Technique73 challenge. Have fun with Backlighting.

June 17th, 2017
Thank you so much for voting for my “shirts” in the White Balance technique challenge. I would also like to thank @summerfield for organizing the challenge and for choosing to show an entry from each of the participants. It is very exciting, and a little scary, to have been chosen as the winner of this challenge. Scary because it comes with the job of choosing the next technique: technique73

After doing a little research it seems that experimenting with Backlighting might be interesting – without going to the full extreme of producing a silhouette.

Wikipedia defines Backlighting as: “the process of illuminating the subject from the back. In other words, the lighting instrument and the viewer face each other, with the subject in between. This creates a glowing effect on the edges of the subject, while other areas are darker. The backlight can be a natural or artificial source of light.”

This is not necessarily the same as producing a silhouette, as the details of the subject can still be seen and should be enhanced by the backlighting. As there has recently been a silhouette challenge I thought we may exclude them from this activity.

So, what to try?:
Flowers, leaves etc which can produce vibrant colours, landscapes, animals and pets with their interesting fur, portraits – where a glowing effect can occur, anything that lets light through it - glass, water, steam, smoke…..

Please feel free to enter just your wonderful backlit image as a stand alone, or in a combined format showing the difference in your subject under normal lighting and under backlighting. You may enter as many images as you wish.

There are lots of online sites:

https://digital-photography-school.com/weekly-photography-challenge-backlighting-2/ has lots of photos as examples – just keep scrolling down
https://contrastly.com/introduction-to-backlight/ is an introduction to Backlit photography with lots of hints and tips
https://digital-photography-school.com/using-backlight-in-nature-photography/ gives hints on controlling the exposure to give the best results
http://photodoto.com/backlit-photography/ deals with backlit portraits

The starting date is Sunday 18th June (Australian time) and the end date is midnight Sunday 9th July. .
Only photos taken within these dates will be eligible for voting.
Please tag your entries: technique73
It would be great if you could post some of your images to this site.

Looking forward to seeing your creative, backlit entries.
Cheers Rob Z
June 17th, 2017
After reading some of the hints and tips from online I've had a go at this. It seems a bit tricky but here's a starter example:

June 17th, 2017
good one
June 18th, 2017
A day too early for the competition, but here's one from yesterday (I will try more this week and enter them as per above):

June 18th, 2017
And here's today's shot!

June 18th, 2017
@kali66 Thanks Kali. I hope you can post one of our great shots. Cheers Rob
June 18th, 2017
@peadar Hi Peter - it's almost like there's been ESP at work here. These are wonderful examples. Thank you so much for entering them. We'll look forward to the rest of the series. Cheers Rob
June 19th, 2017

I hope this one isn't too early - I believe it was already Sunday in Australia at the time! Definitely going to have a go at some more as I'm enjoying playing...
June 19th, 2017
@samraw Hi Sam - Sunday in Australia sounds fine to me!! I'm pleased you're enjoying this - it was a bit scary deciding what to choose. I've been having a go too and learning lots. I like the atmosphere you've created with this shot - it really puts the emphasis on the boys having fun. Thanks for entering - will look forward to the next version. Cheers Rob Z
June 19th, 2017
June 19th, 2017
Here's another - taking advantage of the sun in UK today!

June 19th, 2017
@brender Hi Brender - thanks for entering your backlit back yard. It's such a great vertical image - from the sunlit leaves, down the sun rays and rope to the swing and sunlit circle. Cheers Rob
June 19th, 2017
@peadar Hi Peter - thanks for another great backlit example. This is a nice combo image showing the colour differences in the backlit and non-backlit areas. Thanks for putting it here. (Glad you've had sun over there - we've just had a week of rain... boring!!)
June 20th, 2017


Doesn't have the halo effect because the sun was just touching it, filtered by the bushes behind. Still count?

June 20th, 2017
This one had the sun in back...

June 20th, 2017
a morning spider web
June 20th, 2017
purple leaf turns crimson in the morning sun
June 20th, 2017
June 20th, 2017
@houser934 Hi Kathryn - thanks for putting up your gorgeous rose. I'm sure it's fine for the challenge - it shows the backlit colour versus the normal colour - especially on that top petal. Cheers Rob Z
June 20th, 2017
@houser934 Doesn't that show up the fine details! Just lovely.
June 20th, 2017
@vankrey Hi Michael - thanks for posting your spider web. When i was reading the online info about this they mentioned that animal hair shines and glows. It seems that spider's webs do the same thing. This is such a good example. Thank you very much. Cheers Rob Z
June 20th, 2017
@vankrey Hi again Michael - it's incredible how the colours actually change with the backlighting. Thanks for posting it here.
June 20th, 2017
@peadar Hi Peter - another interesting example - thanks again for posting it here. This is so simple, yet the more you look at it the more you see in the various light relationships. Cheers Rob
June 21st, 2017
nice idea for a technique challenge
June 21st, 2017
@amyk Thanks Amy - quite a lot of people seem to be having a go. I'm learning lots playing with it too. Thanks for entering your image - I like the way it shows the whole range of greens - really illustrates with and without backlighting.Cheers Rob Z
June 21st, 2017
@peadar i just love the light in this one, Peter!
June 23rd, 2017
June 23rd, 2017
@stimuloog Hi Marloes - thanks for entering and posting this one. It's colours are just wonderful with the backlighting! Cheers Rob
June 24th, 2017
Just had to put this fellow up - not for entry though. He certainly gives the backlight effect a demonic note.....those eyes!!


June 24th, 2017
June 25th, 2017
@kerristephens Hi Kerri - thanks for posting this here and entering it into the challenge. It's produced great colours in the petals. Hibiscus I'm guessing. Cheers Rob Z
June 26th, 2017
how can I post my photo here for techniwue73?thanks
June 26th, 2017
I was seimming in the Greek sea when I realized that the shining net that was admiring below me was nothing else than the water surface BACKLIT by the sun. So why not to send it for the technique73 challenge? However for some reason the picture that I uploaded does not have a title nor the description that I put here nor alas the tag! Sorry for being sotechnically illiterate
June 26th, 2017
June 27th, 2017
June 27th, 2017
June 28th, 2017
June 28th, 2017
June 28th, 2017
@caterina Hi Caterina - thanks for posting both of these - they are great backlit examples. Cheers Rob
June 28th, 2017
@robz thanks. Trying to learn!
June 29th, 2017
June 29th, 2017
@salza Hi Sally - thanks for posting this gorgeous fellow, with his glowing fur, onto the thread.-I love the look he's giving you! Cheers Rob
July 1st, 2017


And another one I entered earlier!
July 1st, 2017
July 2nd, 2017
@farmreporter Hi wendy - thanks for posting to the thread - The backlit grasses are excellent also. I fear I am going to find this seriously difficult to narrow done to 5 finalists!! There are so many fantastic entries!
July 3rd, 2017
I have been wanting to try this challenge, and finally got a shot or two at it over the weekend.
July 4th, 2017
@helenhall Thanks Helen Jane for posting this to the thread. It's a beautiful example. Cheers Rob
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