When the clouds are obscuring the sun just enough to get a good shot without being blinded, I enjoy shooting straight into it. Generally, it is not advisable as it could damage your camera's sensor and can be quite hard on the eyes. I often try not to look directly at the sun for very long either. To get the shape this way will require a quick exposure, usually with a smaller aperture, so that you can limit the light that comes into your lens and help give the shape more definition without turning into a glowing blob.
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