Fern

[Bambi]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5662563605_95cd675a6a_b.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

Cool ... backlighting.

Pssssst ... now play with the levels so the shadows and mid-ranges are much darker ... it'll enhance the backlighting look ;)

[Bambi]

Cool ... backlighting.

Pssssst ... now play with the levels so the shadows and mid-ranges are much darker ... it'll enhance the backlighting look ;)

okay chief!!

[Bambi]

so I adjust the midtones as suggested. was this what you had in mind?

[asnow]

I don't see any edited picture Bambi in post #4.

[Bambi]

thanks snow- I was foolish and simply replaced it on flickr so there's no comparison. :)

[Mad Aussie]

That's definitely a stronger photo now Bambi.

I often shoot this sort of thing with a much higher aperture/shutter than most would as it strengthens the the highlights thereby making the backlighting the strongest feature. Some examples from my stuff ... http://www.photography.ca/Forums/f11/i-love-backlighting-9805.html and http://www.photography.ca/Forums/f11/backlighting-forest-5492.html

[Bambi]

thanks MA. I never think to play with the midtones. I will have to do more with that. can you explain about the higher aperture/shutter speeds and how it helps?

[Mad Aussie]

It gives the same effect without having to process later. By restricting light with either the aperture/f-stop or using the shutter speed the bright areas of the backlighting are still strongly visible but the shadows become darker and more defined. Just experiment next time. Take a photo as you normally would of a similar subject as you have here, then just speed the shutter up a few stops ... keep trying until it's obviously too much and even the backlit subject is getting dark. Then compare them all later on your monitor. You'll soon see what I mean.

[Bambi]

okay thanks!!!