THE INTIMATE LANDSCAPE 6 : BACKLIGHTING

If this series of blogs is aiming to achieve anything, it is to promote the notion that interesting landscapes can be captured from relatively modest locations. One of the ways of achieving this is to capture it when it is backlit. Often uncelebrated vistas can appear utterly transformed when viewed under these dramatic lighting conditions. From a practical standpoint, one needs to be aware that pointing one’s camera in the direction of the sun poses certain technical problems, not least flare, which is why when practising this genre of photography, I often resort to using a long lens fitted with an appropriate lens-hood. Excessive contrast is another potential pitfall one also needs to be aware of but get it right and remarkable results can be achieved.

ILLUSTRATION 1 “Illuminated Cottonwood Trees”

This is almost the perfect scenario for exploiting the virtues of backlighting. The rays from the sun are illuminating the leaves of the trees from behind, creating an impressively resplendent vista that could so easily have been overlooked in any other circumstances. The lighting introduces an almost theatrical quality which encourages the eye to scrutinize every branch and leaf. This was taken using a 100-400 zoom lens set to a focal length of 310mm.

Photographing backlit trees in this manner is relatively straightforward as the foliage filters out the harsh lighting, thus obviating potential flare. Trees in autumn especially benefit when photographed backlit in this way; the leaves appear almost to have been irradiated with light.

ILLUSTRATION 2 “Trees amongst Pampas grasses”

This image possibly summarises precisely why backlighting can proves so helpful when exploring the “intimate landscape”. I had over several days driven over a small bridge paying scant regard to what was in the river valley below, but on this occasion I glanced over the parapet and was immediately smitten by the splendour of what I was seeing below me. Needless-to-say I parked my car, walked back to the bridge and marvelled at the rich detail the lighting was providing. The sun was low in the sky, which normally would have posed a problem, but as my vantage point was slightly raised I was able to point my camera downwards. What particularly impressed me was the abundance of detail the camera was able to capture as a result of the lighting. Every single plant appeared perfectly illuminated.

ILLUSTRATION 3 Illuminated Cottonwood Trees No 2.

One of the great advantages of using backlighting is the capacity of the sun to isolate a particular feature from the rest of the scene. In this example the sun was relatively high in the sky. The mountain behind these two illuminated cottonwood trees remained in a deep shadow, which of course offers a wonderful contrast. The rays from the sun were only able to pick out these two delicate trees. Initially it is easy to think that they have been illuminated frontally, but if you look carefully at the trunks you will see clear evidence of rim lighting.

ILLUSTRATION 4 “An Irrigated Field”

It is easy to assume that the term “intimate landscape” is restricted to just small isolated details, but even relatively large expanses of land can suitably fit this definition. Driving through southern California I became aware of these irrigated fields and was immediately struck by how dramatic they looked when back-lit in this way. Using a long lens I was able to compress the distant mountains, which wonderfully echo the spraying water in the foreground. When photographing in any situation you are offered a number of options, not least what shutter-speed to use. In this example I chose 1/200th second in order to “freeze” the spraying water.

ILLUSTRATION 5 “Muddy Shore, Burnham”

When we consider beaches we are inclined to think in terms of large areas of sand, but it is worth noting that many of our beaches are in fact muddy; not the sort of place to sunbathe. But once you overcome the inconvenience of exploring such locations they can prove to be amazingly photogenic, especially when backlit. In this example the sun has just disappeared below the horizon, but the rich detail in the muddy shore is still wonderfully highlighted by the available light. It is worth noting that locations such as these are truly unique in so far as each time the tide comes in it carves its own distinct channels that last for just a brief 12 hours. The next tide will create something uniquely different. To capture this I was required to use a wide-angle lens.

ILLUSTRATION 6 “River Valley Utah”

An early morning rising mist can often provide excellent opportunities for a backlit intimate landscape. My attention was drawn to an interesting line of shrubs illuminated by the morning sun; under normal circumstances this location would not have caught my eye, however the rim lighting in the middle distance coupled with the delicate detail in the valley conspire to create a truly interesting scenario. Using a long lens has certainly helped as the delicate cloud “crowning” the distant mountain has brought it into far greater prominence.