HOW–TO

Extraordinary Light

Learn to use the subtleties of illumination for dramatic landscape images

This Article Features Photo Zoom

Frontlit Silhouettes

Frontlit Silhouettes

Some silhouettes have become visual clichés: Think of a dark tree against the sky or a sailboat before the setting sun. These classics are always backlit; for something different, use frontlight. Keep the sun at your back and look for a shaded object with an interesting shape. If you can place this object against that bright, sunlit background, you’ve conjured a frontlit silhouette and an image that transcends the cliché.

Creative Color Temperature

Creative Color Temperature

Digital cameras have made us all familiar with white balance and color temperature. While some photographers become obsessed with capturing perfectly neutral white balance, I prefer to use color temperature as a creative tool. An overall tint—like blue or magenta—can add to the mood. Sunrise and sunset provide vivid contrasts between different color temperatures: anything lit by the sun turns orange, pink or red, while everything else is blue.

Shooting in RAW allows you to delay these decisions. Later, while sitting in front of your monitor, you can choose a neutral, cool or warm cast. For sunrises and sunsets, keep the white balance around 5,000 K (daylight)—unless you’re trying to be really creative!

  « Previous Page  |  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  Next Page »