High/Low Key Lighting

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Key points

1. High key lighting = predominantly light tones, minimal shadows, bright and ethereal mood.
2. Low key lighting = predominantly dark tones, dramatic shadows, mysterious mood.
3. High key setup used a beauty dish in paramount position with reflector and background strobe to keep the backdrop white.
4. Low key setup used grids, side/short lighting, and selective background light for separation, resulting in depth and sculpting.
5. Both looks require only small adjustments in light placement and modifiers.

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Exercise

1. Take a high key shot.
2. Take a low key shot.
3. Note down the impact of key on the mood of your images.
4. If the lighting had little or no effect on the mood of your images, take more shots where high key gives a bright ethereal mood and low key adds drama and mystery.