Help on Silhouette technique

[wonton]

I need help on how to make the following picture work! (I am a beginner so sorry if this is a stupid question).

I am going to Paris soon and I wanted to take a picture at a bit after sunset in front of the Eiffel Tower. I will set up a tripod and want to take a picture of my husband and I kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower but we would be seen as a silhouette. I would leave the flash off of course but my concern is if the Eiffel Tower lights will be too bright.

Any help would be appreciated.

[robertwgross]

Assuming that you will want to get the entire tower in the frame, then you want to give some thought into what distance you need to be back from the base, and then what focal length lens to use, and then what aperture to use to maximize the depth of field.

You will want to think about whether you want the foreground subjects to be a major part of the frame, with the tower being minor, or whether you want the tower to be major and the foreground minor.

---Bob Gross---

[J Rabin]

The post above certainly makes you consider composition. If it's metering advice to make the sil. work, just put the camera in M, meter the brighter light parts of setting sky, and the foreground should sil. Trial and error. J

[Merle]

GREAT IDEA ! I hate to throw cold water on your plan but there are many obstacles to overcome. First you are going to have composition problems then you are going to have depth of field problems. Either the tower will be in focus or the couple will be in focus (there is a way to overcome this) Then of course you will have lighting problems.


Easiest way to do this one is to have someone who knows photoshop put together two images one you have taken of the tower (good lighting) and one of you and your husband kissing (you may want to practice that one several times).
Make sure you and your husband do kiss in front of the tower when you are there, so the finished shot will not be fake, just manipulated.;) :) :D

Good shooting to ya!
Merle

[wonton]

Thanks for all the advise. I think I will most likely have to photoshop it.