What's your camera setting for silhouette shots

[raptor117]

Hi guys. Would like to ask some help on taking silhouette shots. What setting is best for my Canon XSi + UWA lens? Do I need filters for this type of shots? Aperture/Shutter settings? thanks guys

[nickds7]

Expose for the background, not the subject. A bright background without much front lighting on the subject is important. You can then increase blacks in photoshop to make the silhouettes nicer.

Use the camera in av mode to see what exposure the camera wants to make for the background.. take a shot and make sure it looks good. Then just switch the camera to manual, input those settings and see what comes out.

[raptor117]

thanks nick. I'll try it on my next photo shoot testing. thanks thanks

[Sheiky]

Yup like what Nick said, put your camera in AV-modus for a quick test. Try it at exposure-compensation -1 or -2 and see if you like it. Copy those settings in manual and fine-tune them till your happy with the end result.


You will probably be using ISO-100, a smaller aperture and a high shutterspeed.


You don't necessary need any filters for this, although it would help if you want to maintain a wide aperture like f2.8 or wider(<f2.8)


Just try the AV-modus + exposure compensation out and you'll see it isn't that hard at all []


By the way...make sure your Auto Lighting Optimizer is OFF. Else it will mess up your photo by creating less contrast.


Good luck,


Jan

[raptor117]

Thanks jan.. I'm very excited using my UWA lens.. at least I know now
that I have to turn off Auto Lighting Optimizer. thanks for helping, much appreciated.

[erno james]

[img]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/d124684/Desktop/4426733222_d8b4f2bd63.jpg[/img]


Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/13.0
Focal Length: 52 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Manual
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Quality: Fine
Continuous Drive: Continuous, Low
Focus Mode: AI Servo AF
Long Focal: 70 mm
Short Focal: 24 mm
Focal Units: 1/mm
Max Aperture: 2.8
Min Aperture: 23

[erno james]

[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/600x400/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.43.06/4426733222_5F00_d8b4f2bd63.jpg[/img]

[canon-ball]

thats a great shot erno.

[erno james]

thanks for the kind remark. it actually made the cover of a book (but it's just a coffee table family album i made on Aperture 3).

[clemmb]

[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.67/IMG_5F00_0056.JPG[/img]



Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Focal Length: 28.0mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Exposure Time: 0.033 s (1/30)
ISO equiv: 100
Metering Mode: Sekonic
Exposure: Manual
White Balance: Manual
Flash Fired: No