The combination of silhouettes and landscapes is an underutilized art and one I wish more people practiced. Not only is it extremely useful in creating dynamic landscape images, but it is also extremely easy to execute. First, lets take a look at why you would want to intentionally clip shadow detail and then wrap this up by learning how to effectively pull off a silhouetted image.
Shape, lines, and imagination – Landscape photography may be one of the most literal forms of picture making. Find a pretty scene and present it as was. Sometimes it’s a good exercise to shake up this habit by emphasizing shapes, lines, and your viewer’s imagination. When utilizing silhouettes, it’s important to include easily distinguishable shapes in your photograph so that you aren’t presenting a blob of black in the frame. Compose and frame your shot with shapes and lines in the fore front of your mind. Ask yourself, would a person other than me know what they are looking at? This isn’t always the easiest thing to recognize, but the more you practice and train your eye, the easier it will come.
There are so many distinguishable elements in the frame that their is plenty to see and think about while at the same time it isn’t too busy. The best part is it seems as though I could have taken this in Africa or in the middle of a desert; the imagination can run wild. In reality, I made this image off the shoulder of Ocean Parkway on Long Island. Just don’t tell anyone.