Weekend Photography Challenge #407 Low-Key / Hi-Key

[Tersha]

Federico posted a really good article on Low-key photography last week, so I thought it was a good idea for the Weekend Challenge. Plus Hi-Key as well for some balance !

https://www.lightstalking.us/low-key-lighting/ by Federico Alegria

https://www.lightstalking.us/high-key-low-key-moderate-adjustments/ by Sheen Watkins

https://www.lightstalking.us/getting-started-with-low-key-portraiture/ by Dzvonko Petrovski

https://www.lightstalking.us/bite-size-tips-what-is-a-high-key-lighting-and-how-to-set-it-up/ by Dahlia Ambrose

https://www.lightstalking.us/16-radiant-examples-of-high-key-photography/ by Jason D Little

[Anonymous]

Okay here is a stab at a high-key image. This is downtown Chicago, IL.  Mike

[LeanneC]

The treatment is interesting, Mike. Almost looks like infrared. Cool.

[Tersha]

Ditto what Leame said!

[Graham Hart]

A different angle on things Mike! I like the way the windows have sort of become the dominant element here. Ditto…cool.

[Anonymous]

Here is my submission for a low-key image. Mike

[LeanneC]

Beautiful.

[Gray B]

Mike, my immediate reaction was, “this must be a ’50’s movie star”.  However you accomplished this look, it is beautiful.

[Bobbie]

I agree with Gray, Mike. The eys really draw my focus – great portrait!

[Bruce Gordon]

Perfect lighting Mike! Well done!

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, for all the comments. The model is my niece. I was trying to get a “film noir” look to the image. It’s always nice to get some positive feedback on my efforts.

[Tersha]

Quite mesmerising!

[Graham Hart]

My first thought was a young Judy Garland. You’ve captured that era very well. Beautiful model too!

[ElinL]

Lovely !

[LeanneC]

Freesia (old flowers can be beautiful in their own way) in high key:

Low Key Sweet Pea…

[Tersha]

Both beautiful Leanne!

[Graham Hart]

Love these Leanne. The first one reminds me of one of those sketches dressmakers create. Like the folds of a skirt hanging down.

[Dave Watkins]

Beautiful colors in both shots. First one beautifully delicate. The second beautifully saturated.

[LeanneC]

Thank you Diane, Graham and Dave!

[Bobbie]

These are wonderful shots.
I love freesias Leanne but are you sure these are old? Look at the image upside down.
(I posted this comment once before but apparently it got lost in cyberspace)

[LeanneC]

Thank you. Here is a zoomed out shot of them, Bobbie. You can see how the petals are drooping. I flipped the shot though and I can see why you thought that!

[ElinL]

Love both images Leanne. The colour palette of the sweet pea image is exquisite.

[Tom M]

Hi Key Snowstorm…

[Bobbie]

You’ve made this look like an illustration from an old book Tom. Very nice.

[Tersha]

I love photographing snowstorms, this is lovely Tom!

[Gray B]

“Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”, surely Robert Frost had an image such as this in mind when he put pen to paper.

[Graham Hart]

Love this too. I can almost feel like I’m there. This pic conveys the feel of the place so well.

[Dave Watkins]

A beautiful spot well captured. Nice job Tom.

[ElinL]

A catching image Tom – almost gives the icy feeling of melting snow on the bare skin of the face.

[Tom M]

Low Key 3 Glasses…

[Bruce Gordon]

Very nice image Tom!

[Tersha]

Interesting light in this shot Tom, it works well!

[Graham Hart]

Very nice. Something about glass and light that always pleases the senses. I like the upward sweep of light to the right which adds some depth to the image.

[Andre P.]

Faded Rose

[Bruce Gordon]

Very interesting image! The Bokeh is strong with this one!

[Andre P.]

Maybe too strong, too visible ??

[Holly K]

Great color and focus. Definitely a noir feel to it.

[Andre P.]

Goes with the season (“Toussaint” – All Saints’ Day)

[Tersha]

Great shot Andre, you’ve captured the texture on the rose well, and the bokeh add to the overall effect.

[Andre P.]

[Graham Hart]

I’ve read that images like this can be quite challenging to capture but you’ve done a good job Andre.

[Andre P.]

Thank you!
I actually wanted to see what I could do with a white object on a white background, in a white light box… 😉
Now I wonder if it’s better with a slight shadow or without ?

[ElinL]

A very nice minimalistic image.

[ElinL]

Hi-Key

Low-Key

[LeanneC]

Your two images are stunning, Elin. The first was a bit of a photographic mystery, which I just love! Great job.

[ElinL]

Thank you Leanne 🙂

[Bruce Gordon]

Really incredible images, ElinL! I love the low key image the best! The eye of the Big Horn, with the horn as a lead in line, is what nails it for me. Brilliant!

[ElinL]

Thank you Bruce 🙂

[Graham Hart]

Totally awesome pics Elin. I too like the low key most with its horned demon feel. The wisps of hair in the shadows, what seems like a larger beast lurking in the BG and that eye! Terrific pic.

[Bobbie]

You described my reaction perfectly Graham.

[ElinL]

Thank you Graham.

[Erik Fransman]

Great shots Elin!

[ElinL]

Thank you Bobbie

[ElinL]

Thank you Erik

[Tersha]

Both stunning shots Elin, great textures in both, too!

[ElinL]

Thank you Diane

[Gray B]

High Key – makes me smile

https://flic.kr/p/Rq1hh6

 

Low key – makes me think

https://flic.kr/p/LjXELz

[Bobbie]

Your hi-key portrait me me smile too Gray 🙂

[LeanneC]

Lovely high key portrait Gray. I especially love the treatment. It looks like a cherished, faded photograph from days gone by.

[Gray B]

Thanks Leanne

[Bruce Gordon]

Powerful images Gary! Total contrast of the heights and depths of which the human race is capable.

[Gray B]

Thanks Bruce, that’s what I was going for.

[Graham Hart]

Beautiful high key pic Gray and I’m still thinking about the low key image.

[Gray B]

Thank you Graham

[Dave Watkins]

Your high key portrait has an angelic look to it. Nicely done.

[Gray B]

Thanks Dave

[Tersha]

Love the processing on the little girl, very angelic.
The memorial shot is very thought provoking, Gray.

[ElinL]

Agree with Diane´s words. The memorial is provoking.

[Bruce Gordon]

High-Key

[Bruce Gordon]

Low-Key

[Dave Watkins]

Although completely different geographically both shots have a look of isolation. Both quite pleasing.

[Bruce Gordon]

Thank you Dave!

[ElinL]

Both images are compelling Bruce. Where is the high-key image taken ?

[Tersha]

These both look amazing when seen large Bruce, lots of detail, and both really good examples of the theme!

[Bruce Gordon]

Thanks Tersha!

[Tersha]

low-key

[Bruce Gordon]

Very nice Tersha!

[Tersha]

Thanks Bruce!

[Dave Watkins]

Dandelion seed heads make great photographic subjects. I’ve seen a lot but never tire of seeing more. Like snow flakes no two are alike. 🙂 Nice shot Tersha.

[Tersha]

Thanks Dave, you’re right, and I never tire of finding different ways to photograph dandelions. 🙂

[ElinL]

Love your dandelion images Diane.

[Jane Dragon]

Amazing image! Dandelions and snowflakes are nice objects, they use to look alike but the difference is in every inch.

[Click]

Notice the beetle

Tetraopes tetrophthalmus

[Bruce Gordon]

Totally cool! I never would have noticed, had you not mentioned it. Looks like it’s hold up the flower.

[Tersha]

Big beetle, or small flowers Click? Cool shot.

[Graham Hart]

High Key – shot with mobile

[Tersha]

Simply beautiful!

[ElinL]

Very cool Graham – and lovely !

[Graham Hart]

Thank you Diane and Elin. Wish I’d healed out the little badge now…its a bit of an eye snag.

[Graham Hart]

Low Key

[Dave Watkins]

I like this. The low key treatment works wonderfully here.

[Andre P.]

This cat really has something mysterious… we do not guess what he can think

[Tersha]

A deep thinker Graham! Good low-key.

[ElinL]

A hypnotising look… irresistible 🙂

[Graham Hart]

Thank you Dave, Andre, Diane & Elin.

[chris pook]

Emily, 1/500 @ /5.6, & beauty dish. LR and Silver Efex FX Pro 2  low key preset.  Maybe over done it, it was there already with exposure.

[Tersha]

Very low-key Chris, it makes Emily look very mysterious!

[David Chesterfield]

Ying Cai portrait.

 

[David Chesterfield]

My friend Anne in High Key.

 

[Tersha]

Both beautifully done hi-key portraits David!

[Dave Watkins]

Wonderful images here. High key/low key is something I’ve not pursued or hardly thought about to be honest. I am definitely interested now though. Thank you all. 🙂

[Rob Eyers]

LAMP POST.

Canon 5D Mk iv edited in Snapseed/iPad. Trying to keep my hand in while traveling. Took this for a few different reasons. The building is scheduled for demolition

[Graham Hart]

Now I’m jealous…a 5D Mk IV! What a wonderfully geometric image Rob. What’s really interesting is the skewed symmetry of the round windows which are off-centre. I wonder if this was the designer’s intent or if structural needs dictated it? Such a shame it is to be demolished.

PS: yes, every inch of my being wants to straighten that lamp post 🙂

[Tersha]

low-key berries

[Bobbie]

Diane, for me, the low-key, the light and dark, all work to give this image a feeling of deep winter outside and a cozy place by a fire inside.

[Tersha]

Thanks Bobbie! I’m glad you had such a cozy image from my shot. 🙂

[Graham Hart]

Nice one Diane. In a similar way to Bobbie, this pic gives has a Christmas feel to me. With a bit of tinsel I would’ve been into the egg-nog 🙂

[Holly K]

Pioneer Cemetery (high key)

[Dave Watkins]

An older photo re-worked just a tad to make it more appropriate for the challenge. Still looking for a high key candidate. Either in my files or out in the world.

[Andre P.]

With Nik Silver Efex

[John Thompson]

How about high key desert stone?

[Tersha]

Good detail John, I can just imagine this stone in the baking hot, very bright sunshine!

[Graham Hart]

I can almost, just about see the face of the sphinx in this pic John in the upper RH quadrant. Bit of dodge and burn and it would really stand out I reckon.

[Enoma Izevbigie]

TRANQUILITY

[Bobbie]

2 images from weddings.

Hi-key(?): “Catching Smoke”
I don’t usually like or make hi-key images because they hurt my eyes. I found this in my archives but I’m not even sure if it fits the definition.

[Graham Hart]

I really like this Bobbie. Hard-core street if you ask me. I guess its high-key although the light/dark ratio is kind of balanced rather than leaning in the lighter direction? Dunno, perhaps a white vignette to lower the darker shades at the edges?

[Bobbie]

Thanks Graham. I’ll try your suggestion. Other things I tried “undark” the dark didn’t really work.

[Bobbie]

Low-key: “Eddie”

This in part of my obsession of trying to make images in very low light with my little camera. It’s very noisy but I love seeing what I can get out of these in the editing process. This challenge made me go back and redo the editing a little.

[Graham Hart]

I t certainly is a little noisy Bobbie but I like it. He almost looks like he’s made of stone because of the noise. What is that light object he appears to be holding?

[Bobbie]

He’s holding a large glow stick. There was almost no light in the room except for a few candles and the glow sticks and necklaces other guests were wearing or holding (very evident in the original image). There were a lot of people around and most of the reediting I did here was to try to tone down or remove those small isolated light points which were very distracting
(I like your new picture Graham)

[Tersha]

hi-key …

[Graham Hart]

Beautiful Diane. The light blue cast in the BG really compliments the purple flower. It has ‘delicate’ written all over it.

[Ann Braun Wheatley]

What I do too much of…

[Graham Hart]

Don’t we all Ann! Nice Low Key effect. Did the laptop screen play any part in the lighting or was it all coming from the RH side?

[Ann Braun Wheatley]

I did this self-portrait for the photography course I’m taking.  I used a small LED lamp  to help achieve this effect, so the light came partly from the Mac screen and partly from the lamp, Graham.

[Author]

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