BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

how to shoot silhouettes against a sunset

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February 27, 2004

If the sun is low in the horizon, and not obscured by haze or cloud cover, you should meter off a portion of the sky which is evenly lit, but not exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Then, using that setting, recompose to include the sun in the frame.
This will render the sky pretty close to how it appears to the naked eye, and record all foreground people and objects as silhouettes. A small aperture of f-16 or higher will maximize depth of field.
Shoot on a slight angle to allow lens flare to fall out of the frame.

If you want more detail in the foreground subjects, meter off the brightest object in the foreground, and compose the scene with very little sky showing, (as it will be over-exposed.)
When done properly, this will add a dramatic back-lit halo to your foreground subjects.
Use a wide to medium aperture (f-4 to f-8), and bracket over and under in 1/2 stop increments.

As always, avoid looking directly toward the sun through your lens, as eye damage may result.

Good luck!

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February 27, 2004