Backlit Watercolor

This painting example is something done in class as an example of backlighting. Most photographers are very familiar with this form of lighting for their compositions. Unless we are doing plain air painting in the very early morning or late afternoon light we are not that aware. Figures can be silhouetted with strong backlighting as can trees. This is quite remarkable with water or marine landscapes done with back light. The lighting makes a strong statement of anything in the foreground. By using rim lighting it is even more accentuated.