Techniques: Low Key Lighting: Work Diary Evaluation -

Low Key Lighting- 

Equipment Used: 
Canon EOS 450D, standard lens, snoot, honeycomb, black backdrop, orange gel, blue gel, fill light, key light, light diffuser, backlights. 

Settings: 
1/125, F/8 ISO 200.

Lighting: 
Snoot, honeycomb, fill light, key light, backlights. 

Theory: 
N/A

Favourite:

This image is my favourite due to the balanced composition of the subjects and the way in which the lighting is reflected on them. This image is also interesting as it is an exploration of the idea of identity and personality. The two subjects, one being a friend and one being myself, are often mistaken for one another and identified as the same person; as such I decided that the subject would wear mirror opposite lipsticks and that one would have blue on their left and orange on their right and bias versa. Moreover, the similar clothing was another way to merge the theme of identity into the technique experiment. More aptly in relation to this shoots position as a technique post the lighting was successful and the final image is aesthetically pleasing. 

Least Favourite:



This image is one of my lesser favourites due to the reduced impact from the colour gels on a profile subject. The clothing worn by the subject also means that they are lost within the black background and that the final dramatic impact is lost too.

Evaluation and Development - 

This series is successful in that it uses my favourite background colour, black, and creates stunning colourisation on the models that allows for a high fashion perspective on portraiture that is not easily accessible for most people. The idea to utilise two models was an inventive deviation from the original route and appeared to work well.

I could use this technique again in the future in relation to my photographic shoots yet I am unsure where it would fit into my pre-planned shoots. Few of the planned explorations are within a studio environment or those that are tend not to be portraits. 

Techniques: Low Key Lighting: Straight Images -

Low Key Lighting - 

Low Key Lighting:

Techniques: Low Key Lighting: Image Bank -

High Key Lighting - 

Defintions:

• Low Key Lighting: A style of lighting which contains predominantly dark tones and colours. 
• Chiaroscuro Effect: The treatment of light and shade in art. 
• Key Light: Main light used in the shot; usually a fill light.
• Fill Light: Fills in the shadows of the image.
• Back Light: Lighting behind the subject aimed towards the model to raise the subject away from the backdrop.
• Colour Gel: A transparent colour filter placed over lights. 

Layout:
 

Skills:

• Set up the key light with light diffuser, fill lights with diffusion sock and back lights with two colour gels. 

Examples:

(Unknown)

(Jake Hicks)

(Unkown)

(Jake Hicks)

(Unkown)

Techniques: High Key Lighting: Work Diary Evaluation -

Low Key Lighting- 

Equipment Used: 
Canon EOS 450D, standard lens, key light, reflector wall and reflector dish. 

Settings: 
1/125, F/8 ISO 200.

Lighting: 
Key light. 

Theory: 
N/A

Favourite:

This image is a personal favourite of mine due to the effect of the lighting on both the backdrop and subject. The costume of the subject works well as a direct contrast to the bright backdrop. Additionally, the composition is well balanced within the rule of thirds compositional grid with the model in the centre vertical column meaning that the viewers attention is immediately taken to the subject. Furthermore, the props used are creative and challenge the norms of portrait photography which is an ideology often present within high fashion photography. 

Least Favourite:

The above photograph is my least favourite due to the off centre alignment of the subject, which was an aesthetic choice that I later disliked, the lack of conviction in the pose from the model in that the body movements are very soft when I intended for them to be angular and use the negative space more interestingly. Despite this, the background and lighting is again successful in this image. 

Evaluation and Development - 

This series is successful in exemplifying the possibilities of a well planned shoot that utilises the high fashion lighting set up that is high key lighting. The bright background is simplistic and well compliments a singular subject. 

This is a technique that I may use as the studio setting is often used in fashion related photoshoots. It also well compliments certain items of clothing and is good at providing dramatic contrasts to some images. I am unsure where exactly this technique would fit within a shoot except for another shoot based upon masks that I have already considered adapting to fir with location portraiture. 

Techniques: High Key Lighting: Straight Images -

High Key Lighting - 

High Key Lighting:

Techniques: High Key Lighting: Image Bank -

High Key Lighting - 

Defintions:

• High Key Lighting: Modern lighting technique that is based on using mid-tone greys through to bright whites. The use of bright white lighting  helps to to eliminate shadow and reduce the contrasts in the photograph. 
• Key Light: Main light used in the shot; usually a fill light.
• Beauty Dish: A circular dish which is flexible to have either white or silver inside. White is more diffused and silver is more directional.
• Diffusion Sock: Can be placed over the batty dish to diffuse the light more equally rather than being direct.
• Honeycomb Grid: Restricting the spread of the light evening in the image.
• Colour Gel: A filter placed over the light to give colour to he image. Often complimentary colours are used such as blue and orange to create an intriguing atmosphere.
• Fill Light: Fills in the shadows of the image.
• Back Light/ Clip Light: Lighting behind the subject aimed towards the model to raise the subject away from the backdrop.
• Diffusion Filter: Lens filter placed on the camera lens to diffuse the lighting further.
• Lighting Diagram: A diagram displaying the lighting setup to make note of layout and techniques used.

Layout:

 

Skills:

• Measure light with light metre, with intention to have more light on backdrop than foreground.
• To do this you can set the key light (main light) on the subject to F/8.
• The light on the backdrop will be set to F/11 or F/16 which is one stop, two stops higher than the foreground.

Examples:

(Richard Avedon)

(Rankin)

(Rankin)

(Unknown)

(James Nader)