Week 4 homework, natural light

Side lit

ISO 200, F/2.8, 1/160

This one looks a lot more grey when I posted it online that it did on my computer.  It looked a lot warmer and more pleasing but oh well.

Backlit

ISO 200, F/4.5, 1/125

I LOVED the tip on shading the lens.  It's like a whole new world is open to me.  I've often been frustrated by the haziness that occurs because of too much light coming in.  I had a lens hood, but for this image I didn't have it with me so I just shaded the lens a bit with my lens cap and it made all the difference.  In fact I think I'll post the image I shot without shading it to see the difference.  so here it is..

Same exact settings.  I definitely think both effects are important to know how to create.  This one with the glow can be appealing if that's what you are going for, and the other is definitely useful if you are looking for crisp, sharp images and looking to omit the lens flare.  YAY, I'm so happy I know about this.  

Front lit

ISO 100, F4/5, 1/125

Okay so this is not really front lit, I realize.  I'm afraid that I didn't quite fulfill this requirement as I should have.  But I originally started taking the shot with the sun directly on her face and used the technique that Brooke used in the field with the girl with the curly hair and having the subject turn to create their own shadow on her face.  So I may not have demonstrated getting rid of the dapples and such with this.  I'll have to try something else.  Any suggestions on other tips I should try to get a front lit shot?  It seems hard so I guess I just try to avoid it. :)

Using natural reflectors

ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/250

I'm not really sure if beach sand is a natural reflector and if it is if it was really used in this shot, but this was my attempt at it.  

ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/400

This is another attempt at natural reflectors, but I don't know if this colored building is the type of thing I should be looking for or not.  I also don't know if it worked out because her hair is blocking the building directly in front of the part of her face that should be reflected upon.  Am I doing this right?  What other tips on natural reflectors do you think I would benefit from?

Silhouette
ISO 200, F/2.8, 1/125
I think this could have been a little bit more exposed.  I'm not sure what the definition of a silhouette is, if it's supposed to be strictly a black shape or if it's still a silhouette if you can see some definition in the subject?  Is this technically a silhouette?