How to shoot silhouettes pics against sunset?

16th June 2003

I am always impressed by pictures of silhouettes (whether people, trees or buildings) against the golden sunset. Can someone offer any tips on how I can take such photos myself? I am using the Canon S50. I don't suppose the auto mode would work too well. What manual settings should I adjust?

Revo · 16th June 2003

Meter off the sky....

maybe somewhere beside the sun...not too near tho...

u could use the manual mode....or other modes if u can lock the exposure where u metered off den af on ur subject...

PS: thats how i normally do it...but others may have other methods....

jOhO · 16th June 2003

well the beauty of a digicam is that u can preview shots straight after u shoot it. so unless time is of the essence (sometimes it is, at the end of the day the sun sets really fast behind the horizon), u can always review ur pics and change the shutter or aperture, keeping one constant (in manual mode) until u get what u want.

16th June 2003

i hope i'm correct on this one here....

meter on your subject that u want to be silhouetted.
Meter slightly off the sun (close to it). If the difference in metering is at least 2 stops or more, u'd get the silhouetted subject when u expose for the sky.

Otherwise, under expose 2 stops for the subject metering and it'd turn out in the silhouette but i think your sky will be darkened as well (if the difference isn't two stops)

I think. Sorry if it's wrong, but that's what i think it's supposed to be.

Experts please teach proper technique.

16th June 2003	#1
dreamz2003 Guests Posts: n/a	How to shoot silhouettes pics against sunset? I am always impressed by pictures of silhouettes (whether people, trees or buildings) against the golden sunset. Can someone offer any tips on how I can take such photos myself? I am using the Canon S50. I don't suppose the auto mode would work too well. What manual settings should I adjust?

16th June 2003	#4
neuro Guests Posts: n/a	i hope i'm correct on this one here.... meter on your subject that u want to be silhouetted. Meter slightly off the sun (close to it). If the difference in metering is at least 2 stops or more, u'd get the silhouetted subject when u expose for the sky. Otherwise, under expose 2 stops for the subject metering and it'd turn out in the silhouette but i think your sky will be darkened as well (if the difference isn't two stops) I think. Sorry if it's wrong, but that's what i think it's supposed to be. Experts please teach proper technique. Last edited by neuro; 16th June 2003 at 04:29 PM.

16th June 2003	#2
Revo Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore bo gway hai! Posts: 465	Meter off the sky.... maybe somewhere beside the sun...not too near tho... u could use the manual mode....or other modes if u can lock the exposure where u metered off den af on ur subject... PS: thats how i normally do it...but others may have other methods....

16th June 2003	#3
jOhO Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 6,458	well the beauty of a digicam is that u can preview shots straight after u shoot it. so unless time is of the essence (sometimes it is, at the end of the day the sun sets really fast behind the horizon), u can always review ur pics and change the shutter or aperture, keeping one constant (in manual mode) until u get what u want.