How do you take a silhouette? It’s pretty easy most of the time. However, it can take some experimentation to get right. If you get it perfect, you can capture some truly fantastic images.

The basic end point you are trying to achieve is to underexpose your subject. The best way to do this, and for it to have some effect, is to have your subject against a bright background – the sky or a window and to expose for the background.

When outdoors, point the camera at the sky (not the sun) to get your exposure and either transfer those readings manually or use “exposure lock” to keep them in the camera when you take the shot (this can be achieved often by pressing the shutter halfway down and holding it there whilst you recompose for the subject). If indoors, have your subject against a window and expose for the window light itself.

The brighter the sky (or window light) the more contrast there will be between the subject and the background and therefore the silhouette will have greater impact and crispness. Use different settings until you get it right – sometimes the background can turn out a bit muddy looking.

You may need to experiment as the technique is open to distortion because of a number of variables. Give it a try.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

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