ASSIGNMENT 10

Rim Light

ASSIGNMENT

In a similar situation as the perfect silhouette, your goal is to now try and capture someone backlit in front of a dark background. Only the rim light around your subject will define the shape. If done well, this can create quite a dramatic photograph.

TECHNIQUE

We saw earlier that in order for your silhouette to really stand out, it is best to shoot from a low angle so that you capture the most sky behind your subject as possible. There are times when this will not be possible. For example, you may be in a covered passageway with lots of light coming in at the end but unable to isolate the human form in the opening. In situations like this, the subject being backlit against a dark background will only stand out with the beautiful rim light that outlines their features. Sometimes the rim light will only be partial, when just one side of the body will be defined. These shots are usually stronger in black and white. The settings on your camera will be similar to capturing silhouettes. You will often need to dial the exposure compensation down a few stops to keep the darks really dark. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Rim Light at the Fair / St. Paul, Minnesota, 2016

Against the background, my subject stands out only thanks to the rim light defining her contours.

Fujifilm X-Pro2, 35mm, f/4, 1/850 sec., ISO 200