Shooting contre jour can add a unique and creative element to your photography. In this blog post, I’ll explain what shooting ‘contre jour’ means, how to do it, and give you some examples of situations when you might use this technique.
Contre jour is a French term that translates to “against the day.” It refers to shooting directly into the light source, often creating a silhouette with strong backlighting. It’s a photography lighting technique that can create a dramatic and striking image with silhouettes, lens flare, backlighting and vibrant colours.
Here are some tips for shooting contre jour images:
Shooting contre jour may sound simple enough, but here are a few tips to help you to make the most out of your photography adventure.
1. Find the Right Light:
The key to shooting contre jour is finding the right light. Look for situations where the sun or another light source is directly behind your subject, creating a strong backlight effect. The golden hour is a particularly good time, as are any times when the sun is low in the sky.
2. Expose for the Light:
When shooting contre jour, you need to expose the light source, not your subject. This means that your subject may appear underexposed or as a silhouette. You can adjust your exposure compensation or use manual mode to get the desired exposure, either making the subject darker or lighter.
3. Use a Lens Hood:
When shooting directly into the light source, you may experience lens flare, or sun flare, which can reduce contrast and clarity in your images. Using a lens hood can help prevent lens flare and ensure that your images are sharp and vibrant. On the other hand, a little lens flare can look quite artistic, so experiment and see what works for you.
4. Experiment with Composition:
Shooting contre jour can create a striking and dramatic image, but it’s essential to consider the composition. Play with the placement of your subject, the angle of the light source, and the framing of your image to create a visually appealing composition. When working with low-level lighting like this, I also recommend using a tripod to help stabilise your image.
Oak tree shot contre-jour at sunset
Photograph copyright: David Robinson
Examples of Situations When You Might Use Contre Jour:
You may be thinking that photographing in the contre jour style sounds like a creative and artistic way to add an extra flair to your images, but when would this style of photography work best? Here are a few examples of situations where shooting contre jour may be beneficial for your photography portfolio.
1. Portrait Photography:
Shooting contre jour can create a unique and creative portrait image. Position your subject with their back to the light source, creating a strong backlight effect. You can adjust your exposure to capture their face as a silhouette or add fill flash to create a more balanced exposure.
2. Landscape Photography:
Shooting a landscape in contre jour can create a stunning and vibrant image. Look for a situation where the sun is low on the horizon, creating a warm and golden light. Position your subject or foreground interest in the frame to create a strong silhouette.
3. Street Photography:
Contre jour can add a unique and creative element to street photography. Look for situations where the light source is behind your subject, creating a strong backlight effect. Experiment with the composition and framing to create a striking and visually appealing image.
A woman, with her legs crossed as she gazes out across the sea – silhouetted by shooting contre-jour
Photograph copyright: David Robinson
Shooting contre jour can add a unique and creative element to your photography.
Find the right light, expose the light, use a lens hood, and experiment with composition. It’s a technique you can use in various situations such as portrait, landscape, and street photography to create striking and dramatic images. By understanding how to shoot contre jour, you can easily add a new level of creativity and visual interest to your photography.
Sea gulls at sunset -a classic contra-jour look.
Photograph copyright: David Robinson