Photography Thailand Forum

[Marc Schultz]

The last two nights there has been such a beautiful sky here in Krabi at sunset. Attached is a shot taken right after sundown at Pra-Nang Bay.

[anna]

Awesome.  I love silohouettes.  Thanks for posting more photos.  Anna

[geoff]

Hi Marc,

That's a great shot!  I'm a real beginner and i was just wondering what the technique is to take silhouettes.  I kind of took one by accident before because the shutter speed was too fast.  Thanks

Geoff

[Renato]

Hi Marc, great shot as well as the fisherman although I believe he posed for this one or did he? Nice to see more postings from you nowadays, thanks for sharing.

[Marc Schultz]

Hi Geoff. What you did by accident is exactly the right way to do it. The shutter speed being too fast results in an exposure which is too dark. But actually what is really happening here is that you are exposing based upon the sky, which has more light than what is on the subject, so the subject looks dark and the sky is perfectly exposed. Also, silhouettes require back lighting to work effectively. Meaning the light source exists behind the subject, but not on the front side of the subject which is facing the camera and why it looks so dark.

That is the technical explanation. The simplest way to execute it though is to point your camera at the sky first and exposure lock based upon the light in the sky. They move your camera down onto the subject and take the shot. The result should be what you see here. But best time of day to shoot silhouettes is either during sunrise or just after or at sunset or just after.

The beauty of silhouettes is that you can also easily change the color if you want to another tone using Photoshop later to give the image a warmer or cooler color cast.

Hope this helps..

[geoff]

Marc, thanks very much for the explanation.  It's great to understand the technique.  Next chance I get, I will have to go out and try it. Thanks again!

Geoff

[Marc Schultz]

Your welcome Geoff. Attached is another one I shot down there in case you are interested to see.

[Renato]

Mark, what a great shot specially the composition. Care to share how the clouds colour was set up from the camera exposure? Thanks for sharing.

[Marc Schultz]

Thanks. I am not sure what you mean about the exposure relating to cloud color? The red color in the clouds was a reflection of the sun in the sky after it fell below the horizon if that is what you are asking about? As for exposure, the shot was taken at F/4.5 @ 1/80th of s second shutter speed at ISO 125. Handheld. Best wishes.

[Renato]

Thanks Marc, it is rarely that you see this kind of clouds here in Bangkok so it sorts of made me wonder how this was taken. Never had the opportunity to shoot something similar as yet so it kind of something new.

[Chris Savery]

Ah, but it's not Bangkok.

Ao Nang, near Krabi, is one of my favourite spots in Thailand. Economical to stay there, has a local market up the road for Issan  food and close to several great beaches and islands to explore.

A wonderful shot Marc and reminds why I need to get back that way sometime soon.

Chris :)

[anna]

Marc, interesting how two people can go to the same place and see things through a viewfinder differently.  Been to Krabi and came back with boring photos.  Planning to go to Samui.  We'll see what I can come up with.  Have had no time to even take care of my Philippine trip photos.  Anna

[Renato]

Chris, that's what I meant, city dwellers don't have the chance to see this kind of clouds setting and only in places like Krabi or Samui can offer such magnificent scene. You guys are lucky to be able to travel there, I guess I have to wait for my chance later on when I have the time and try my luck.

Anna, would be happy to see your photos from the Philippines, did you manage to go to Malaysia too?

[Chris Savery]

Jingle, my mistake. That area is well worth a visit and you can take the boat from Krabi over to Ko Pi Pi which has some magnificent photo ops in and around the south island's cliffs and inlets. You've probably seen photos of the crystal clear waters in shades of green with coral and startling cliffs. There's inexpensive boat trips that go there and you can snorkel about by the boat. When I was there I had my shrimpy little 2 Mpix P&S but I'd love to head back and use my new camera to get some high res shots. I don't know about since the tsunami but before the beaches in that area were a photographers paradise.

Chris :)

[geoff]

Marc, thanks for posting the 2nd shot.  The silhouette effect is fantastic especially when contrasted against the colourful sky!   Appreciate your help.

Geoff