***Acurazine Photo Contest #27: Backlight***
12-24-2008, 08:06 PM
#1
Creepy guy in the mirror.
Thread Starter
***Acurazine Photo Contest #27: Backlight***
Acurazine Photo Contest #27
The theme for this contest is: "Backlight"
Backlighting refers to lighting in a photograph that comes from behind an object. One of the most common 'rules' tells a photographer to have the source of the light behind the photographer. In backlighting the source of the light is behind the subject, or may be the subject itself. It is considered to be one of the more difficult lighting situations and as such many avoid it.
The rules for this contest are as follows:
-The subject of can be anything you deem acceptable.
-You must be the person that took the photos. Previous photos are acceptable as long as you are the one that captured the image.
-One submission per contest.
-Images must be no larger than 900px in any direction. Links to larger images are allowed but you must have one that is under 900px for the poll.
-All contestants must host their own pictures.
-All pictures must have a title.
-While post processing in photoshop is allowed, adding or removing parts of the picture is not. In the event a photo is suspected to be "photochopped," the contestant will be asked to provide the original picture.
Important dates and poll info:
Entries must be submitted to this thread no later than Sunday, February 1st at 6pm PST.
The poll will start on Monday, February 2nd . Multiple votes will be allowed.
The poll will close on Monday, February 9th at 6pm PST.
The theme for this contest is: "Backlight"
Backlighting refers to lighting in a photograph that comes from behind an object. One of the most common 'rules' tells a photographer to have the source of the light behind the photographer. In backlighting the source of the light is behind the subject, or may be the subject itself. It is considered to be one of the more difficult lighting situations and as such many avoid it.
The rules for this contest are as follows:
-The subject of can be anything you deem acceptable.
-You must be the person that took the photos. Previous photos are acceptable as long as you are the one that captured the image.
-One submission per contest.
-Images must be no larger than 900px in any direction. Links to larger images are allowed but you must have one that is under 900px for the poll.
-All contestants must host their own pictures.
-All pictures must have a title.
-While post processing in photoshop is allowed, adding or removing parts of the picture is not. In the event a photo is suspected to be "photochopped," the contestant will be asked to provide the original picture.
Important dates and poll info:
Entries must be submitted to this thread no later than Sunday, February 1st at 6pm PST.
The poll will start on Monday, February 2nd . Multiple votes will be allowed.
The poll will close on Monday, February 9th at 6pm PST.
12-24-2008, 08:22 PM
#2
nice theme, damn I have to think...
12-24-2008, 11:14 PM
#5
Only had a second to snap this candid shot during a visit to the zoo, as she was just another visitor and Dad was right next to her. 
Intrigue
The black border was the edge of the aquarium window pane, not added to the photo.
Intrigue
The black border was the edge of the aquarium window pane, not added to the photo.
12-24-2008, 11:40 PM
#7
I need some clarification on this...
There is possible contradiction here. Backlighting is when the source of the light is behind the photographer, which you said in the first sentence I quoted. However, in the second sentence, you said the light is behind the subject. If you had backlighting (a light source from behind you, the photographer), and you were taking a portrait, the light source would be in front of the subject, not behind.
I thought maybe that was a typo until I saw SS's entry (which I think is an awesome pick btw, SS). SS's photo is using front lighting. There is hardly any, if at all backlighting in her picture. Her picture is almost completely front-lit (light coming from in front of the photographer) unless there is an interpretation I missed.
Can you clarify if you meant this contest is for
-Backlighting (lighting from behind the photographer, where as such if you were taking a front facing portrait, the light source would be in the individuals face), or
-Frontlighting (lighting in front of the photographer, where as such if you were taking a front facing portrait, the light source would be behind the individuals face)?
One of the most common 'rules' tells a photographer to have the source of the light behind the photographer. In backlighting the source of the light is behind the subject, or may be the subject itself.
I thought maybe that was a typo until I saw SS's entry (which I think is an awesome pick btw, SS). SS's photo is using front lighting. There is hardly any, if at all backlighting in her picture. Her picture is almost completely front-lit (light coming from in front of the photographer) unless there is an interpretation I missed.
Can you clarify if you meant this contest is for
-Backlighting (lighting from behind the photographer, where as such if you were taking a front facing portrait, the light source would be in the individuals face), or
-Frontlighting (lighting in front of the photographer, where as such if you were taking a front facing portrait, the light source would be behind the individuals face)?
Last edited by TS_eXpeed; 12-24-2008 at 11:42 PM.
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12-24-2008, 11:46 PM
#9
This was taken in an 'underground' aquarium viewing area. The only light in this photo was from the sunlight shining down on the water. The little girl is almost completely in silhouette (backlit). If it were lit from the front (or exposed that way), the girl would no longer appear in shadow.
12-24-2008, 11:46 PM
#10
Not necessarily. Lets make this basic.
If you had a photographer, a model and a flashlight shining on the model from behind the photographer, that would be backlight, but the light would be in front of the model (the subject), not behind it.
If you had a photographer, a model and a flashlight shining on the model from behind the photographer, that would be backlight, but the light would be in front of the model (the subject), not behind it.
12-24-2008, 11:47 PM
#11
This was taken in an 'underground' aquarium viewing area. The only light in this photo was from the sunlight shining down on the water. The little girl is almost completely in silhouette (backlit).
Last edited by TS_eXpeed; 12-24-2008 at 11:49 PM.
12-24-2008, 11:53 PM
#12
Photography Nerd
Originally Posted by dictionary.com
back⋅light /ˈbækˌlaɪt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [bak-lahyt] Show IPA Pronunciation
noun, verb, -light⋅ed or -lit, -light⋅ing.
–noun 1. Movies, Television. a light source placed behind an actor, object, or scene to create a highlight that separates the subject from the background.
–verb (used with object) 2. to illuminate (something) from behind.
noun, verb, -light⋅ed or -lit, -light⋅ing.
–noun 1. Movies, Television. a light source placed behind an actor, object, or scene to create a highlight that separates the subject from the background.
–verb (used with object) 2. to illuminate (something) from behind.
12-24-2008, 11:56 PM
#13
I've been Canonized ;)
Backlighting isn't from the photographer's back, but from the subject's facing the photographer. Street Spirit's photo is correct.
Wiki= In the context of lighting design, backlighting refers to the process of illuminating the subject from the back. In other words, the lighting instrument and the viewer are facing towards each other, with the subject in between. This causes the edges of the subject to glow, while the other areas remain darker.
Wiki= In the context of lighting design, backlighting refers to the process of illuminating the subject from the back. In other words, the lighting instrument and the viewer are facing towards each other, with the subject in between. This causes the edges of the subject to glow, while the other areas remain darker.
12-24-2008, 11:59 PM
#14
Jesus Christ.
I would've bet my life on it.
What tripped me up is the quote I quoted since it contradicts itself.
Lighting is not behind the photographer as the original posts suggests.
My bad.
Ignore my noobism. I would've sworn my life it was the other way around.
I would've bet my life on it.
What tripped me up is the quote I quoted since it contradicts itself.
Lighting is not behind the photographer as the original posts suggests.
My bad.
Ignore my noobism. I would've sworn my life it was the other way around.
Last edited by TS_eXpeed; 12-25-2008 at 12:01 AM.
12-25-2008, 12:01 AM
#15
You've gotten confused because you interpreted the two sentences you quoted as referring to the same subject matter. My understanding of reading the OP's words are that the first sentence ("....common rules...") is that he is referring to a general rule of thumb when wanting a properly exposed image that most people look for. The OP's following sentence speaks of the complete opposite idea (NOT following the "basic rule" he stated in the sentence prior) and then goes on to talk about backlight. He made a transition of ideas between those two sentences.
IMO, you haven't misunderstood it, you've just misread it. Think of those two sentences as separate paragraphs.
IMO, you haven't misunderstood it, you've just misread it. Think of those two sentences as separate paragraphs.
12-25-2008, 12:07 AM
#17
I've been Canonized ;)
Welcome to life.
from the photog section.
12-25-2008, 12:15 AM
#20
12-25-2008, 03:13 AM
#21
is learning to moonwalk i
Cool topic. Looking forward to the entries.
Not necessarily. Lights are also commonly referred to as "camera left" or "camera right" - at least in some of the POTN forums.
Not necessarily. Lights are also commonly referred to as "camera left" or "camera right" - at least in some of the POTN forums.
12-25-2008, 09:11 AM
#22
Earth-bound misfit
I 
backlight. Good topic!
backlight. Good topic!
12-31-2008, 12:28 PM
#24
Senior Moderator
I read that link and still have a doubt... can a backlit shot use a flash to light up the front of the subject and still be considered a "backlighting" shot?
12-31-2008, 12:40 PM
#26
Senior Moderator
The reason I have doubts about it is because in that link, there is an area called "Backlit but not silhouetted". And, I'm wondering what kind of pics would fall under that distinction.
12-31-2008, 12:56 PM
#27
is learning to moonwalk i
My interpretation is it could be either, however, I don't think it would qualify if the subject is completely (well) lit from the front - and just happens to have light coming form behind, too.
12-31-2008, 12:58 PM
#28
Earth-bound misfit
These are not intended as entries..just examples of backlighting without silhouetting.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/253743975/" title="Backlit Purple by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/112/253743975_0b1d161a4d.jpg" width="500" height="351" alt="Backlit Purple" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/270718781/" title="The Sun Peeks Over by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/270718781_0514a17292.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="The Sun Peeks Over" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/253540610/" title="Grass with dew by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/253540610_6c014b5e14.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Grass with dew" /></a>
It depends on your subject and more importantly your exposure.
If either of these subjects were against the sky, and I had exposed for the sky, they'd be silhouetted. As it is, the primary light source is behind them, but either because of the translucent nature of the subject or the ambient light, or a combination of both, I was able to expose for the subject without losing the background and none of them are silhouettes.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/253743975/" title="Backlit Purple by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/112/253743975_0b1d161a4d.jpg" width="500" height="351" alt="Backlit Purple" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/270718781/" title="The Sun Peeks Over by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/270718781_0514a17292.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="The Sun Peeks Over" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxiephotos/253540610/" title="Grass with dew by wndrlst, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/253540610_6c014b5e14.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Grass with dew" /></a>
It depends on your subject and more importantly your exposure.
If either of these subjects were against the sky, and I had exposed for the sky, they'd be silhouetted. As it is, the primary light source is behind them, but either because of the translucent nature of the subject or the ambient light, or a combination of both, I was able to expose for the subject without losing the background and none of them are silhouettes.
12-31-2008, 12:59 PM
#29
Earth-bound misfit
I would think a flash would qualify as another light source that is giving front-light. In all the examples I posted, the only real light source is behind the subject, but they are exposed such that they are still lit.
Make sense?
Make sense?
12-31-2008, 01:00 PM
#30
Creepy guy in the mirror.
Thread Starter
For this topic I would like to see "backlight" include "sihouettes" as well as "backlit but not silhouetted".
Examples might include:
- subject is lit from behind and silhouetted
- subject is lit from behind primarily, but may be highlighted from the front or side (though the front/side lighting is not the primary light source)
- subject may be the source of light (ie sunset would qualify, but moonscape would not)
Lemme know if I need to clarify at all...
Edit: I composed my response at the same time as wndrlst. Her examples are perfect. They are backlit, but have ambient or reflected light that is exposing the front of the subject. Still, they are primarily backlit.
Last edited by JLatimer; 12-31-2008 at 01:03 PM.
12-31-2008, 01:02 PM
#31
Senior Moderator
ok GOT IT!!! 
12-31-2008, 01:09 PM
#32
Photography Nerd
I think wonder woman posted a great set of examples. Yes, backlighting doesn't mean the subject has to be in perfect silhouette, it just means that the only light used in the scene is behind the subject. If the light comes from behind the subject and in its natural path happens to bounce around and slightly fill the front of the subject, that's fine too.
Ultimately, it just boils down to this: it must be obvious that the light is coming from behind the subject, not from in front of it. Using fill-flash or even reflectors would probably confuse the issue more than it would help.
Ultimately, it just boils down to this: it must be obvious that the light is coming from behind the subject, not from in front of it. Using fill-flash or even reflectors would probably confuse the issue more than it would help.
12-31-2008, 03:29 PM
#34
Big Block go VROOOM!
And to make matters more confusing, when you combine the just the right atmospheric conditions with just the right lighting conditions, you can get a diffraction fringe around your subject that makes it appear to be both silhouetted and "traditionally" backlit at the same time.
http://flickr.com/photos/touchingthelight/2102019585/
http://flickr.com/photos/touchingthelight/2102019585/
12-31-2008, 05:14 PM
#36
Senior Moderator
dontcha just love these contests hehe
have a safe and happy new year everyone
have a safe and happy new year everyone
12-31-2008, 07:37 PM
#39
Super Car Enthusiast
12-31-2008, 07:43 PM
#40
The Third Ball
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