What does it mean? It seems to mean white or bright or even washed out. Could someone exp..."> What does it mean? It seems to mean white or bright or even washed out. Could someone exp..."/>

BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Mary N C. Taitt
 

What does High Key Mean


I'm confused about the meaning of the term "High Key."

What does it mean? It seems to mean white or bright or even washed out. Could someone explain?
When and how is it useful and preferable to straight normal pix?

I'd appreciate some elucidation. I see it referred to a lot but not explained.

Thank you. Mary :-)


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April 25, 2006

 

Todd Bennett
  Mary,

Try this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_key

Todd


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April 25, 2006

 

Michael H. Cothran
  In a nutshell, hi-key simply means that the majority of tones in your image are above a mid-tone. Most everything is very light in color and tonality. White-on-white is a popular example.
On the opposite end is low-key. Most tones are darker than mid-tone. Black-on-black is popular.
Hi-key tends to evoke happy, carefree images. Low-key is more dramatic in nature.
For portraiture, it's a matter of taste. I usually prefer the look of low key rather than hi-key, as it tends to draw more attention to the face. I believe, in general, and unknowingly, people are drawn more to low-key images than to hi-key.
Michael H. Cothran


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April 25, 2006

 

Bob Chance
  An example of a portrait in high-key would be a blonde model, though not neccessarily, wearing white or very light pastel colors and an all white backgound. Very bright, but not washed out.

Although it's a matter of taste, like Michael said, I tend to disagree with him. I find that high-key actually tends to draw more attention to the face as it is the only thing in the shot of a mid-tone range. Everything else is very bright.


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April 25, 2006

 

Nobu Nagase
  Hi-key: happy and bright
Low-key: moody, mystical, and sometimes awe-inspiring

My preference is the latter.


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April 25, 2006

 

Paul Tobeck
  In my opinion, the best high key shots look a little on the ghostly side, or angelic if you will. I have to say, though, I prefer the low key shots in B&W with an emphasis on the eyes of the subject. Very dramatic and powerful.


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April 25, 2006

 

Margie Hurwich
 
 
  Cheers!
Cheers!

Margie Hurwich

 
 
Would this be considered high key? Or would the dark color of the liquid take the high key away?

Mary, I always wondered the same thing!


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April 25, 2006

 

Nobu Nagase
  IMO, this is an example of using the low-key subject with the hi-key background to stress the contrast.

I just looked at BP and found the follwoing two galleries featuring some photos in each category:

High Key photos:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.php?catID=396

Low Key photos:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.php?catID=397


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April 25, 2006

 

Nobu Nagase
  I don't know if you received responses you are hoping for but I know mine wasn't helpful...

But I wanted to draw your attention to the digital work my friend, Lj, does in hi-key mode. In my opinion, her digital work is one of the best and you may see the motivation for doing something in hi-key. Take a look at a couple of links to her images:

Link 1 and Link 2


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April 26, 2006

 
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