20 Outstanding Low and High Key Photographs

Great photos don't always have to have even lighting or a broad range of tones. You can get truly stunning images with both high-key and low-key lighting. Low-key photos can be captured in your studio with just a single light source, or outside of your studio in low-light situations, provided there's a strong enough light source somewhere in the scene to provide the contrast that can make or break this type of shot. High-key photos are a bit more difficult to master than low-key - simply overexposing your photos isn't necessarily going to be enough. Aim for images with a good range of light tones without any harsh, blown-out highlights. For inspiration, here are some examples of outstanding low and high-key images.

[ Top image Form of the Face by Flickr user Ryan Brenizer]

Pentax K100D
200
f/8.0
0.006 sec (1/180)
50 mm

Father's Kiss by Flickr user ladyhawker

Liquid by Flickr user Hengki Koentjoro

beyond by Flickr user Ivan.Pavlukhin

Pentax K200D
800
f/3.5
0.033 sec (1/30)
18 mm

Blades by Flickr user tristanlb

Ballet and Beauty by Flickr user Pat McDonald

Canon EOS 500D
100
f/2.0
0.002 sec (1/500)
50 mm

Budapest Walkway by Flickr user TheFella

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
200
f/9.0
109
24 mm

Abandoned love II by Flickr user Garry - www.visionandimagination.com

Canon EOS 7D
6400
f/3.5
0.04 sec (1/25)
100 mm

Nice to see you:) by Flickr user Spice ♥ Trying to Catch Up!

Bowling Ball Sunset - Mendocino County by Flickr user maxxsmart

Canon EOS 30D
100
f/5.6
0.008 sec (1/125)
24 mm

Day 2: Now is the Winter of our Discontent. by Flickr user SaylaMarz

Nikon D3000
100
f/6.3
0.002 sec (1/500)
220 mm

Delicate by Flickr user Xabier Alonso -off-

Nikon D700
200
f/20.0
0.8
160 mm

those days ... by Flickr user Sandra Bartocha

Heads up ! by Flickr user Villi.Ingi

Pentax *ist D
200
f/0.0
0.011 sec (1/90)
0 mm

EXPLORED: Close up - IMGP5039 by Flickr user Bahman Farzad

Stop whispering by Flickr user JenniPenni

Rose soul by Flickr user alonsodr

lightness of being by Flickr user Dalla*

Nikon D90
640
f/5.6
0.01 sec (1/100)
40 mm

Jewels For A Princess by Flickr user Tomasito.!

Canon EOS 40D
200
f/32.0
0.025 sec (1/40)
60 mm

Flower / Rose Flower / Macro Flower / White Rose Flower / high key / close up rose / closeup / - IMG_9865 - by Flickr user Bahman Farzad

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Comments

Dorothy says:
Oct 26, 2013
Hi, really am learning a lot . Thank you

Reply
- bdoug says:
  Oct 17, 2014
  no worries
  
  Reply
Ross Griffiths says:
Oct 9, 2013
1st class photos be so good to let us know how they are done

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CHMELNIK CHAIM says:
Oct 8, 2013
WONDERFUL PICTURES, PLEASE SEND US MORE DETAILES HOW TO TAKE THEM .

CHAIM

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George Nepomuceno says:
Oct 6, 2013
Nice pics!

Reply
Dick de Reus says:
Oct 4, 2013
Amazing photos!!!!

Reply
Esther Simonis says:
Oct 4, 2013
How I love those 20 photos! I want to learn how to do it! Esther

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20 Outstanding Low and High Key Photographs

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