This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
This week I harvested a lovely linden honey (at right) from one of our backyard beehives. Nectar from linden flowers yields a honey that is exceptional both in its pale tone and in its strong flavor. Most light honeys taste light; that from linden is bold but sweet, ideal for salad dressings and marinades.
I wanted a photo.
Merely pointing a camera and shooting, however, was unlikely to fully convey the hue of the liquid. To best capture the harvest's translucent glow, light should travel through the honey on its way to the camera. That is, honey should be backlight. It should be photographed with the primary light source behind it.
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I fired a single handheld strobe pointed not at the jars but at a white wall about half a meter behind. This diffuse backlighting coaxed a pleasing glow from the jars, and made for a dramatic backdrop in its own right.
How important is lighting from behind the subject? Compare the same scene shot with front lighting:
This photo is fine, but it lacks...um, buzz.
