Photography Tips and Tricks

Using high-key and low-key lighting in your photographs can add drama to shots. The trick is knowing how to use high-key and when to go with low-key lighting.

What is High and Low-Key Lighting?

High-key lighting is using light to add an overall, low contrast look to a photo. Most people identify a high-key image with having a lot of white areas and a brighter look than “normal” photos. They also contain very little or no shadows. High-key images are usually considered happy, upbeat, commercial images.

This photo is an example a high-key image.

Its opposite, low-contrast, is created by very direct lighting to add just a little light to an otherwise dark image. While in high-key photos the dominant color is white, the dominant color in low-key images is black or grey.

Low-key images are considered moody, thoughtful, and dramatic images.

Here is an example of a low-key image.

It is important to remember that you can use natural lighting in high-key and low-key photos, as shown in the examples.

How to Create High-Key Images

To create a high-key photograph, first, place your subject in front of a white background. Make sure the subject is far enough away from the background as to not create a shadow on the background.

Next, set your camera to overexpose by 2 stops with a low lighting ratio around 2:1. Your lighting should be aimed at your backdrop to keep your subject out of shadow. Use a fill flash to eliminate the rest of the shadows.

How to Create Low-Key Images

To create low-key images, place your subject in front of a dark background with very dark lighting. The clothing and props tend to be dark, as well.

Think of silhouette portraits when you are setting up for low key shoots. Light your subject from one side to create a deep contrast of light and dark. Experiment with your fill flash to see if you like the results. You may do fine without the fill flash using ISO settings. In general, you can use a higher lighting ratio around 3:1.

Digital cameras can be tricky when it comes to cleaning them. All of the electronic parts tend to make most people nervous. The outside of a digital camera can be cleaned, though, quite easily and safely.

The Lens

The lens is one of the easiest things to get dirty on a digital camera. Dust and fingerprints collect there, making photos less than perfect.

Since the lens has small nooks and crannies, the best thing to clean it with is a cotton swab. Dip the cotton swab in window cleaner. Dab almost all of the window cleaner off of the swab with a paper towel. You want the swab almost dry so the cleaner doesn’t drip into the camera’s electronic parts. Then, run the swab around the inside rim of the lens. Use a fresh swab to clean the glass of the lens.

LCD

Another gathering spot for dust and prints is the digital camera’s LCD screen. This can seem impossible to clean because of the delicate nature of LCD, but it can be cleaned easily with the right tools.

For everyday cleaning, keep a shammy used to clean eye glasses handy. These shammies will get rid of light accumulations of dust and fingerprints without harming the screen.

For tougher grime, spray the shammy lightly with window cleaner and gently rub the screen in light circles. Never spray the screen, or any part of the camera, with cleaner.

Remember to use a light touch when cleaning LCD screens. Pressure can damage them.

Buttons

After a while, oils from fingertips will collect on the camera’s buttons, making them dull, dust magnets. Clean the buttons the same way you cleaned the lens. Dip a cotton swab in window cleaner, blot most of the cleanser off the swab, and rub the buttons with the swab while the camera is off.

Do not use harsh cleansers on your camera and make sure never to let moisture drip into the camera and your digital camera will benefit from your extra loving care.