Key Of Lights Instructions | What Is High Key Lighting?

Source: DHgate, Tag: Electronics

Are you a photographer or a videographer who is looking for ways to reduce the lighting ratio present in the scene? Then this article is purely for you.

  • We have gathered useful information on how to use high key lighting while bringing out the drastic change in the final look of your film. when it comes to photography or videography, lighting effects matter. Lighting has some artistic ramification which entirely changes the style and mood of your masterpiece.
    It is considered the most significant tool a photographer, videographer, or filmmaker uses to narrate a story and connect with the audience. Besides, the lighting technique depends on the content the videographer intends to shoot, but the desired results can only be achieved with time and practice. Successfully creating the balance in lighting effect or you can say exact lighting, often comes through trial and error.

Similarly, if you want to create a certain mood, the high key technique effect is perfect. With this effect, you can conveniently play with the atmosphere & style of the work. In simpler terms, high key lighting helps in creating a visual feel as light and shadow give objects the depth it requires. Not just this, lighting similar objects differently ultimately changes their meaning and shapes.
On top of this, while building a creative vision, when a photographer chooses the lighting of a scene, they basically decide the entire mood. This mood determines what the viewer will think and feel about your work. Regardless of the mood, the photographer/videographer can create completely different emotions with the help of a high key lighting effect including dramatic, bright and eye-catching pictures. But before using high key lighting effect it is important to know actually it is and how you can use it to add depth to your video/photograph. If you want to master the art of using high key lighting keep reading the article, we have a lot of information for you.
About High Key Lighting

Photographers during the learning period are taught to take snaps that are well-balanced, properly exposed and clear. The most amazing part of photography starts, after getting your hands on it. Now you can easily break the conventional rules of photography & videography and can also come up with something extraordinary. If we talk about high key photography, it is the most exciting type of photography that involves overexposed images with bright colours and attractiveness. High key lighting is used to improve the contrast ratios. In the old times, cameramen used key light with backlight and fill light in order to complete the lighting effect.
But of course, nowadays more sophisticated lighting tools are used in photography or movie making. Mostly, the high key lighting effect is used in the scenes possessing a lot of light tones and whites. These scenes & images have very minimal blacks and mid-tones. The use of high key lighting in photos makes the mid-range tones or mid-tones white. Ultimately, the whites, meanwhile, become whiter. It does not mean that high key light is devoid of black, it has a very minimal amount of it. Generally, it is used in weddings, portraits, fashion & newborn strategies. For instance, if you are shooting a portrait of a newborn baby, the subject will still have black eyes and not white. Not just this, this lighting effect is used to capture images that promote an optimistic, light & upbeat reaction with simplicity and sophistication.
Characteristics of High Key Lighting

High key lighting is free from dark shadows. Usually, the shots have very little or no shadows present. The main reason for using a high key lighting effect is to reduce the light ratios in the scene. Besides, this lighting effect is perfect for removing the object in the scenes creating distractions. If you are planning for some scary movie, high key lighting would do wonders for you while creating ghostly effects.
If we talk about the advantages of the high key technique, let us break the ice for you it does not require adjustments for every scene, unlike other lighting techniques. Due to its convenient feature, you can complete your shots more quickly. With this technique, shoots that may take days can be completed within a few hours. But there ain’t no such thing as free lunch, it has drawbacks as well. It does not always work perfectly in adding drama & meaning to the scene. Moreover, it lights a few parts of a scene more prominently than other parts.
Tips for High Key Lighting Photography
If you really want to produce high key technique pictures, all you need to have is a good quality set of studio lights. In simpler terms, you need to have a fill light, two lights for the background & a key light that has double brightness as compared to the fill light. On top of this, try to opt for a white background for high key lighting. But you can also capture beautiful photographs using a pastel-coloured background. If you do not have studio lights, go for natural light as high key lighting. However, for daylight photography make sure there is no rain or thunderstorm. Before shooting, take shots of the background to make sure you are on the right track. Do not choose a background with shadows, dark tones, or deep blacks.
When You Should Use High Key Lighting

Whether you are planning to take photos of babies, business professionals, fashion shoots, fun close-ups, weddings, pre-nuptial shoots or especially bridal shoots, the high key technique is perfect.
Try Your Hand At It!
Since high key lighting is not perfect for every shoot, it can easily be used in numerous unique and creative ways. Also, you can use it to make a happy & energetic feel. Not only this, if you want to create a holy and ghostly feel high key lighting can do wonders for you. High key lighting is an important tool that all photographers and videographers should’ve in their arsenal. All you have to do is practice it before shooting in order to get the desired results.