Backlight For Added Interest

Just as you would use a backlight to separate your subjects from the background when taking portraits, you can do the same when shooting details. In the example of the cake image above, the backlight added a little kick/rim light to the cake and the flowers on the table to separate them from the background. As for choosing a light, the choice is yours, whether it be a flash or constant light. Whatever light you have that gets the job done, that’s the light you need. If you do use a flash, be sure to dial the power down to 1/64 (or something similar) because you only want to add a little dimension and shape to the object you’re photographing.