One of the most compelling aspects of silhouettes is their native simplicity. They often tell one story while allowing the viewer to fill in the details of other stories with their imagination.
“To be truly iconic, you need to be able to be recognized in a silhouette”
-Slash from Guns ‘n Roses
Because so many elements are obscured or hidden, silhouette photography is inherently dramatic and mysterious.
To take effective silhouette images you’ll need to use back lighting. This means the light has to come from behind your subject.
Look for separation. It’s the space around the subject that defines it. If there is no separation between the subject and other elements in the image, the silhouette loses its recognizable shape.
- A silhouette is a dark subject photographed against a bright background
- The subject may be a person or an object
- Aim to capture form and shape
- Some elements are left undefined
- The viewer fills in the details
