Capturing a subject in silhouette is one of the most dramatic ways to shoot compelling images, especially if you’re working in b&w. Today’s tutorial from the New Ways of Seeing YouTube channel demonstrates everything you need to know for achieving this powerful effect.

Instructor Rupert Vandervell is an accomplished British fine art photographer and a very popular educator who isn’t afraid to take an unexpected approach. This episode is designed with street photographers in mind, but much of what you’ll learn is equally applicable for capturing all sorts of images in the field.

Rupert puts it like this: “The balance of light and dark is very important in photography, and no more so than in the high-contrast fine art style. Light and shade are the very building blocks of this kind of imagery and shooting in black and white is the perfect way to show off the look as the tonal ranges can be pushed to the extreme.”

As you’ll see, the human shape can be quite fascinating when viewed in silhouette,” and so are other easily identified subjects or objects. Rupert notes further that recognizable forms can be even more powerful when combined with geometric shapes within the frame. There are also several composition techniques you can employ to heighten the result.

It’s also important to give subjects a prominent place against the backdrop. And when it comes to shooting on the street, he recommends looking for people wearing hats, flowing coats, carrying bags, or even interesting hair styles that add a unique twist to their shape.

Rupert notes that, “the way a person walks or their standing pose looks quite exaggerated (in an eye-catching way) when seen in silhouette and create the kind of character that will make an image have a real stand-out quality.” One way to do this is by anticipating a subject’s movements so that you’re prepared to capture the key moment before it occurs.

This is just a small taste of the helpful advice that Rupert provides, and by the time the video concludes you’ll be ready to expand your vision and give these technique a try. There’s much more to learn on the New Ways of Seeing YouTube channel, so pay a visit when you have time to explore.

And don’t miss a tutorial we featured recently with a successful German pro who demonstrates what he says are the most effective outdoor composition techniques for inexperienced photographers.