A Quick Guide to Perfect Silhouettes

In the Digital SLR Photography CC Facebook group I belong to we have started to run weekend challenges with the owner of the image that receives the most 'likes' choosing the subject of the next challenge.  This weekend's challenge is 'silhouettes' and this is one of my favourite photographic genres.  It is also dead easy to learn.

Sail boat sunset - off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa - Nikon D90 + Sigma 50-500 f4/f6.3

The subject has to be strong and it also has to be backlit (ie the light source is behind the subject).  This usually means sunlight but you can use off camera flash, a street light or other bright source of illumination.

My silhouettes are usually landscapes but I have used the technique to shoot wildlife as well.  The technique is very simple.  

  • Find a suitable subject with a strong light source behind.
  • Set your camera on aperture priority or manual exposure at around f8 or f11 and take a meter reading off a bright part of the frame (not the brightest part).  Spot metering is perfect for silhouette photography but you can also use centre weighted metering if your camera doesn't have spot.  NOTE: If your light source is the sun be careful not to look directly at it through the lens, it can damage your eyesight.
  • Reframe your shot with the exposure reading set in the camera and take you image. Check the image on the LCD and adjust the exposure if necessary.
All of the images on this blog post have been taken using this method.

Cape Bulbul - Walker Bay Nature Reserve, South Africa - Nikon D90 + Sigma 50-500 f4/f6.3

Walker Bay Nature Reserve, South Africa - Nikon D90 + Sigma 18-50 f2.8

Lismore Lighthouse, Sound of Mull, Scotland - Nikon D90 + Sigma 50-500 f4/f6.3
Windmill at Thurne, Norfolk Broads - Nikon D50 + Sigma 18-55

Monza, Italy - Nikon D90 + Nikon 80-200 f2.8

Tignano. Tuscany - Nikon D700 + Nikon 80-200 f2.8

Tuscan Sunset - Nikon D700 + Nikon 80-200 f2.8

Albert Memorial - Hyde Park, London - Nikon D50
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