Connie Hanks Photography

formerly Clicky Chick Creates

Silhouette // Coastline {Photo Challenge}

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, surfers, surfboard, reflection, low tide, beach, sunset

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, mother, son, child, beach, sunsetLearning, whether in the classroom, in books, online or hands-on, is something I love to do, and love to share. You can imagine how ecstatic I was when I met up with fellow San Diego photographer Erika Thornes last year, a connection made through our mutual friend Carole. I was ecstatic she asked me to tag along and offered to teach me the magic of silhouettes!

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, father, son, child, beach, sunset Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, surfers, surfboard, reflection, low tide, beach, sunset

We captured some amazing shots, and I wrote about the experience here. Huge thank you to Erika for an amazing experience and fabulous launch into the lovely world of silhouettes!

I had recently found out my sister was pregnant, so I looked forward to trying sunset silhouettes with her and her baby bump! The opportunity didn’t come for six months, but it was worth it! You can check out that posts here.

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, mother, father, baby, bump, pregnancy, maternity, couple, beach, sunset Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, mother, father, baby, bump, pregnancy, maternity, couple, beach, sunset Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, mother, father, baby, bump, pregnancy, maternity, couple, beach, sunset

Since then, I’ve taken quite a few silhouette shots – some for client sessions, some of my daughters, some of family and friends, all with lots of heart and excitement!

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, mother, father, kids, family, beach, sunset Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, mother, kids, family, beach, sunset Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // Beach Silhouette, sisters, daughters, girls, kids, beach, sunsetConnie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // little girl running into ocean, arms stretched out, excitement, Ralph Waldo Emerson quote "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // handful of sunshine, silhouette

I actually headed out this evening to the beach with my daughters and a dear friend to have some summer fun and get a few more silhouette shots, but those will have to wait to be posted another day… this mama is tired! 

Be sure to check out The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Silhouette – so much inspiration being shared! Curious for more? Check out my previous photo challenge entries! Want to see all my silhouette posts? Head on over here!

As always, thanks for stopping by. Have a joyful, creative, blessing filled day! Make sure not to miss any future posts by signing up for the Clicky Chick Creates email list here! You’ll get a great little freebie download as my thank you 🙂

Live creatively!
xoxo,
/c

E Q U I P M E N T   U S E D  (Affiliate Links)
Canon 60D
Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Photo edits in Lightroom and Photoshop
Check out all my camera bag goodies here!

Connie Hanks Photography // ClickyChickCreates.com // How to Photograph Silhouettes tutorial, how-to, photo tips

UPDATE: Fellow blogger and friend, Linda asked if I could share some technical tips on capturing silhouettes. I LOVE TO SHARE, SO HERE WE GO…

  1. Shoot in Manual Mode
  2. Set your ISO between 1600 and 3200
  3. Use spot metering and adjust your focal point to your subject – you’ll get crisper lines and better focus as your lens won’t have to hunt
  4. Open up your aperture as WIDE as you can go (mine have been between 2.8 and 5.6, depending on lens and distance)
  5. Meter for the sky, adjusting your shutter speed to get the right exposure (mine have usually been between 1/1600 and 1/4000, but as low as 1/400, even 1/8 once — 1/8 is crazy, I know! I’m pretty sure I was using my tripod – that’s the shot of my daughters with the very vast open sky)
  6. Get as low on the ground as you can possibly get. I’m usually laying on my tummy or sitting on my bum at the very least! It elevates your subject so the horizon doesn’t cut through their heads. Aim to get the horizon as close to their feet as possible.
  7. Ask your subjects to give as much distance as possible between their body parts or else it’ll look like a blob! {Imagine someone standing straight, feet together, with arms locked at their sides… blob! Get arms and legs away from body – it if can bend, bend it!}
  8. Have fun! Whether you’re capturing strangers from a distance, or your own family, make sure you try to capture the moment, an emotion, or an action – it’ll give more impact to your image! Good luck!
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65 responses to “Silhouette // Coastline {Photo Challenge}”

  3. These are fantastic! I just tried a shot with my older daughter (no little ones around). I wish I had read this post first! Thanks for the info.

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  4. Great stuff — capture femininity, love, adventure, companionship … with a chance to interpolate between the lines, co-write the story as it were. Art, in other words. I like!

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  8. I echo all the brilliant praise you’ve received … and thanks for the tips. Always great to hear how others do things we’ve been doing for years. The notion of getting low, especially for the sunset silhouetttes, is something I never considered but makes perfect sense now that you explained it. A great learning and another day fulfilled. Thank you. 🙂

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  9. Fantastic pictures Connie! I tried to pick a favourite, but they are all awesome. So much emotion can be conveyed by just the outlines. Thanks for sharing the technical details. I am curious to know why the ISO should be so high?

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  12. By far.. The best collection of images for this week’s (silhouette) challenge.. Awesome job.. N thanks for the tips.. I will use them for future photographs n weekly challenges.

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  15. Connie not only are these amazing photos but I am so very grateful for your tips in taking them. thank you. Would you mind telling me which program you use to add text to your photos?

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