Tip of the Day: Spectacular Silhouettes

Distinct objects such as cacti, buttes, and palm trees silhouetted against a sunset sky can make for dramatic travel images, here’s how to get them right:

•Scout your location and be there half an hour before sunset.

•Look for a section of sky with good clouds.

•Shoot from a low position to emphasize the silhouetted objects against the sky.

•Stop down to around f/11 to deepen the depth of field.

•Spotmeter off the sky and bracket your shots.

Adapted from National Audubon Society Guide to Landscape Photography by Tim Fitzharris (Firefly Books, 2007, $25)