01-31-2022, 03:43 AM
For February the set subject at our camera club is “Silhouettes”. So, I have been working on silhouette images over the past couple of weeks.
Reading our set subject guidelines, I noted that silhouettes are supposed to have the dark portion being a flat homogeneous area without any detail. Looking on the web at many examples of artwork, I find that this is generally the case, and most definitions of silhouettes do mention a homogeneous flat area. However, my own work has led me to the conclusion that I far prefer photographic silhouettes to have some hint of texture in the dark area. Of course, it is much easier editing wise to stick to a flat dark area.
So, at the end of the day, all of the images that I plan to submit, have some hint of detail in the dark area. Attached is one of these titled “Photographer at Bogenfels Arch”.
The photo was taken at about 14:00 on a hazy day – there was no clear horizon line. I obviously enhanced the sky and darkened the arch. However, I found that it improved the image IMO to add back a hint of the arch’s texture, although the man and his immediate vicinity is certainly a flat dark area.
regards - Pete
Reading our set subject guidelines, I noted that silhouettes are supposed to have the dark portion being a flat homogeneous area without any detail. Looking on the web at many examples of artwork, I find that this is generally the case, and most definitions of silhouettes do mention a homogeneous flat area. However, my own work has led me to the conclusion that I far prefer photographic silhouettes to have some hint of texture in the dark area. Of course, it is much easier editing wise to stick to a flat dark area.
So, at the end of the day, all of the images that I plan to submit, have some hint of detail in the dark area. Attached is one of these titled “Photographer at Bogenfels Arch”.
The photo was taken at about 14:00 on a hazy day – there was no clear horizon line. I obviously enhanced the sky and darkened the arch. However, I found that it improved the image IMO to add back a hint of the arch’s texture, although the man and his immediate vicinity is certainly a flat dark area.
regards - Pete