Shooting Against the Light

The Challenge of Backlighting

The caption [axiom] - "When the Going Gets Tough - the Tough Get Going" - when adjacent to sports action imagery does easily fit to a tee.  

 No Doubt that that is Universally True - in sports, and in Life.  Right ?

AS far as this post is concerned tho, I'd like to "articulate" that axiom in the context of challenging myself - deliberately giving myself a Hard Time, in the process - that is, in trying to craft "successful" images despite having the stronger light source[s] hitting my DSLR lenses directly [as in line of sight !] [as in extreme cases] and also, as in "safer" scenarios, where the stronger light source[s] illuminates the subjects from behind without spilling into [hitting] my DSLR lens at all.

Backlighting is Tricky [at times Risky], at the very Least - yet Rewarding None the Less, that is - if one Unerstands/Knows what one is Doing - and continually practices.

{   at least trying to manage a decent ratio of useful images - as in 1 out of every 3 - or even 1 out of every 2 shots taken - as in 50% [managable, mind you !]   }

Fact IS,

Having Lens Flare AND Hot Spots [over-exposed portions in an image], which are both unavoidable when shooting against the light [artificial OR natural] --- does make for More Artistic - even ->"More Impactful" images  !!

- Truth be Told  ! than the usually "safe"/generic Front Lit images.

One simply has to practice it {Backlighting} constantly - and eventually, if one is "Good Enough" - one will have proven himself more skillful than others who might have, well, rather "played it safe", as in - "NOT breaking the rules" - as in NOT shooting against the Light.

That Simple guys .....

 After constant, constant [persistent] practice - one can eventually "approximate" the unavoidable ->Image Hot Spots, All Sorts of Reflections, Lens Flare AND/OR whatever Play of Light and Shadow  ----

 { and how it might appear in  an image] and as a result manage, [even Control] Both !  } 

---- ergo, produce a rawness and "imperfection" that will actually give Drama and Soul, and even serve as the HOOK to an extremely backlighted image [two examples above]  AND  make the said image a validation of Photographic Technical Skill and Artistry .

Following below are more backlighted images - taken from a "safer" angle - backlighted nevertheless .....

The Angle AND Intensity of the backlighting will determine the "brightness range" of an image. 

Brightness Range is the DIFFERENCE in the exposure BETWEEN ANY two portions of an image, and as in the casr w Backlighting ---> the FRONT of an image, as in the measure of light IN FRONT of the subjects [hitting them],  AND the BACK of an image, as in the measure of light hitting the BACK of the subjects AND Also Hitting [or spilling towards the lens] {to a Lesser OR Greater degree}

The Subtleties AND Nuances of Light - determined by the Brightness Range, 

the Angle[s] of the light source[s] and the Intensity of the said light source[s] will then Determine the Degree of Contrast, and the resulting Play of Light, Highlight and Shadow - which will make the Backlighted Image what it IS.

From Subtle to Extreme - Backlighting can create the Softest of highlights to the most Graphic of Textures.

Lens flare, Hotspots, Silver Linings, Halos, "low-key" effects [as in bringing out all sorts of textures imaginable]  - Silhouettes [but of course !!] .....

..... Great [Effective]  Backlighting, is, in itself [Dare I Say !] 
 an Art Form all its own.

Two favorites of mine [above], 

of deftly executed {street photos} Backlighted Images

Yes !

brosi gonzales