Contre-jour (French pronunciation:[kɔ̃tʁəʒuʁ];lit. 'againstdaylight') is aphotographic technique in which thecamera is pointing directly toward asource of light, as well as an equivalent technique ofpainting.
Before its use in photography, contre-jour was used in painting, where theshadows would fall to the left on the left, to the right on the right and forward in the lower centre. The edges of the subject would show surprising colour effects.
Contre-jour producesbacklighting of the subject. This effect usually hides details, causes a strongercontrast between light and dark, createssilhouettes and emphasizes lines and shapes. Thesun, or other light source, is often seen as either a bright spot or as a strongglare behind the subject.[1]Fill light may be used to illuminate the side of the subject facing toward the camera. The subject is generally considered silhouetted when there is alighting ratio of 16:1 or more.[2]
Media related toContre-jour photography at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition ofcontre-jour at Wiktionary