Dramatic Silhouettes and Reflections

The best time to photograph is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, but sometimes you have no choice. You are where you are when you are there! If you find you're at a location with a strong sun, there are ways to use it to your advantage. Very dramatic shots can be found if you place your subject between you and the sun. I always try to get the sun to hide behind something like a tree as nothing will mess up a shot as quickly as sun flares (those nasty little spots that appear on your photos....a lens hood will help some), but in these photos taken at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA I let the sun add some drama. The statue of Moses bringing down the tablets has the sun creating a starlight effect from the sun. This will happen naturally sometimes but there are filters you can screw on to the lens of your DSLR to create a starlight look.

Above, the shot is not quite as dramatic but you do get a nice silhouette of the cross and palms with the sun placed behind the building. Below, I used the glass surface of the building to get a reflection of the bell tower on location.

At Whitney and Jonathan's wedding, I used the sun coming through the colorful windows to create a silhouette. Like the saying, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade"....if the day gives you bright sunshine (hey, I could use some of that as I see it snowing outside today!...supposed to get five inches at the cabin....hmmmmm), use the light to create a silhouette!