18 Oct
2012

Posted in: Arizona, desert, Inspiration, Landscape Photography, Light, Photo Myths
By George Stocking    8 Comments

All About The Backlight

I was leading a workshop a couple of years ago, and was standing on an overlook with dozens of other photographers. It was the first day of my workshop and I was still familiarizing myself with the faces and names of my group. Now I have to be up front with you and admit that I am not very good with either names or faces. And of course my group wasn’t wearing nametags like it was kindergarten.

So anywho, I’m just standing there and hear someone tell some one else (in a very loud clear voice) to “not point you camera that way; over in the direction of the sun”. Well I hear this, and it sets me off a little, because anyone that knows me knows that I am, if nothing else, ALL ABOUT THE BACKLIGHT. So I turn to this misinformed individual and proceed to extoll the many virtues of the backlight, and how, in my opinion, the other gentleman was wrong in his assessment about the direction of the light and how it might affect one’s images.

Of course it turns out that the guy I was talking to wasn’t even  in my workshop; in fact I was directly contradicting another workshop leader after he gave his instruction. The other leader was not at all amused; and oh boy did my group laugh. I think they’re still laughing.

5DMII, 24-105L @ 35mm; 1/10th second @f10

Don’t even bother to show up at the above location in the afternoon sans the backlight. Autumn in the Sonoran Desert is a very cool thing in that the trees will  change colors very late in the season. This was Thanksgiving Day. (Nov 25th to the non gringos)

Canham 45DLC; 450mm Fuginon-C; 1/4 second @ f45

If you can shade your lens, you can shoot it; and sometimes even that is unnecessary (sunstars and all). And here’s a tip ya’ll probably figured out already. LiveView (because it’s 100%) is perfect for determining if your lens is indeed shaded plus you can see exactly what flare issues you might be dealing with.

About George Stocking (51 Posts)

George Stocking is a professional freelance photographer, residing in Phoenix, AZ. He works regularly as a contract photographer for Arizona Highways, and his work often graces the pages of Arizona Highways Magazine, Calendars and Books. In addition to capturing the natural beauty of the Arizona Landscape, George also photographs the western United States and Canada. His work has appeared in numerous national publications, such as: Backpacker, Outdoor Photographer, USGA Golf Journal, Country Magazine, Audubon Calendars, Adventure West, America West Airlines Magazine, Portal Publications (posters), Impact, Towery Publications (books) and Smith Southwestern. Other publications include: Oregon Outside, Arizona Foothills, Arizona Adventure, and Plateau Magazine