Why have the sun to your back?

Question

Why do so many people here advise keeping the sun to your back? It gives images a flat, lifeless look. The only advantage I can think of is that it brightens the over-all scene. Shadows give form and make the image more interesting. They bring it to life! The only images that benefit from that lighting are the ones that need it, like rainbow images.

Answer 1

It really depends on what exactly I'm going for with the shot.  Sometimes if I am going for stretchy shadows of trees pointing into the frame itself, I'll shoot with the sun to my back.  

Really, I've found that every situation has its advantages and disadvantages.  For the most part, I like to have the sun more to over one shoulder or the other.

Also, there are some times when you're sorta stuck.  I'd rather get a shot with the sun to my back that wouldn't work any other way than miss the shot altogether.

Answer 2

Touche !!!  

Answer 3

The direction of light is entirely dependant on the effect you wish to achieve.

Answer 4

Indeed poor advise...

Perhaps due to the reflective meters found in camera's, people without a firm understanding of how to achieve a correct exposure have found greater success by placing the sun at their back. Indeed one of the first things one will learn working under a professional is the use of light, sidelight and backlight in particular. Both however pose a serious challenge to the novice, both in composing the image and metering for exposure.

Great question !!!

OK, my avitar is MIA...

J-MaN

Answer 5

they give the advise for the same reasons they say things like:

use it on auto

use auto flash or ttl

dont shot into the sun

they are clueless

a

Answer 6

I actually have the sun to the subject's back.  By doing so it outlines the body much like a strobe or flash..  You then need to decide how to front light; but I am telling you the variation of flare in the lens, or outline of subject, etc are far more advantageous then using the sun as a front light.      Try shooting with your subject late in the day for prime time light, both for it's soft light and the angle of that edge you want on the subject.  

Thank You

Darrin  

Answer 7

I suspect this was an old Kodak rule that came about when the general public got their hands on Brownie's and other consumer cameras for the first time. The film was slow and required as much light as possible.

BTW, the MOMA in NYC has a wall of this type of snapshots which also feature the long shadow of the photographer.

Answer 8

I assume that you mean behind the photographer... I personally would follow this rule, but with a slight variation: Keep the sun behind you, but a little to the left or right. This gives you all the light from the sun that you need, but it also gives you the shadows that bring the photo to life. The reason why you generally don't want the sun in front of you is because then you'll get flare and glare in your image, or you could just get a silhouette of your subject, in which case, features are not easily discernible. These effects are artistic and great for dramatic effect, but not very practical.

EDIT: I agree with Darrin, the best time to shoot is late in the evening. Or early morning. Either way, the light is softer and more natural, making the colors feel more real, and it greatly reduces the "flat, lifeless look."

EDIT #2: There's one more thing I forgot to mention: Fill lighting. If you really want to, you can use a second light source (such as flash) to illuminate the dark areas of your subject when the sun is in front of you and behind them. The reason I forgot to mention it though, is because I try hard not to use anything except natural light, and I haven't had much success with using fill lighting to illuminate a back-lit subject... but that's just my own personal prefrence.

A final note: How you use the lighting available and whether or not you use other lighting and techniques is completely up to you. Nobody can tell you what's right and what's wrong, only what looks good to them. There are no rules in photography, only guidelines. But keep in mind... those guidelines are set for a good reason, and they should be followed unless you have a better reason not to.

I wish you well. :)