DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> High Key - Color and B/W
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 12 of 12, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 08/25/2005 11:44:35 AM · #1
Hi, I love the look of high key pictures some incolor and some in B&W, I have tried that myself but I have found that overexposing doesnt lead to a successful high key, as a lot of detail is lost. I hope you can help me understand the principles of high key photography.

Thank you!
 08/25/2005 12:03:36 PM · #2
start with almost the entire frame with colors lighter than neutral gray and exposue for neutral gray.
 08/25/2005 12:17:38 PM · #3
Highkey shots to me have a lot to do with background and lighting all around the subject. In some highkey shots the details are broken up, but that is more glamour highkey.

What do you have for a backdrop?

Come to think of it..I don't think I seen an outdoor highkey. Does anyone have one to show?
 08/25/2005 12:41:00 PM · #4
Originally posted by Sonifo:
Come to think of it..I don't think I seen an outdoor highkey. Does anyone have one to show?




Here's an example by rikki11.
 08/25/2005 01:03:45 PM · #5
Awesome example..hmm..I think I have a horse shot in color.
08/27/2005 12:47:19 PM · #6
Originally posted by Sonifo:
Highkey shots to me have a lot to do with background and lighting all around the subject. In some highkey shots the details are broken up, but that is more glamour highkey.

What do you have for a backdrop?

Come to think of it..I don't think I seen an outdoor highkey. Does anyone have one to show?


The two highkey portraits I have posted recently have been done outdoors, in the shade, with only natural light.

This one was overexposed on purpose.
This one was "highkeyed" in PS, with a levels adjustment layer.
 08/27/2005 12:53:36 PM · #7
Originally posted by patrinus:
Hi, I love the look of high key pictures some incolor and some in B&W, I have tried that myself but I have found that overexposing doesnt lead to a successful high key, as a lot of detail is lost. I hope you can help me understand the principles of high key photography.

Thank you!


There are so many ways to compose a high-key shot. Here is one where I spot metered on the darkest area of the truck (the dashboard), leaving the rest over exposed.



Message edited by author 2005-08-27 12:55:47.
 08/27/2005 01:25:18 PM · #8
Here's a highkey in color I took last night... it also happens to be a macro shot too :) Comments are always welcome and will be returned :) Thanks...

08/27/2005 02:08:27 PM · #9
08/30/2005 01:33:31 PM · #10
So, is it all about Over Exposing? somehow I don't think so... there are some really good looking high keys (I loved the Parents to be picture) that seem to have something more in it... Perhaps its just my imagination.

Also its not only PS (as not every photo can be turned to High Key). I find somehow easier to PS B&W images to High Key rather than those in color.
 08/30/2005 01:41:12 PM · #11


This image is nearly straight out of the camera. If you are trying to achieve a high key look in Photoshop rather than using exposure and lighting technique, you're doing something wrong, IMO.

For the image above, I put the boy in front of sun-washed beige stucco wall, while he stood in the shade. I had him turn his head away from the light so I was exposing on the shady side of his face. Doing this blew out the entirety of the image, save for his face. It was the exact effect I wanted. Is that high key? I *think* so.
 08/31/2005 09:14:37 PM · #12
Originally posted by bledford:


This image is nearly straight out of the camera. If you are trying to achieve a high key look in Photoshop rather than using exposure and lighting technique, you're doing something wrong, IMO.

For the image above, I put the boy in front of sun-washed beige stucco wall, while he stood in the shade. I had him turn his head away from the light so I was exposing on the shady side of his face. Doing this blew out the entirety of the image, save for his face. It was the exact effect I wanted. Is that high key? I *think* so.


I think so too. Fine job!
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/12/2025 03:28:29 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/12/2025 03:28:29 PM EDT.