Contre-jour - playing with the light fantastic

Wikipedia defines Contre-jour as -

Contre-jour, French for 'against daylight', refers to photographs taken when the camera is pointing directly toward a source of light. An alternative term is backlighting. The German term is "Gegenlicht". Contre-jour produces backlighting of the subject. 
wikipedia 

This light can be natural sunlight, strobe lighting, simple home lighting or even a torch!

I must say I haven't used this technique a lot, especially with landscapes, but with the result below I think I will be looking for more opportunities to play around with this.

I have just joined the Photography Group of Bunbury and last Thursday was my first meeting. I know that there will be lots I can learn from other members. 

 Each month you can submit images for critique and competition. I was so excited on my first night to to win a "silver" award in the "open projected images" category for images taken between 16 December 2012 and 15 January 2013, with this image which I took just after sunrise over the Wilson Inlet waterfront in Denmark, Western Australia. I really loved the "sparkle stars" effect on the water - which were a result of photographing into the light.

Below are my before and after shots - 

The first one is an image I took  a couple of years ago.
I knew I could do better, and I had envisioned the image I wanted. So when we went back and stayed at the same place a couple of weeks ago, I took the second image. Unfortunately I really did get up a little later than I should have. This image is too blue for me. Although I did love the sparkle star effect over the water.
So to get that early morning glow look I applied some adjustments in Elements, and an effect called "Sparta" in Radlab.
If you have never used Radlab you should check it out on the net. Awesome quick adjustments. 

And there you have it! Do you think it is an improvement or do you prefer the before?

Here is another view of this same spot - stunning isn't it?

I haven't used photographing into the light a lot with landscapes, although silhouettes are the most common form of this technique.

I have used back-lighting often with my food photography in the afternoons in my east facing kitchen window - it adds another dimension -

With a little imagination there are other ways to play around with back-lighting. These were actually photographed on a projector plate - 

and flowers photographed in my light-box with the bulb directly behind the flower - I love the effect of the light shining through -

I am absolutly in love with the work of Warick Orme at Floranova

and how could I possibly go past this image of lavender in the golden late afternoon light - 

so as you can see, there are lots of ways to "photograph against the light".

Have you played around with photographing into the light? Why don't you give it a go. 

If you want a link to how to make a simple light box - go here - Strobist - making a light box
For some inspiring flora art light photography - go here - Floranova

Or learn more about photographing silhouettes - go here -  Digital Photography School - silhoutte

Enjoy! and have a wonderful week. I look forward to hearing from you, and value your comments. 

Isn't the net a great place to learn from others?

I am linking up with Mary and the other wonderful contributors at Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. Please click on the link here to see and enjoy there work -  Mosaic Monday

You might also enjoy - please click on the links

Summer tomatoes
Umbrellas of sunshine 
Languid summer days  
Denmark and Walpole wilderness 

Mosaic Monday - Fun with layers

It is cold and wet outside today so I have been playing with layers in Photoshop Elements. You can find free layers and tutorials on the web for adding layers. This is my first try. Just a little experiment. Not all photos would lend themselves to layers - in many cases perhaps the original is better. Anyway, this is another of my everlastings shots I decided to experiment with. The first photo is the original, and second as 2 layers, and the other 2 just one layer with saturation adjusted.

Mosaic Monday is an initiative of Mary from Little Red House - please go to her site to see her beautiful work and the work of others contributing to Mosaic Monday.   Mosaic Monday at Dear Little Red House

Mosaic Monday - Love in a light box

My love affair with my light box continues as I experiment....These are roses from my garden and beautiful wildflower everlastings. I hope you enjoy them.  Click on the title to see more photos from my light box.

Mosaic Monday is an initiative of Mary from "Little Red House". Go to the link below, or to my website links, to see more of Mary's beautiful beautiful work, and photos from other contributors to "Mosaic Monday".  Moasic Monday at Dear Little Red House