Monochrome Madness,  Photographic techniques,  Themed galleries

Gallery: backlit in black and white

August 7, 2025 / 50 Comments

Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.

George Eastman

One of the first things I was told when I first started to take photos as a ten year old was, always have the sun behind you when you shoot. Rubbish! That will of course result in a scene that is evenly lit and easy to capture. But it may also result in a scene that lacks interest.

What makes photography a strange invention is that its primary raw materials are light and time.

John Berger

Side lighting will add some contrast to your scene, with areas of brightness and shade. Meanwhile backlighting, while fiddlier to work with, can produce the most atmospheric and interesting of shots. Whether capturing the delicate details of a flower, or creating bold silhouettes, backlighting will add drama and depth to almost any scene.

Brian has asked us to share some black and white backlit images for Monochrome Madness. I’m travelling and with limited wifi but this is a topic I couldn’t resist! So I’ve scheduled this post before leaving. I’ll try to get online to add a link while away but if not will add a back-dated one on my return. I’ll also make sure I catch up with any comments eventually!

Meanwhile you can read more about Monochrome Madness on Leanne’s page about the challenge.

All these shots were converted with my go-to software, Nik Silver Efex Pro.

On the Narayani River, Bardia National Park, Nepal

My feature photo was taken at sunset on the same river

Muntjac deer, Bardia National Park, Nepal

Hibiscus in the grounds of the Temple Tree Resort, Pokhara, Nepal

Hibiscus in Bandipur, Nepal

In the garden of the Hotel Bougainvillea, near San Jose, Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica, at sunrise

Just after sunset at Lagarta Lodge, Costa Rica

In the Place des Vosges, Paris

Spray over Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

El Tatio Geysers, Atacama Desert, Chile, just after sunrise

In Luang Prabang, Laos

By the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Cartagena , Colombia

Grasses in Stoneman Meadow, Yosemite Valley, California

By Mono Lake, California

In Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State

50 Comments

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