HOW TO CREATE LOW KEY
PHOTOGRAPHY
HOW TO CREATE LOW KEY
PHOTOGRAPHY
About Low-key photography is a terrific challenge for both the novice and the experienced. It is a very simple technique that brings instant drama to an image but could take a lifetime to master. Like most other forms of photography, it is all about illumination and elimination. A low-key image is one that contains predominantly dark tones and colors. Like high-key images, they convey atmosphere and mood. But where a high-key image feels airy and light, a lowkey is usually dramatic and full of mystery. And where high-key lighting over-lights the subject to reduce contrast, low-key lighting striking contrasts through reduced lighting. Shadows are now the element of the composition. To create a low-key image, all you need is your camera and one source. Depending on the results you are looking for, you might use of a fill light or reflector. If you are lucky enough to have your studio, this will give you a reason to use it. If you don’t, no worries, need one. I personally have small studio at home and I going to use it for this stration.
creates primary light also make own photo you don’t demon-
Lighting 2
Choice of light is all up to the photographer. You have only one key light so the
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only choices you have to make now are direction and strength. The only ‘rule’ you should impose on yourself when shooting low-key is to never allow light to reach your background. But unless you have a particular reason to add texture there, don’t do it. This is called ‘contamination’. Remember that direction and intensity are all up to you but avoid lighting the background. If you don’t have a studio, you still have several choices. A popular one is to use two separate rooms. Block off all light in one room so that if the door is closed, you could see nothing. Use the adjoining room as the light source. You can use the door to help control the incoming light. Try to keep the light from hitting the camera or the background.
My Camera Settings So let’s look at ways of setting the camera up to achieve our results. With an off camera flash, we can create a low-key image any time of day. It works in the midday sun if you are indoors and works nicely outdoors on a dull, overcast day. My camera is in Manual mode and set up this way: Exposure is at 1/250 or 1/80 sec Aperture is f/5.6 ISO is at 100 Normally an ISO that low would produce an image that’s too dark under anything but decently bright conditions but here dark is exactly what I wanted.
To sum up, low-key lighting is a highly dramatic way of enhancing the contrast in an image that has roots tracing way back to the Baroque period and beyond. You can achieve this effect indoors with studio equipment or some ingenuity and outside at night in a dark area with a well-placed light source. 4
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The bonus of shooting at ISO 100 is that the image quality stays high and void of color noise, which has a tendency to really stand out against a black background. I’m using my Cannon T4i camera along with my new Cannon 50 mm lens for this project.
I Love To Experiment Ultimately a low-key image is just one that contains predominantly dark tones. There are many ways to achieve that. I decided to experiment with Christmas balls and some sheer red cloth to achieve this magical Christmas look. For my lighting I’m using small LED light, to be able to regulate its intensity for artistic purposes.
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I placed the light very close to the right
side of the object. I was also careful not to light up my background to avoid displaying its wrinkly texture on my photo. I’ve made few shots from different angles and also placed my light source in various directions. At the end I had multiple photos to choose from.
Conclusion In closing I’ll add
shadow and tone. Precise application of lighting is required in order to control the very important shadow detail. Manipulate your lighting and placement of subject until the shadows fall exactly as you want them. It’s that easy, and difficult.
that although we are trying to capture darkness, it is the application and control of the light that makes a great low-key image. The lack of light puts all focus on what light is allowed to stay. All your lighting decisions will show in your image so although it can be fun and whimsical, really good low-key photography requires a good knowledge of light,
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