I was just interviewed as a featured photographer for this article in Rangefinder Magazine about silhouettes at weddings. Apparently, they are now trending, so I was happy to share images from 2005 to today for the article. Full text and photographs in the link below.
While using a flash is the most reliable way to shoot silhouettes, it isn’t always required. Minnesota-based Bradley Hanson relies on available light and an eye for strong graphical elements. “I think I’m kind of wired to see things more abstractly,” he says. “I like things that are simple and clean, and exposing to turn people into shapes and make the background hot white is a way to simplify the composition.”
Hanson finds the graphical style of silhouettes especially useful in less than photogenic locations. “It’s those windowless basements where you have to push yourself to try to see things like silhouettes because the lighting is not good in a conventional sense,” he says. “You can take what could be perceived as bad light and make something out of it.”
There’s another kind of magic that promises to open up the possibilities of silhouette making even more. Though he hasn’t used it for any silhouettes, Bradley Hanson says he’s been experimenting with Lightroom’s new AI tools, which make it quick and easy to select subjects in an image and dial their exposure down to silhouette level.
The nice thing is that despite the brand spanking newness of the technology, the silhouettes it can be used to retain their timeless look. Hanson speaks for many photographers when he explains why silhouettes will remain part of his repertoire, whatever tools he may use to make them: “I want things to look classic and timeless and not to be screaming out the year that they were shot.”
https://www.rangefinderonline.com/wedding-portrait/weddings/trending-silhouettes/
If you want to follow me on Instagram, I have two accounts: @bradleyhanson is my personal one, all square images from my iPhone since 2008. @bradleyhansonphotography is my professional portfolio, a mix of weddings, family and portraits, as well as black and white and color landscape images. If you are still reading this far, you’ve already figured out how to find my website…
I am a Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota based wedding photographer, specializing in documentary style weddings and Indian/Hindu weddings all over the world. To see more of my wedding work, click the wedding galleries under the portfolio heading. To inquire about my rates and availability, call me at 206-393-8292, email me at bradley@bradleyhanson.com or fill out the contact form (click the “contact” link on the top right above this paragraph).