If you’re experienced in auto electrics and modifications, then this might not be such a challenge, but it’s recommended you seek professional help if you’re unsure about how to fit a 4x4 light bar.

Backlighting examplesat home

One of the things that making shooting into backlight tricky is that when you put the sun behind your subjects, you are then directly facing the sun. Anyone who has pointed a camera in the direction of the sun knows that sun flares and haze are often the immediate result. However, if you have the ability to diffuse the light by using objects in the environment, you can get the shot without a distracting flare or haziness on the images. Trees work really well for diffusion as well as taller buildings or other natural elements. A scrim or reflector can also work to diffuse light if you are positioned in a way where the sun is hitting your lens directly.

Backlight photography studio

As a photographer, its important to learn about all different types of light. Everything in photography revolves around light. What kind of light do you have available? How will the camera read and record the light in the scene? Where are the highlights and where are the shadows? Do you need to add or subtract light?

Essentially everything starts with light and goes from there. In continuation of my "Looking for light in all the right places" series, today we are talking about backlight.

Speaking of natural reflectors...when shooting into the backlight, they are imperative. The a very bright light sources is coming from behind your subject, depending on how you expose the photo, your subject can end up looking really flat, under exposed and muddy. If you don't have light bouncing back up on to them, your dynamic range will be too great and you will have difficulty achieving a well exposed and pleasant looking photograph.

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You can see in this photo below of my stepson and his girlfriend that the sun is lower in the sky although its not completely at the horizon. The sun is behind and to the right of them (you can tell from the direction of the shadows on the ground.)

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Fitting a light bar to your 4x4 depends on how much experience you have with modifying your vehicle. In many cases - if you don’t already have a light bar or spotlights fitted - you might need to drill through the roof of your car exterior and access the space between your interior lining and the roof to bolt the light bar into place. This can be tricky and needs to take into consideration a few other things like water ingress and cable running.

The time of day is essential for backlit photos. In order for the light to be coming from behind the subject, the sun has to be lower in the sky. When the sun is high in the sky, its almost impossible to put the sun behind your subject because...well, no one is that tall! Shooting in the early morning or in the few hours before sun sets is the absolute best time to achieve backlit photos.

A common misconception from many people who don't understand the technicality of photography or lighting (as was mine when I first started) is that the more light the better. In reality, the direction of the light is much more important than the amount of light you have available. Shooting into the backlight often results in photographs that tend to be warm and "glowy" because the light is literally wrapping itself around the subject.

I hope these tips and tricks encourage you to go out and practice shooting into the backlight. It is honestly one of my favorite types of shots to capture and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

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There’s also a safety element to light bars, too, since they can be placed on the front or rear of your roof. This allows you to highlight areas when you’re off-roading or even just reversing, something that can be tricky with normal headlights and zero street lighting. Highlighting dangers, obstacles and simply giving you a clear view of the road further ahead could mean fewer accidents.

Venturing off the beaten track? It’s important that you stay safe out there when driving your 4x4, and that’s why after-market LED light bars are a common addition. You may have seen other 4x4 or off-road vehicles owners with light bars fitted to boost their visibility and wondered what they are and whether they’re legal.

At Milner Off Road, we supply LED light bars in a range of sizes as well as LED bulbs and wiring kits. If you’re looking to take your upcoming off-roading adventure to the next level, look no further than our straight or curved light bars. We offer next-day shipping, and If you’re not sure what you need, you can always call our trusted team of friendly advisors.

Since they produce so much more light than your ordinary headlights, light bars are super useful in a variety of situations. Firstly, they’re a really practical addition if you work in agriculture, out in the countryside or woodland areas for any type of job. This is because street lighting is usually not as good in these areas and the bright lighting can help work continue either early in the morning or later into the evening.

Despite the fact that light always trumps background, taking the background into consideration for your backlit photos is never a bad idea. When scoping out your session location, look for dense areas of foliage or leaves next to more sparse areas. Pay attention to how the light falls across whatever elements you are considering for your background.

Also, consider the size of your light bar before making a purchase, since they come in a range of sizes and shapes. If you plan to have a roof rack, you may need to consider the positioning of the light bar so you don’t impede the space you have to carry items.

Backlighting examplesphotography

Although I mentioned this briefly above, when shooting into the backlight you have to pay special attention to exactly how you place yourself in relation to your subject. In the below photo of Ashley, I distinctly remember struggling to avoid flare. I ended up placing myself right on the edge of the shadow that the building was casting in order to get her right in between the sun and my lens. I did not use a reflector to bounce light up into her face in this photo and she was standing on some grass, so the difference in exposure between her face and the highlight on her hair is on the verge of being to far apart. If I would have brightened her up some, I would loose detail in her hair (much of which is already lost). I still love this photo because I love her expression and the happiness and warmth, its just an example of how not having even a little bit of light bouncing on to your subject can affect the overall end result of the photograph.

Sometimes flares end up in photos anyway and often times they can add a really beautiful element to a photo! Other times they can look out of place or distracting. In the photo below I caught a slight flare that ended up right on Mary's leg. Its not horribly distracting in this image, but sometimes lens flares look incredibly out of place and awkward. While the sun was lower in the sky I placed Trevor and Mary here for a couple of reasons. I wanted the sun to filter through those trees because I knew it would give me some beautiful bokeh. I also knew I could position myself in a way where the sun would be directly behind one of the tree trunks so as to cut down on any potential flare. The neutral colored sand also added a great natural reflector.

What is backlight in photography

Isn't Mary just stunning? This photo works so well, not only because Mary is beautiful and radiant, but the glow and warmth of of everything surrounding her just lends itself to the expression on her face. The bokeh mixed with the neutral green and gold tones along with the way the light is filtering through her hair ads complexity, depth and texture. She was standing on a concrete pavement so there is nice light bouncing back on to her face and she has a gorgeous little catchlight in her eye. The exposure on her face is not competing with the exposure on the background.

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When it comes to legal advice, you should always do your own research to make sure that what you’re doing is legal - this is because it is you who is ultimately liable. As a rule of thumb, if you do fit your vehicle with a light bar, you should never use it to illuminate public roads. These are best used on places such as private roads or off-roading courses because they could dazzle other road users and cause accidents on normal roads.

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Its for this reason that I attempt to find lots of natural reflectors when shooting outside and especially in the backlight. For the below photo, the sun was low in the sky and to the right creating some beautiful filtered light behind them. The concrete path bounced light back up on to their bodies and faces thus creating a beautifully lit photo of both the subjects and the background.

Shooting into the backlight or shooting in backlight situations can tend to get a little tricky. Although it does take quite a bit of practice, once you figure out a rhythm of how to set up your shot, how to expose correctly and what situations to look for, you will be shooting successfully backlit photographs consistently. Shooting backlit scenes quickly became one of my favorite things to do and I find myself constantly looking for areas and locations that would work well for backlit shots.

This month at Milner Off Road, we’ll take you through what light bars are used for, whether you can fit them yourself and whether they’re legal here in the UK.

Cinnamon Wolfe Photography is located in Maple Valley, Washington. Full Service wedding and family photography and private photo editing for wedding photographers. Serving the greater Seattle area.

You can always check with your local garage about whether a light bar added to your 4x4 would impact an MOT. This is because of complex regulations that date back to 1989 regarding the type of lights and their positioning, which will vary from vehicle to vehicle.