Low key

Reply to Too many photos here are not low key

nobody@flickr.com (Steve Millington) — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:30:43 -0700

Hi J Shin. Thanks, I seem to have an attraction towards high contrast images at the moment, especially black and white. Most people see the world in colour so I always think Black and White can make a image far more interesting.... Or maybe its just because I've just aquired Nik Silver Efex Pro!

Reply to Too many photos here are not low key

nobody@flickr.com (J Shin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:18:01 -0700

J Shin posted a reply:

Steve Millington:

> as quite new to the process

I found a bunch of photos on your stream that are more unambiguously low-key. Here are my faves, if you don't mind:

Not just dark background, but much of the subjects are obscured as well.

I would call the following one low-key, too, but, like my ladybug above, some might dispute that. The background isn't black, but subject is definitely largely obscured, with a high-contrast highlight. (By the way, the light on the fur is gorgeous!)

This one probably gets into being medium-key, since the face is evenly lit and evenly well-exposed, regardless of the light in the back.

Interestingly, I didn't find any truly high-key photos. (Great shots of the arctic!)

Reply to Too many photos here are not low key

nobody@flickr.com (Steve Millington) — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:28:56 -0700

Steve Millington posted a reply:

Hi all, this is an interesting question, I have only posted two 'low key' images so far as quite new to the process and Im not sure its even 100% low key.

I think this is a good example of a low key image (not my image):

www.flickr.com/photos/photosbysarahchristine/6054952640/

For me, stopping light reaching your background is a key factor then its the directional control of shadow which really sets the mark, over flat frontal lighting.

Here is my first attempts, both are still quite flat lighting as was stuck with one on-camera flash.

www.flickr.com/photos/stevem7724/8710919962/in/photostream

Second attempt:

www.flickr.com/photos/stevem7724/8709768555/in/photostream

Reply to Too many photos here are not low key

nobody@flickr.com (J Shin) — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:08:39 -0700

J Shin posted a reply:

Hi! I just joined this group, and it seemed important for me to understand what others' interpretation of "low key" might be.

Sometimes it's hard to decide. I'd actually consider this photo of mine (not yet posted on this group) to be medium-high-key, given how strongly and uniformly the subject is lit, although darkness predominates in the background. This might be the case even if it is underexposed a bit.

Then again, it is lit with a single source on the left, analogous to a "light in through the window on the face", like this photo from Paul von Winckelmann, posted on this group.

I do, however, consider this shot low-key, and posted it here, although the background is not "pitch black" (Does that violate the group rule?):

I'm curious to know what others think.

Reply to Welcome to Low Key group - Please introduce yourself

nobody@flickr.com (J Shin) — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:32:54 -0700

J Shin posted a reply:

Hi! I just joined the group after having complained to several people about the prevalence of high-key shots on Flickr. I suppose many of my shots are "underexposed" more than they are "low key", but I've always preferred the paradox of saturated colors with dark mood that I got from underexposed Ektachrome.

After I posted this shot in several groups, for instance, I thought perhaps I had it all wrong all this time, compared to how ladybugs are usually shot:

Not any more. :-)

Reply to How to improve Low Key pictures

nobody@flickr.com (Bluesman1986) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:07:06 -0700

Bluesman1986 posted a reply:

I agree with Photonewbie69, In the shot i done i was lucky enough to have a black backdrop. t

The room was lit with natural daylight, It was quite dim in the room (Just enough to use AF). I used my flash at 90 degrees from the camera, like an L Shape with me sat where the 2 lines meet. I attached a flash snoot to head of the flash which was made out of a Pringles tube, This allowed me to concentrate the flash and i also put a piece of paper in behind the plastic top allowing me to diffuse the flash slightly...

I hope this helps in some way

Good work

Tony

Reply to Welcome to Low Key group - Please introduce yourself

nobody@flickr.com (NoIReallyAmPlumbum) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:10:01 -0700

NoIReallyAmPlumbum posted a reply:

Hi, I'm Beth. I am new to low key and am here to learn - being pushed by a photography challenge that I am participating in, where Low Key is one of the topics to be addressed.

I confess - am struggling.

Reply to Welcome to Low Key group - Please introduce yourself

nobody@flickr.com (FEEXTHAT) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:58:03 -0800

FEEXTHAT posted a reply:

Hello everyone!
New in this group and I think Low Key is one of the most romantic aspects of photography.
In this group there are tons of fantastic photos, i love them!

I'm a novice in photography, please be kind with my inexperience!

Thumbs up for the founder of the group and well done to the photographers!

Niccolò

Reply to Welcome to Low Key group - Please introduce yourself

nobody@flickr.com (mobile_gwenster) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:58:17 -0800

mobile_gwenster posted a reply:

Hey there, just joined the group !
Only recently (3 months ago) started exploring low key photography.
I tend to go pretty dark, and wanting to work with silhouette's for portraits that are bust and up. Think nice line of the hair (whilst the rest of it falls in shade) or the arm, the jawline etc. Still only on my 3rd low-key shoot.
But slowly but surely getting to where I wanna be.

It's very exciting ! And I don't think I will get bored of it just yet :)

Reply to Welcome to Low Key group - Please introduce yourself

nobody@flickr.com (ladiibugg68) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:29:41 -0800

ladiibugg68 posted a reply:

hi im viv glad to be here!.. loving all of the pictures!