High Key Photos

[mrsawyer]

Hello All,

As I found no discussion here on the art of creating high key photos, I thought I'd start one here. My interest in high key has been piqued by the latest photo challenge on Panachallenge.com. The theme is simply "High Key". It goes on to say, "Seek to eliminate harsh shadows and create a bright environment. Your camera's settings should be optimized to let in lots of light. Make sure there's enough to brighten the scene considerably without blowing out the subject."

There are 9 days left to enter a photo, so hopefully, I'll get some tips or ideas from some of you to create my entry in plenty of time. (If you plan to enter a photo yourself, be sure not to give away too much detail about your idea here!)

Most examples I've seen were staged indoors. I am considering something outdoors instead.

Any thoughts on outdoor versus indoor high key photos?

Bernie

--

my photos:

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www.panachallenge.com

 

[Sergei Golikov]

Hello All,

As I found no discussion here on the art of creating high key photos, I thought I'd start one here. My interest in high key has been piqued by the latest photo challenge on Panachallenge.com. The theme is simply "High Key". It goes on to say, "Seek to eliminate harsh shadows and create a bright environment. Your camera's settings should be optimized to let in lots of light. Make sure there's enough to brighten the scene considerably without blowing out the subject."

There are 9 days left to enter a photo, so hopefully, I'll get some tips or ideas from some of you to create my entry in plenty of time. (If you plan to enter a photo yourself, be sure not to give away too much detail about your idea here!)

Most examples I've seen were staged indoors. I am considering something outdoors instead.

Any thoughts on outdoor versus indoor high key photos?

Bernie

--

my photos:
http://www.panachallenge.com/mugshots/show_member.php?member=1152

Hey Bernie,

an interesting topic, surprised you've been left high and dry for so long.

In the studio, a model can change outfits, white outfit against white background with flat lighting for High Key.

Dark outfit against dark background with directional lighting for Low Key.

In your case, outdoors, the same essentially applies for models, however for objects,

I want to illustrate with a couple of macro subjects from a recent series from different cameras.

The subject is essentially the same, backlight being used in both cases here, but used against light and dark backgrounds to create the high key and low key effects respectively.


High Key treatment using backlight




Low Key treatment using backlight

 

[morepix]

A favorite style of mine, high-key monochrome. Here are some examples of mine from a wide range of subjects. Hope they may contribute some ideas for you.








Serious hardware




Two dories, Nova Scotia




Tea house, Japanese Garden, Seattle




Rainy day, Marais, Paris




Millenium Bridge & St Paul's, London



--
David
www.pbase.com/morepix

 

[Erik Ohlson]

Not usually a fan of High Key, but these are excellent exampled, David !







--
"Measure wealth not by things you have but by things for which you would not take money"
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]

 

[morepix]

Thanks, Erik.

 

[mrsawyer]

Hi Sergeg,
I appreciate your reply and examples. Your backlit example leaves deep shadows on the subject. So, how is it high key? I thought dark shadows were to be avoided to create a high key photo. Your thoughts?
Bernie
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www.panachallenge.com

 

[Sergei Golikov]

Hi Sergeg,
I appreciate your reply and examples. Your backlit example leaves deep shadows on the subject. So, how is it high key? I thought dark shadows were to be avoided to create a high key photo. Your thoughts?
Bernie
--
http://www.panachallenge.com/mugshots/show_member.php?member=1152

I was aware of that point you raise Bernie, and it could be contested and interpreted. I didn't provide fill, so yes it is silhouetted and dark in the middle of the subject. My thoughts were that the nature of the background being a strong, but obviously not only factor in contributing to the high key effect.

Thanks for the dialog

 

[mrsawyer]

Morepix,
You have some fine examples here! What made you decide to combine monochrome and high key?
Just curious,
Bernie
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[Sergei Golikov]

I couldn't resist, is this High Key or Low Key

taken earlier today.




Ebony and Ivory



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http://www.flickr.com/photos/serge_golikov/

http://www.talenthouse.com/sergei

500px

500px.com

 

[morepix]

Morepix,
You have some fine examples here! What made you decide to combine monochrome and high key?

Hard to say. But sometimes, for me, color just confuses the issue.

 

[sherman_levine]

I like the effect. They remind me of artist's sketches

 

[SwatOx]

You've inspired me to give it a try!

 

[danielsonkin]

Bernie,

The winning photo of that panachallenge was awesome. I just noticed it a day or so ago. Although I don't usually like to create high or low key photos myself, I certainly enjoy looking at other's work.

David, your examples are excellent!

Serge, all three are very nice, especially the piano keys/dice.

Daniel

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http://danielsonkin.smugmug.com/

 

[Sergei Golikov]

Bernie,

The winning photo of that panachallenge was awesome. I just noticed it a day or so ago. Although I don't usually like to create high or low key photos myself, I certainly enjoy looking at other's work.

David, your examples are excellent!

Serge, all three are very nice, especially the piano keys/dice.

Daniel

 

[Dan W258995]

I love all of these, David!

DW

 

[Pierre Daigneault]

Fantastic images Morepix,

Clearly you have done a lot of work on these images (desaturate, contrast, vignette etc.).

Can you share your workflow please??

They are great.....

 

[morepix]

Thanks for the compliments. I wish I could describe the "workflow", but I have no system. I find it difficult each time. Some things are clear: monochrome, maybe hi key mono if you use Nik Silver Efex Pro -- but I think I did most of these before I had it, maybe before it existed. Certain tonal adjustments toward overexposure, but retaining shadow edges (maybe luminosity masking adjustments), white vignette and maybe over-painting with white around the boundaries.

Sorry, that's not very clear, but it's the best I can do. Helped by your encouragement, I'll work on some more. At this point I have about 50 of them.

In signing off, here's one more that couldn't be repeated. This outrageous elephant sculpture by one Miguel Barcelo balanced in front of the Papal Palace in Avignon, France in 2010, but it's no longer there. It was transplanted to New York, and by now it may have been melted down to make refrigerators or Fiats or even a whole lot of FZ200s. I hope not.




A coven of elephant worshippers in Avignon



--
David
www.pbase.com/morepix

 

[Me Tarzan]

Bernie, thanks for the thread as it has seeded exciting new ideas.

David, your high key images are inspiring and fantastic.

 

[mrsawyer]

I couldn't resist, is this High Key or Low Key

taken earlier today.


Ebony and Ivory

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/serge_golikov/
http://www.talenthouse.com/sergei
http://500px.com/SergeGolikov

Hmmmm, I wouldn't call it high key, nor low key. Interesting question you posed!

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[mrsawyer]

danielsonkin wrote:

Bernie,

The winning photo of that panachallenge was awesome. I just noticed it a day or so ago. Although I don't usually like to create high or low key photos myself, I certainly enjoy looking at other's work.

David, your examples are excellent!

Serge, all three are very nice, especially the piano keys/dice.

Daniel