This week we are going to get acquainted with backlight mode. It can be your friend on those days you want to take a photo of someone in front of a window, or outside on a sunny day.
When in auto mode, your camera automatically picks part of the scene upon which to base the exposure settings.
When in backlight mode, it will use a full flash, so it can set it’s exposure with a faster shutter speed.
When in auto mode with fill flash, the camera uses a moderate flash, so it will employ a slower shutter speed to let in more light.
The photo above was taken using auto mode. The baby is in front of a sunny window.
It looks like auto-mode decided to set the exposure based on the flag, curtains, and couch. They are lit properly, while the baby is in the dark and the highlights in the window are completely blown out.
For comparison purposes, we’ll look at the shutter speed and aperture of each photo. The photo above, using auto mode, had a shutter speed 10/418 seconds, aperture of f/3.5.
Backlight scene mode was used for the next photo.
backlight mode was used
The exposure appears to be set for the curtain and couch. In this photo we have a shutter speed of 10/601 sec., much faster than in auto mode. The aperture was still set at f3.5. The camera was able to use a faster shutter speed because the flash was used to boost available light.
Now let’s look at the same scene using a combination of auto mode with fill flash.
Auto mode was used
This time the shutter speed was a very slow 10/160 sec. The slower camera speed can cause problems like camera shake (when you press the shutter). Notice how the flag is slightly out of focus?
Additionally, the highlights in the window are completely blown out. Another difference to note, the skin tone in the photo with fill flash is much more natural than the one taken with backlight mode. Note the shining drool?
So it really comes down to a matter of preference. Let’s look at the difference when a photo is taken outside.
baby backlight is not so happy
Our sun-screened subject doesn’t like living in the shadows. This photo was taken with auto mode.
Our shutter speed was 10/3980 with an aperture of f/4.8. The shutter could open and close super quick in bright sunlight.
our happy baby can be seen with the flash
This time the shutter speed was slightly slower, 10/2061 sec, while the aperture remained the same. Note that her face is not hidden in shadows.
fill flash was used
This time the auto mode with fill flash was used. Our shutter speed was 10/3536 sec. with an aperture of f/3.8. Again, the lighting on her face appears the most natural.
Basically, usage of backlight mode or fill flash comes down to a matter of preference. The fill flash will generally use slower shutter speeds, so you may need to use a tripod when indoors.
Disclaimer: no babies were sunburned in the writing of this post.
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