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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Contre-jour Same as silhouettes?
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06/25/2014 07:20:36 AM · #1
ummmmm I am thinking we have two challenges the same....

How is this any different than silhouettes?

Message edited by author 2014-06-25 07:21:36.
06/25/2014 07:24:03 AM · #2
silhouette is where you lose detail to the light...

06/25/2014 07:43:36 AM · #3
Mike: you're right in the abstract sense of the definition, but looking at the results of the last contre-jour challenge, many people enter silhouettes.

I predict we'll see sunrise/sunset silhouettes in four challenges:
- sunrise/sunset
- silhouettes
- contre-jour
- free study

Not that I'm complaining, since I just got up for the sunrise, missing that challenge by one day. :)
06/25/2014 07:47:15 AM · #4
Yeah I was thinking the same thing. A very unfortunate sequence of challenges.
06/25/2014 07:48:57 AM · #5
what is the goal of this challenge then?

Just to take pictures of bright light? What are people going to be looking for?
06/25/2014 07:49:26 AM · #6
previous ribbons: Sunset, sunrise, sunset … 2 of the 3 are most def silhouettes

Originally posted by levyj413:

Mike: you're right in the abstract sense of the definition, but looking at the results of the last contre-jour challenge, many people enter silhouettes.
06/25/2014 08:00:03 AM · #7
Originally posted by jgirl57:

what is the goal of this challenge then?

Just to take pictures of bright light? What are people going to be looking for?


Think landscapes with lens flare.

Think moon against the water.

Think backlit portrait.

Think sun peaking through the leaves of a tree.

Or you can always do sunrise/sunset like everyone.
06/25/2014 08:13:56 AM · #8
I am still hoping to learn something new for settings and composition. I am ready to move on to "shoot" new subjects and try something new and original.

I am thinking most people will be sick of sunset/sunrises and silhouettes LOL! I know I had my fun in those categories but not for this challenge..

Thanks for the new ideas Hippie :-))

Message edited by author 2014-06-25 08:18:05.
06/25/2014 08:21:49 AM · #9
Originally posted by jgirl57:

I am still hoping to learn something new for settings and composition. I am ready to move on to "shoot" new subjects and try something new and original.

I am thinking most people will be sick of sunset/sunrises and silhouettes LOL! I know I had my fun in those categories but not for this challenge..

Thanks for the new ideas Hippie :-))


look at my website. i love this style for portraits!
06/25/2014 08:42:00 AM · #10
Thanks Mike!

06/25/2014 08:45:41 AM · #11
I thought the same thing, but there are similarities and variances. I love them both. :D
06/25/2014 08:55:51 AM · #12
Well, here is my entry for last contre-jour, coming it with a 5.7



And here is my entry for silouhette at night that really has contre-jour aspects and got me a red ribbon



So, it can go either way
06/25/2014 08:59:22 AM · #13
that one with the gun is amazing! Well done on that!
06/25/2014 09:27:03 AM · #14
Is this contre-jour?
06/25/2014 10:12:41 AM · #15
Originally posted by Ammie:

Is this contre-jour?

Almost. Maybe even enough to get by with. Strictly speaking, it would be contre-jour if it was shot from behind her, with the sun directly ahead. This is shot with the sun behind the subjects, but off to the right. I think the nice glow around her head lends to the contre-jour-ness of the shot.
06/25/2014 10:17:43 AM · #16


Ok, I took this picture last year on a morning..

I know this is more silhouette, but would this be considered as Contre-jour?
06/25/2014 10:24:53 AM · #17
Originally posted by jgirl57:



Ok, I took this picture last year on a morning..

I know this is more silhouette, but would this be considered as Contre-jour?


As my understanding goes, no. If the sun were behind the bird, within the bounds of the frame, then yes.
06/25/2014 10:58:45 AM · #18
Gottcha.. thanks for helping me understand this..

Because, things are in the sun/moon or light do we need to be adding like a Filter on the lenses?

Message edited by author 2014-06-25 10:59:37.
06/25/2014 11:01:40 AM · #19
Originally posted by jgirl57:

Gottcha.. thanks for helping me understand this..

Because, things are in the sun/moon or light do we need to be adding like a Filter on the lenses?


Why?
06/25/2014 11:12:56 AM · #20
Not a bad idea to have a polarizer IMHO.

Using a Polarizer

Originally posted by jgirl57:

Gottcha.. thanks for helping me understand this..

Because, things are in the sun/moon or light do we need to be adding like a Filter on the lenses?
06/25/2014 11:17:38 AM · #21
Originally posted by backdoorhippie:



As my understanding goes, no. If the sun were behind the bird, within the bounds of the frame, then yes.


Why the sun (or any main light source) has to be within the bounds of the frame? My understanding is, and the challenge description seems to confirms this, that it has to be behind the subject, pointing in the general direction of the camera lens. Not necessary within the bounds of the frame. But it certainly has to leave a clear impression on the viewer that the subject is lit from behind.
06/25/2014 11:35:58 AM · #22
Originally posted by damjanev:

Originally posted by backdoorhippie:



As my understanding goes, no. If the sun were behind the bird, within the bounds of the frame, then yes.


Why the sun (or any main light source) has to be within the bounds of the frame? My understanding is, and the challenge description seems to confirms this, that it has to be behind the subject, pointing in the general direction of the camera lens. Not necessary within the bounds of the frame. But it certainly has to leave a clear impression on the viewer that the subject is lit from behind.


As dtremain states, Contre-jour, strictly speaking, involves shooting directly into/against the light. Yes, the bounds of the challenge as stated seem to allow for you to be "roughly towards" the source. That said, many who know what it means, myself included, would look at it and call it merely "backlit", and likely score accordingly. I definitely would take exception with jgirl57's shot as there is very little evidence of the proximity of the light source to the frame. I'd probably take less issue with Ammie's photo since it exhibits much of the same light aura you'd get with contre-jour.

Message edited by author 2014-06-25 11:37:28.
06/25/2014 11:38:22 AM · #23
06/26/2014 06:09:07 AM · #24
Originally posted by backdoorhippie:


As dtremain states, Contre-jour, strictly speaking, involves shooting directly into/against the light. Yes, the bounds of the challenge as stated seem to allow for you to be "roughly towards" the source. That said, many who know what it means, myself included, would look at it and call it merely "backlit", and likely score accordingly. I definitely would take exception with jgirl57's shot as there is very little evidence of the proximity of the light source to the frame. I'd probably take less issue with Ammie's photo since it exhibits much of the same light aura you'd get with contre-jour.


What would be the difference between a "merely backlit" shot and a contre-jour shot? Daylight, how much off center (or off frame) is the light source...? What about frontal fill light? Does it diminish the contre-jour-ness of the shot?

Strictly speaking (translating from french), the main light has to be daylight, right? But the challenge description does not limit that. To paraphrase the challenge "Just shoot (roughly) against the main light". Implying that we can have other lights than the main and liberty to choose the main light type (daylight, tungsten, flash, LED...).
06/26/2014 06:36:20 AM · #25
Originally posted by damjanev:

Originally posted by backdoorhippie:


As dtremain states, Contre-jour, strictly speaking, involves shooting directly into/against the light. Yes, the bounds of the challenge as stated seem to allow for you to be "roughly towards" the source. That said, many who know what it means, myself included, would look at it and call it merely "backlit", and likely score accordingly. I definitely would take exception with jgirl57's shot as there is very little evidence of the proximity of the light source to the frame. I'd probably take less issue with Ammie's photo since it exhibits much of the same light aura you'd get with contre-jour.


What would be the difference between a "merely backlit" shot and a contre-jour shot? Daylight, how much off center (or off frame) is the light source...? What about frontal fill light? Does it diminish the contre-jour-ness of the shot?

Strictly speaking (translating from french), the main light has to be daylight, right? But the challenge description does not limit that. To paraphrase the challenge "Just shoot (roughly) against the main light". Implying that we can have other lights than the main and liberty to choose the main light type (daylight, tungsten, flash, LED...).


The intent of the original post was to help jgirl57 understand the concept, not explain the specifics of what is allowable within the framework of this challenge - I've given up on interpreting the specifics of rules here.

With that said, a diffused light source behind the subject makes for a backlit subject, but not necessarily something that qualifies as contre-jour. A bright, sheer curtained window with a woman standing in front of it would likely also be merely backlit, in my opinion, though it would largely depend on the intensity of the light in the latter example. But, they are both perfectly allowable within the confines of this challenge. I suspect some critical voters (do we have them here?!) would take off points for merely backlit photos, which again is why I pointed it out in the original post.
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