A silhouette is a dark shape against a bright background. The subject is underexposed deliberately, rendering it as a solid black form. Silhouettes are dramatic and simple. They reduce a subject to its outline, removing detail and focusing attention on shape and gesture. They are one of the oldest photographic effects, dating back to the earliest days of the medium. The word comes from Étienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister known for his cheap portraits.

Creating a silhouette requires backlighting. The light source must be behind the subject, toward the camera. The subject should be exposed for the background, not the subject. Spot metering on the brightest part of the background or manual exposure helps. The subject should have a recognizable shape. A person with a distinctive profile, a tree with intricate branches, a couple holding hands. The background should be bright and uncluttered. A sunset, a bright sky, or a lit window works well. Silhouettes are not just for people. They work for buildings, animals, and objects. The key is the contrast between the dark shape and the bright background.

Silhouette tips

• Backlight the subject. Light source behind the subject.
• Expose for the background. Let the subject go dark.
• Choose a strong shape. The outline should be recognizable.
• Keep it simple. Avoid overlapping shapes.
• Use a bright background. Sunset, sky, or lit window.

A silhouette is not the same as a shadow. A shadow is cast by an object. A silhouette is the object itself, rendered dark.