Thanks for starting this post Linda. Light is everything and back lighting has really peeked my interest. l am always wanting to learn more and see something differently. The Hog has taught me a lot and I always look forward to things you post. Thank you!

Here is a series of images that tells the story of courting ritual called Rushing that Western and Clark's Grebes are known for. These two are Westerns. You can tell the difference by looking at the black crown to see if it encompasses the lower eye. The last image is a pair of Clark's...no black below the eye. I used auto ISO with a comp of -2 stops for the silhouette images and a -1.3 comp for the Clark image. I use blinkies to determine if I have my exposure correct. If I just can't get the body exposure correct in a back lit situation, I use spot metering. I have the PV button on the front of the camera set to spot metering so I can be quick in the field. My subjects tend to run or fly away. In the silhouettes, the water was the most important thing so I checked exposure for first blinkies then prayed a good run would happen before the sun popped completely over the mountains. On the Clark image, I wanted to preserve the rim light and light coming though the beaks so I exposed for that and then hoped I could capture a nice interaction. Sometimes you just get lucky...and in these cases, you just fire away.

Linda, I'm loving all of the photos and this topic, so interesting. I don't have much to contribute, I work a full time job and spend most of my Saturdays at the dog Obed. school taking photos of the students and their pets, so time right now is very limited. Since I've gotten my Lensbaby Lens, I love using my bay window in the front of the house where the sun shines thru in the afternoon. Here is one of Caiden checking out the flowers I was trying to take photos of with the sunlight coming in the front. I've also included another one from this past fall outside with the sun shining behind the leaves on my maple tree. I have another one I'd like to include but have to hunt it down. Keep up the great job everyone!

Great subject and shots from you and mike, Witch also reminds me I don't remember when I started shooting into light, but when I did (years ago) it opened up a whole new ball game. when I first started everyone told me always shoot with the sun to your back, if your just starting out that's a good idea, but after you have shot a year or two learn to shoot into the sun.

Here is a example of back lit not shooting into the sun, just some lit leaves from a tree using a 50mm f/2 prime lens, I have said it many times if you do not own a 50mm prime lens you need to get one, you will learn much much more, oh yes get out and shoot, shoot, shoot.

Just a note: not all 50mm primes will make bubble bokeh like this, this one is from a Minolta 50mm f/2
another Note I own 5 50mm prime lenses and 2 58mm a one 45mm, you will need to do your home work