Lessons on Light: Backlit photography

In available light photography the photographer seeks to use the light around him to his or her best advantage to achieve the exact affect they are after.  Back-lighting, front-lighting, and side-lighting are the three main lighting options available.  The type of light you choose dramatically affects the over-all feel of an image.

Back-lighting involves placing the light source directly behind the subject.  In contrast, front-lit subjects are placed with their faces directly toward the light source.  When the light source lights the subject from either side, it is referred to as side-lighting.

Today I'd like to focus on back-lighting.  If you take a look at my portfolio on my website, you will notice that I tend to gravitate toward back-lit photography.  As I am learning to see light differently, this is changing.  Yet, especially this time of year, I still love to use back-lighting to take advantage of its illuminating affect on the wonderful fall colors (Yes, even in Texas we get fall color.).  

As you can see in this first image below, there's nothing quite like tree leaves seemingly on fire from the sun shining through from behind.  If your goal is to capture fall colors in all their glory, then you should purposefully seek out back-lighting for those images. It's the sun shining through the back of a leaf that helps to create the glow that helps to bring out all those wonderful tiny details and veins within each leaf.

In portrait photography, I especially love how backlighting leaves a golden halo around the subject's hair and shoulders.  The danger, however, is that you risk losing your subject's face in the shadows.  To avoid this, be sure to place your subject where there is enough ambient light to light their faces as well.  

Take a look at the image of the little boy below.  The light coming in from the window behind him is reflected off the white wall directly in front of him.  This perfectly fills in all shadows giving the appearance of a front-lit portrait.  

It always pays to take a good look at your subject's face before taking each shot.  Make sure the subject's face is well lit. Look for areas where the light will reflect back into your subject's face - using a reflector can help (although I never use one myself).  Most importantly, always take your meter reading off your subject's face to be sure it is properly exposed.

All of these images were taken using back-lit lighting.  Though it may not be the most ideal type of lighting for portrait work, I think a part of me will always love it.  

Now, quick, before all the fall color is long gone, go create your own back-lit masterpiece.