Shooting silhouettes is one of the major themes in street photography. By taking a picture with the background lit by a bright light will result in the person in front of the light to be rendered as a dark shape, a silhouette, but still recognizable as a person. It is a form of taking pictures of people but hiding their identity by keep the features shadowed. In pictures, silhouettes can represent men in general or humanity. It creates ambiguity and mystery in the picture while showcasing the context of the city or the area you took the picture.
Remember to expose your camera for the background and not the subject so the subject in front of the light remains dark. This means you adjust the brightness of your camera to match the lighted background, and not brightening up the person in front by exposing for the silhouette. Here are some spots in Tokyo for taking street picture with great backlighting.
THE LIT STAIRS
There are a couple of stairs in Tokyo that are illuminated like the above picture, but what makes this spot unique is that this stairs are longer and wider than the other similar stairs. Making this location a better spot to take backlit pictures. The spot is located in a commercial building which houses many offices and is located on the south east side of Tokyo. The lights turn on everyday after dark. Below are some examples of the type of images you can get here.
Adjusting your exposure to the most brightest part of the image can result in a very moody image. We exposed for the brightness of the LEDs creating silhouettes. Zooming into this picture you can see individual hairs on the heads of these people. This creates a nice halo effect on the subjects which we liked very much.
THE UENO SILHOUETTE
This illuminated wall art is located in Ueno. It is a very touristy area so if you are planning to visit Tokyo you will definitely will be coming to Ueno as it is one of the areas in Tokyo with many attractions. The above spot is located inside the Ueno station. The illustrations depict notable landmarks in the area like the Ueno Zoo and the statue of Saigo Takamori. This makes it a great background for silhouettes because it represents the Japanese folk heroes making the picture specific to Japan. A picture should not look like it could be taken anywhere, a good picture is one that is contextual.
THE URAWA-MISONO SILHOUETTE
The magnificent stained glass window was meticulously crafted by the skilled artisans of "Creare Atami Yugawara Kobo," under the watchful eye and original designs of Mr. Yoichi Takahashi himself. This stunning artwork is inspired by the characters of "Captain Tsubasa," including the central figure, Tsubasa Ozora, and other beloved characters from this globally influential manga.
THE NIHONBASHI SILHOUETTE
This artwork beautifully portrays the ever-changing streetscape of Nihonbashi, a lively commercial district. It masterfully blends time and space, taking us on a journey from the Edo period to the present day. With remarkable attention to detail, it captures the essence of each era, from the grand Edo period mansions and the iconic wooden Nihonbashi Bridge to the modern Metropolitan Expressway and towering skyscrapers.
