formations of cloud results into
amazing images. While shooting indoor we can place the subject against a
door, a window or an arch which is allowing the bright light coming inside from
the back. Here a window or an arch works as a good frame.
5. Exposure: Correct
exposure plays very important role. We should give exposure according to the
brighter background and not according to the subject. This will darken the
subject dramatically turning the picture into fantastic piece of art.
6. Focusing: Since a silhouette is
the presentation of a subject in unique way, we have to focus the main subject
prominently. Not only this, the background also plays important role. In order
to get well focused background we have to set the aperture at small size. i.e.,
at f 22, f 16, f 11 etc.
7. Aesthetic Presentation: A flat silhouette
photograph has no meaning. We should always aim at the image that has the
potency to attract one at first sight. Here our aesthetic sense works a lot.
Some have this sense as a gift of God, while some others develop it with their
constant efforts in the field of art and by seeing masterpieces of other
artists. An aesthetically perfect image is that which gives a feel of pleasure and peace at first sight.
(Images Courtesy: Mr. Rajeev Kashyap, Mr. Abhijit Dharmadhikari, Mr. Bherulal M Kanoja, Mr. Atul Choubey and Mr. Devendra Sharma)
--Dr.
Pankaj Sharma
