With a camera in every pocket, anyone can take a photo anywhere, and silhouettes are one of the easiest ways to make a striking one. A silhouette is a dark shape against a bright background. Put your subject between you and the light, usually the sky at sunrise or sunset, and set the exposure for the bright part of the scene, so the subject goes black. On a phone, tap the sky and drag the brightness down a little.
Here are six subjects to try.
Tall buildings at dusk
A big building in a city makes a dramatic shape against the evening sky. London is full of them, but even a block of flats or an office tower can look impressive in silhouette.
Shoot from ground level and tilt the camera up, with the bright sky behind the building. The dark outline adds drama to what would otherwise be an ordinary picture.
People
For people, find a bright background: the sky at sunset, city lights, or a lit window or doorway photographed from the darker side. A profile reads best, and so does a little space between people, so that their shapes do not merge. The results look fine as prints from EasyFrame.
It works in daytime too. Stand your subject in front of a bright window or against the sky and expose for the light.
At the beach
The beach is ideal, because there is nothing between you and the sunset. Wait until the sun is low and shoot towards it, with your subject against the bright sky or its reflection on the water and wet sand.
Some ideas: a baby bump in profile, a parent lifting a baby into the air, someone running with a kite, or the dog in mid-air catching a frisbee.
Flowers and plants
Flowers, grasses and seed heads make delicate silhouettes. Get down low, so that they stand against the sky just after sunset, and their outlines will be crisp. Plants in pots on the patio or along a border work as well as wild ones. A pond or fountain nearby adds reflections.
Mountains and hills
If you live near hills or mountains, photograph them when the sun rises or sets behind them and the contrast is strongest. Ridges one behind another fade into the distance in layers. Mountain silhouettes look especially impressive printed and framed by EasyFrame.
None of this needs expensive equipment or hours of trying. The light does the work.
Animals and wildlife
Animals make wonderful silhouettes, so take your camera on evening walks, because nature is full of surprises. Look for deer on a skyline at dusk, an owl leaving a tree, or birds crossing the sunset. Keep your distance, stay quiet and let them carry on undisturbed.
Got a silhouette worth framing? Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@EasyFrame.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.