High Key

[SusanWardrop]

Hiya

I've seen quite a few portraits where they have been done in High Key. Can anyone advise how to create an image that is high key please?

Thanks
Susan

 

[Kerioak]

If you are using a white background the easiest way is to have two studio lights shining on the background to blow it out, have your subject standing as far forward as necessary to prevent their shadow falling on the background and light the subject.

Alternatively I have done some with my dog on a late afternoon outside when the sun was dropping by draping a white sheet over the back of a garden seat and just using sunlight and cleaning up the odd faint shadow in post processing. Many people do not realise that you can do high key using natural light but if you pick your weather - bright as possible but without heavy shadows - it is possible for some subjects.

 

[Forbiddenbiker]

I've not done any high key, but having just read an article on histograms here part of it went into how a high-key histogram would look....which I thought you might find useful. (towards the bottom)

The idea clearly, is to only include information within the bright end of the light range onto your sensor or film.... make that information shades of white, perfectly exposed etc.

 

[Janice]

Many people think of high key as simply shots with a white background in a studio.. which of course it isnt. Real high key is almost blown out. Have a google.