Low-key photography
Low-key is a technical-creative photography style in which, in contrast to high-key photography, dark colors predominate. This technique should not be confused with simple underexposure . Mainly used in black and white photography , low-key images have many dark or completely black areas; The objects shown are modeled in their plasticity through shadows - usually created by a few directed light sources. The existing light sources are usually used as a design element in such a way that they direct the viewer's gaze to the main motif.
exposure
Low-key photos are deliberately underexposed. However, this is done in such a way that there is still drawing in the lights of the picture. Ideally, the image still contains a few areas that are almost white. The histograms of such photos are characteristic: the curve has a strong deflection in the black area, while it tapers towards zero in the light area. Such photos can be achieved through manual exposure and exposure bracketing . It is not possible to measure the correct exposure for this effect.
Due to the tight exposure, you usually have the option of using the depth of field very specifically, even with the lowest ISO value and telephoto lenses . This results in very sharp images and fine details.
Since there is very little light available during the recording, you have to control the camera almost blindly, and control buttons on very few cameras can be illuminated. The camera screen is not sufficient for assessing the photos, you need exposure series and recordings in raw data format to achieve optimal results.
Typically, a low-key photo is characterized by the following properties:
- deep shadows, which however still show some drawing
- targeted underexposure
- Grazing light , contour light or point light as a stylistic device
- few, but strong contrasts
- strong colors
Different light sets are used in the various styles, from individual lamps to complex structures made up of many directional (flash) lights.
Structure and light
A certain basic knowledge is required of the photographer with low-key, because with simple cameras without setting options for exposure correction only inadequate results can be achieved. The spot metering can be carried out with a separate manual exposure meter; higher quality cameras can be converted to a corresponding measuring method. The exposure measurement is carried out “on the lights”, as these represent the decisive areas of the image in the low-key recording.
Low-key photos are therefore deliberately exposed differently than conventional integral measuring methods. If spot metering is not possible, an underexposure of half to two stops can be attempted. Many digital cameras can display overexposed areas of the image on their screen, so that you can try your hand at a correctly exposed photo without spot metering.
It is important to carefully control the lighting for such a photo, because in normal daylight the light is usually much too diffuse to achieve the desired effect. Headlights or flash units are often used, but recordings can also be successful when the sun is low.
Areas of application
With low-key photography, large parts of the image often remain dark and the image is alive with few, but intense, contrasts. The colors are saturated at the lower end of the tonal range and the shadows are deep. Due to this special use of light, a low-key photo usually appears dark, mystical, erotic or even mysterious. In contrast to the high-key, the atmosphere is much more tense and shows a certain drama.
Low-key photography is suitable for nude photography because the body shape is a central component in the design and shadows are a tried and tested means of controlling the visibility of certain image content.
In painting, a related technique is known as chiaroscuro .
