Backlit shots

I've a two weeker coming up and I'd like to try some backlit macro shots. I have two Z-240's as my 'prime' stobes on 5" arms and I have added a back facing YS-25 on 2 x 12" arms. If I may benefit from your experience and short circuit the learning curve... Many thanks.

I'd be curious to hear others' advice on this as well. I gave this a try once on a boring dive with some small sea fans. Unfortunately got some nasty backscatter. I thnk should have spent more time getting the background exposed properly, maybe move the backlight strobe down further (out of the frame?) and dialing it down quite a bit or pointing it more across like your setup.

Yup, that close backscatter is the enemy... give it a try an tell us.

I've tried shooting backlit seafans in UK waters and have found the best results to be from using a single strobe to backlight the subject from an oblique angle . Add more strobes and backscatter increases.

I find backlighting a tricky technique and it usually requires quite a lot of fiddling to get right. I would suggest using the backlight strobe unattached - rather than on an arm t get the flexibility you want. I find a lot of trial an error is required for each subject. But it is worth persevering because it is a good way to enliven a relatively ordinary subject, such as this crinoid in Thailand.

Subject selection is important. Generally you want something that does not move and has a hairy or polypy appearance - to accentuate the backlighting effect.

Alex

I agree with Alex. I like to use an unattached strobe as a slave for backlighting. I use an INON Z-220 as my slave.

Backlighting can also be used for larger subjects - to create a surreal effect. Here is a backlit person - this is done commonly to make people's hair light up :-)

Again, I use a remote slave on a tiny tripod for this (try the little gorilla-pod)

Cheers

James

Thanks for your thoughts chaps. I'll post my results in about three weeks...

Generally you want something that does not move and has a hairy or polypy appearance...

"polypy" Dr Mustard? "polypy"!

Polypoid, surely!!

Higher education is obviously not what it once was...

... but I'm sure that you are right. I think another aspect is high contrast between the "polypy" bits and the background. I've taken a few very poor backlit subjects because I haven't thought enough about making the background dark.

Tim

"polypy" Dr Mustard? "polypy"!

 

Polypoid, surely!!

Fair point.

Alex

Alex,

To achieve that wonderful shot, did you have to have a cable attached to the strobe or was it done wirelessly?