Russ Burden shares tips on how to shoot different kinds of silhouettes at dusk and dawn
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I love photographing at dawn and dusk. I also love the light when the sun hovers near the horizon. If there are clouds in the sky, the color can be magnificently dramatic. If the sky is clear just before the sun rises or after it sets, the cobalt blue color provides a wonderful backdrop. Shooting into this light means it’s time to turn your thoughts to silhouettes. If you try to reveal detail in a subject, you’ll lose the intensity, drama, and color in the sky. So expose for the sky and let your subject go black. The drama it produces can be very rewarding.
SUBJECT MATTER: Look for a subject that has distinct shape and form. It will be reduced to black so it’s essential its outline has character. For instance, a large boulder will turn out as a huge black blob and have no interest. On the other hand, a bare winter cottonwood with intriguing branch formations skylined against a dramatic sky is ideal. Make sure most, if not all, of the subject is skylined. If part of it merges with the horizon, it will result in an image where you can’t tell the difference between the horizon line and the subject.
COMPOSITION and EXPOSURE: If the sky has extreme drama, zoom out and allow the color in the clouds to dominate. Try shooting verticals and horizontals and place the subject in the rule of thirds. For the sake of diversity, zoom the lens to its telephoto setting placing the emphasis on the silhouette. Be careful how you meter. The more space the silhouetted area takes up in the composition, the more you’ll need to compensate to the minus side to maintain detail and color in the sky. Check the histogram and LCD to see how much is necesary. Work quickly and efficiently as the color doesn’t last long. Bracketing will help ensure you get the result you want.
ADVANCED PLANNING: In your travels, whether it’s close to home or a brand new photo destination, do a bit of scouting. Look for subjects that have a distinct shape and return to them at sunrise and sunset. Before you make a commitment to do so, take a compass or GPS reading to see if the potential subject can be skylined against an eastern or western horizon. Know that in the summer, the sun rises further north. Is the subject in the proper place at the proper time of the year? Learning all the behind the scenes facts will help make you a better photographer more efficiently and quickly.
To learn more about this topic, join me on one of my Photographic Nature Tours. Visit www.russburdenphotography.com and click on the NATURE TOURS button for more information. Also, pick up a copy of my new book, Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography. You can purchase a signed copy directly from me or visit your local book store or Amazon. Contact me at rburden@ecentral.com to order your signed copy.
