Contre Jour, is it the thinking mans' bokeh?

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Sparrow

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... or did I just screw-up the exposure?



As with bokeh it adds drama to an otherwise boring photo but it allows the use of slower lenses, gives one more to look at when tired of the gimmick and one gets more exercise walking round the subject ...

that photo is at sunrise btw, I don't do sunsets
 
No, you didn't screw up the exposure (I bet you knew that from the start).

Similar to bokeh, contre-jour is a means to establish the illusion of spatial depth in an otherwise two-dimensional image.

But there's more: Since exposing for contre-jour means greater image contrast, it is very often connected with an underexposure of the alleged main object of the image (or at least with the need to be meticulous about exposure).

Thus, the photographer has to decide to sacrifice image detail in favor of graphic clarity and image depth. And for shots like this, you have to know your lens very well in terms of when it might start to produce serious flare.

Is that a thinking man's dilemma? I don't think so, because art-oriented photography has always been somewhat of a thinking man's pastime.

BTW - great shot Stewart!
 
Both together, Uncoated Summar, hood, UV filter
Sunset's a bit blown... pleasing overall.
4862874194_606b86492a_b.jpg


should have bracketed for the learning experience... :)
best, Alex
 
That really is an amazing shot Steve, you've kept the detail in every part of the image, from the distant mountains to the shining sand to the houses on the right and the grass in the foreground. Beautiful.

Did you take multiple exposures or just nail it the first time? (i'm sure you nailed it...)

best,
Alex
 
alexnotalex said:
That really is an amazing shot Steve, you've kept the detail in every part of the image, from the distant mountains to the shining sand to the houses on the right and the grass in the foreground. Beautiful.

Did you take multiple exposures or just nail it the first time? (i'm sure you nailed it...)

best,
Alex
Click to expand...

Easy really, incident reading over my shoulder then closed down two or three stops, so there's still a some detail in the shadow and as little of the sun as possible is blown.

Print film btw
 
Sparrow said:
Easy really, incident reading over my shoulder then closed down two or three stops, so there's still a some detail in the shadow and as little of the sun as possible is blown.

Print film btw
Click to expand...

Great, thanks for the tip.

Sunny16 gave me the face, the bokeh conveniently got rid of the other details... so no exposure issues :) Fuji Superia 200

best,
Alex
 
great pics everyone, I didnt know what contre jour was until I read this thread, and Im still not exactly sure, but Im presuming it means to shoot agains the sun/light source and decide where you want the proper exposure to me? expose for the sun/light in the background? or expose for the subject in the foreground?
 
fotomeow said:
great pics everyone, I didnt know what contre jour was until I read this thread, and Im still not exactly sure, but Im presuming it means to shoot agains the sun/light source and decide where you want the proper exposure to me? expose for the sun/light in the background? or expose for the subject in the foreground?
Click to expand...

It's French for against the day(light) anything from a silhouette to dramatic backlight, just another creative tool in the box
 
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