What’s meant by Backlighting? Backlighting simply means having the light coming towards the camera from behind whatever it is you’re photographing. It’s also called shooting against the light. Yes I know we were all told to put the light behind us but doing the opposite can yield some super cool photos.
So why is this? Some images like portraits work best in shade and when you shoot into the light the side facing you will be in shade and there’ll be a lovely rim light around them. Translucent things like wine bottles and ice always look their best when the light is coming through them from behind.
When you backlight a photo bear in mind that your camera can become confused because sometimes the background will be much brighter than the foreground. Left to it’s own devices it’ll make the picture darker than you want it because a camera things the world is mid grey (check out our exposure films) and your portrait might become a silhouette. So you might need to overexpose the shot to compensate.
Check out the video and I’ll show you how to expose when backlighting. Or come see us at for many more free photography tutorials, courses, DVDs and workshops.
I'm curious how would that technique work on people who don't have light skin such as Indian, African, etc?
Its funny when you struggle with af/l plus ae/l but the sun goes away or the moment. No matter how well the ergonomics and functioning access of the cam is you still see pros with bunch of cams on their necks often with same lenses attached to different bodies.
Great tutorial, Mike.Thank!
Thanks for another great video!! I have been shooting since I was 11 years old (won't tell you how long ago that was, but it involved film and a Canon AE-1 Programme) and I never ever thought of this. Amazing how we can go so many years and still learn something new. Love your videos, the way you explain things so clearly, and the humour. Thanks again!
Great tip, looks like Rushton Hall
Use a hand held meter in incident mode and point the diffuser dome AWAY from the sun to get a perfect exposure. Alternatively, use an 18% reflectance card and meter the shady side. Automatic cameras are GREAT but at times the old school method is just as good and quicker.
00:09 – 00:12 oh yeah, you’re a sexy little princess, aren’t you?
Is there a place for flash?
ba ba ba ba booooo….lens flare!
Great video though.
As a beginner it is usually hard to decide for me if I should expose the subject properly and don’t care about the overexposed background or should I underexpose the subject and correct the exposure of the subject only (by masking) in a RAW-editing software later so both background and subject would be similarly exposed.
At the company where I work there was a photo shooting for the HR department. A few days ago I heared a conversation of an amateur photoing girl at the nearby office who was criticizing the photo guy like “even an amateur knows not to put your subject in backlight” 😀 Actually I liked those backlit portraits that the criticized man made.
Nice tutorial, pretty model
Very Constablesque location!
Excellent video. Just noticed however that the pic you shot at 2:52 and the result pic shown at 2:55 are not the same pic. Different arm on Nat's side..
Excellent video, really enjoyed it. Brilliantly presented!
Ok, so hold exposure lock on the back button, but what is you back button focus?, you have to let go to then focus.
couldn't he have used spot metering , which would have properly exposed his subject
Hi Mike I am very confused about back button focus some say yes and some say no.
Well explained going to try that
Fill in external flash would help a lot in this shot by compensating foreground and background exposure
Still watching in 2018!
Nat is pretty
Very helpful.
Thank you
Hi. I have a question about the technique where you are moving in on the subject to use the AE-L button. What is the benefit of this over simply using spot metering on her face from the place you are taking the shot? You could spot meter on her face, hold the AE-L button, recompose and shoot. Is it about producing a more accurate reading from the light meter in your camera? Or simply to avoid the risk of hitting the background while spot-metering? Really curious about this.
How do the "Ringlets of light go"? what sound?
I'm learning a lot from your tutorials. Thank you, master! new subscribere here.
1:31 for a laser shooting
Thank you Mike ! Backlit you look like the saint of photography … 🙂
So, to get the correct exposure I have to do what you did? Walk near my model, fill my frame, hold the auto exposure button, then walk away and retake the shot?
The problem with that is that it blows out your skies. This is why flash is needed when shooting outside if you want to keep your skies blue or keep the details in the sky. 🙂
nice info. tnx
All models who are hot are named Natasha.
Great educational video. Were in the UK was this shot? Your a good teacher, I'm learning.