One of my goals for the new year is to try some new things. Would you believe I have never shot a human silhouette before in my life? We took a drive out to a new location yesterday evening and it was the perfect spot to try some of these. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
The images are great, as usually. But I really happy for you exploring a new horizons. I think you have a lot of talent and trying new things will only make you a better and complete artist.
Being from the Southwest, I'm a sucker for silhouettes. Here in Chicago, I rarely get a clean horizon, and even if I do, it's rarely sunny here. So I really appreciate when a sunset silhouette falls in my lap.
I really like what you've got here. Is that Octavia? I like how she's clearly the center of attention in the shot, that's the way I like to see these.
In No. 1, I would have tried to get even lower to get that horizontal band of cloud that crosses her thighs down below her, out of the shot. That band is dark, and competes with her silhouette.
Interestingly, I'm looking at all three of these and wondering about what to do with her arms. I usually shoot dancers or couples as sunset silhouettes, so I use their arms as part of the silhouette. Just not sure what I would have done with the arms here, but I'd probably want them off the body. Everything else is perfect, love what you're doing with her legs, she's sideways so you can see her face profile.
Awesome series! Looking forward to seeing how you develop this new adventure, what directions you take with it.
Great first go. I've shot a few of these and one thing I notice that helps add to these images is some separation between the arms and the body. Having the light pass through between the arm and the body helps so you don't end up with a featureless torso.
Thank you guys, and thank you so much for the detailed feedback, Ron. I did struggle with not knowing what to do with the arms. They were tricky. Plus, it was cold out so we only had a short time as the girls were complaining. lol The first 2 are Millie and the last one is Octavia.
I like 3 very much, however, you should consider removing the stars (?) from the clouds reflecting the orange sun. They look good up in the dark blue sky.
Lisa, great photography once again. I attended a seminar a few years ago given by Rebecca Spencer. Her suggestions for people silhouttes was that keep the people in an action mode. DO NOT keep limbs close to body. Here is her website..while it appears you have already accomplished 99 % of her recommendations, it will confirm her advice about people's limbs.
But then again I have read and seen recommendations just the opposite..keep arms legs close to body. But in reviewing images in silhoutte, i prefer the arms legs in action and the body just not "at attention". But again, it depends on the background setting and placement of the silhoutte in that frame. I think here is whre YOU will shine! You never cease to amaze me with your fantastic compostions of people. So experiment on to my delight and the delight of others here..PLEASE!!!!
Again...you never diminish my expectations when I view your compositions! Just pure pleasure! Wish you would head East soon for some "show and tell".
Dan
I'll limit my comments to the first image, which I like a lot. To me, the most interesting parts of the photo are the clouds immediately surrounding Millie and the foreground. If I were to edit this one, I'd probably crop it way down but include as much of the foreground as reasonably prudent, and then see if I could bring out a bit more detail in the foreground. Not too much, just a bit more.
As with the others, I'm happy to see you trying something new.
I'm a fan of #3. This is something I really want to try as well. Living in Tennessee, it's nothing but hills, and getting a silhouette of anything is very difficult. I will be proud if my first effort (when I get to try) is as good as these.
#3 for me. It's a lovely balance of the sunset light and the starry sky. The pose - leaning forward, looking up - lets me read yearning into the shot. I find myself wondering what she's feeling.
So that one brings emotion and mystery to the game. Winner.
