Silhouetting

Backlighting an object against a wall so it reads as a dark, dramatic outline.

Silhouetting hides a fixture behind an object and aims it at the wall or surface beyond, so the object itself goes dark and reads as a crisp, dramatic outline against the brightened background. It is the opposite of shadowing: here the lit backdrop frames the subject, and the eye reads its shape rather than its detail. The technique shines with plants and sculptures that have a strong, recognizable profile, such as an ornamental grass, a Japanese maple, or a piece of garden art. The key is an even wash on the surface behind and a fixture kept fully out of sight. We use silhouetting to add mystery and a refined, gallery-like quality to a scene.

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