Observe, in real life, a particular quality of light, or light(ing) effect, and make some notes about it.  

 

 

Silhouetting is a lighting effect that I’ve found really interesting to watch in movies and through my own videos. When high contrast occurs and the background is exposed to the foreground subject becomes underexposed creating a dark figure.

In terms of creating a silhouette:

if outside during sunset the lighting in the background would be very hard light, this light would be so harsh that when a subject is placed in from of this light directly and the subject isn’t lit from the front the foreground becomes underexposed.

we can also create this in studio, using harsh lighting onto a white background e.g backlight so the background is highly lit then we place a subject in front of the light and the light source and this way the subject can be underexposed. Here is an example one of my photographer friends created in testing silhouetting which I was in and the set up that we used was two lights on either side directed towards the back wall, I was then placed in front of the lights.

Cinematographer Roger Deakins often uses silhouettes within his films here are a few quotes about why he uses silhouette and the meaning they often portray.

“Most of he choices I make are instinctive, so I can’t really give you a reason for when I shoot a silhouette shot. Obviously, it comes from the script and the scene, but a silhouette can be used for a romantic moment as much as it can be used for something more sinister.”

“A silhouette could signify isolation and loneliness or it could signify a threat. Context is key.”

 

I have always felt that the use of silhouettes can be used powerfully to convey a heightened feeling. Often silhouettes create an anonymity to the character, details are bare and so in the mind of the audience we have to fill in the details that are missing based on the information given. This is why a silhouette could signify a threat or a lonely figure, it could be tender or ominous. I think the effect of missing out large details could be to enhance this portrayal.

If we think about a threat or a sinister figure standing in shot as a silhouette, we as audiences have to imagine characteristics, facial structure, facial expression, clothing and an overall image of this person. We are therefore more likely in addition to the music, body movements, setting and storyline to create a far more frightening and fearful image than what might actually be there.

If we were already shown these details there would be far less imagination in terms of what could this “thing” or “person” be.

A few examples of this…