November 2024

WORKING WITH SuNSeT fOR a STuNNING SIlHOueTTe Sunset offers the perfect time for capturing stunning golden hour shots, where the soft light creates ideal conditions for dramatic silhouettes. These sessions require precise timing and careful planning. This Type of shooT Takes perfecT Timing and precision A few days before the shoot, I explored the area to familiarize myself with the landscape, hiking duration, and the exact sunset position. Knowing the terrain and sunset timing in advance was essential. On the day of the shoot, we met two hours before sunset to hike up the trail, reaching the location about 40 to 50 minutes beforehand. Arriving early gave us time to discuss goals, double-check angles, test poses, and take a few preliminary shots with the ambient light. With only around 10 minutes of perfect light as the sun dipped behind the mountains, every detail had to be spot-on. leT’s now Talk abouT The deTails of This session For this shot, I exposed primarily for the clouds and sky, and then slightly underexposed the shot to enhance the mood. By exposing for the available light, the model was naturally underexposed, creating a striking silhouette against the dim sunset. To create a soft halo effect around the model, I positioned the sun directly behind her at neck level, letting it cast a gentle glow. Using the mountains to form a shadowed line across her upper torso, I created a distinct, silhouetted effect. This angle emphasized the halo around her arms and the edges of her dress, which stood out beautifully against the darkened background. The final result is magic! “It’s not the camera. It’s the artist behind it.” - Rich Taylor www.richtaylorphotography.com | 516-749-9340 FB: richtaylorphotography | IG: richtaylorphoto Nikon D750 | 160MM | iso : 100 | f : 2.8 | s : 3200 | wb : 5500 21