High Key Photos Outside: I know you can do High Key photography outside, are there any tips for a successful photo? I have read a few things online but just can't seem to get it right.

Mmart0418 Loc: Orting, Washington

I know you can do High Key photography outside, are there any tips for a successful photo? I have read a few things online but just can't seem to get it right. I know the sun should be shining on the background, but not on the subject as there should not be shadows. so I am looking for suggestions. I have read through the topics page Thank you.

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

Mmart0418 wrote:

I know you can do High Key photography outside, are there any tips for a successful photo? I have read a few things online but just can't seem to get it right. I know the sun should be shining on the background, but not on the subject as there should not be shadows. so I am looking for suggestions. I have read through the topics page Thank you.

I would love to know more about high key photography also, inside and out and still life I think it adds a really nice finish to lots of still life.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Mmart0418 wrote:

I know you can do High Key photography outside, are there any tips for a successful photo? I have read a few things online but just can't seem to get it right. I know the sun should be shining on the background, but not on the subject as there should not be shadows. so I am looking for suggestions. I have read through the topics page Thank you.

What you are describing is not "high key" it's just "blowing out the background" by doing the following:

1.) Subject in shade.

2.) Background NOT in shade.

3.) Spot meter on subject only. (no auto mode)

Take shot.

The principle is that your subject and the background are very very different in exposure...and so the background is very over exposed.

You can do it in shade outside..or standing in front of a window inside...same idea.

Linda Ewing Loc: Lincolnshire,UK

rpavich wrote:

What you are describing is not "high key" it's just "blowing out the background" by doing the following:

1.) Subject in shade.

2.) Background NOT in shade.

3.) Spot meter on subject only. (no auto mode)

Take shot.

I believe mark wallace has an adorama youtube video showing how to do it.

Would you like me to run outside and take a shot as an example for you?

If its not too cold where you are, in England it is 18.20 and really cold, nice to see an example.

Mmart0418 Loc: Orting, Washington

Wow! so nice of you to offer to take a photo for me. You don't have to do that, but I will check out the video. Thank you for this information. I don't have lights for an indoor set up, so I was hoping I could do it outside as it is really sunny today.

rpavich wrote:

What you are describing is not "high key" it's just "blowing out the background" by doing the following:

1.) Subject in shade.

2.) Background NOT in shade.

3.) Spot meter on subject only. (no auto mode)

Take shot.

I believe mark wallace has an adorama youtube video showing how to do it.

Would you like me to run outside and take a shot as an example for you?

:P

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Mmart0418 wrote:

Wow! so nice of you to offer to take a photo for me. You don't have to do that, but I will check out the video. Thank you for this information. I don't have lights for an indoor set up, so I was hoping I could do it outside as it is really sunny today.

:P

It's FREEZING outside so I just put my flash out on the porch...not the best example or best set up...but you'll get the idea.

Shot #1: I metered normally...the porch was darker than the background so the flash is underexposed and the neighborhood is normally exposed.

Shot #2: I metered off of the flash ONLY so the background gets way over exposed.

Like I said...crappy example but it's too cold to do much more. :) It's 19 deg outside.

Here's a video showing how to do it with a window but no matter where you do it...the principle is the same

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kSwc39kJAM&list=PLZeZZ0TfSTG3tiFWj0Dt90agtF6RIo1Pl

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

What rpavick says is all you have to do to blow out the back ground if that is what you are talking about with outside high key. Here is a few shots of a bride and daughter in the door way of the chapel.

As you can see in the 1st shot I got the metering and lighting needed. So when I opened the door to let all the background light in I was already close to the exposer I wanted.
In 2nd shot I composed the shot the way I wanted it to look and bumped my exposers up a little .
And the 3rd shot is a little edit work.

Play around out side metering on your subject in program mode when you have your subject close to where you want the exposer copy your setting down put your camera in manual with these settings and then turn your flash up about 2/3 of a stop and see what you get.

I took this shot last month with a old canon 40d with about 150,000 shots on it.
I used a 70-200mm @ 70mm with a 2.8 aperture to blow out the back ground.
Shot with 640 ISO but 250 to 400 would of been better for enlarging the image.

used a constant shutter speed of 1/125 so adjusting the exposer was all done with the flash.

I'm not sure what the flash was set on, but in the second shot you can see I increased the power on the flash.

Just like rpavick said
1.) Subject in shade.

2.) Background NOT in shade.

3.) Spot meter on subject only. (no auto mode)

Take shot.

As you can see in the first shot you have to get the spot metering correct on you subject first.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Nice job above...good advice and good image.

Here is the Mark Wallace video; the whole thing is good but he talks about a bright background about the 1:40 spot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywOmebUKT5w#t=195

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Mmart0418 wrote:

I know you can do High Key photography outside, are there any tips for a successful photo? I have read a few things online but just can't seem to get it right. I know the sun should be shining on the background, but not on the subject as there should not be shadows. so I am looking for suggestions. I have read through the topics page Thank you.

Here is one taken on a cloudy day with a basically blank Bg In LR I raised the Highlights to 100 and the with an adjustment brush brought the highlight back in the Merlin

Mmart0418 Loc: Orting, Washington

rpavich wrote:

It's FREEZING outside so I just put my flash out o... (show quote)

Mmart0418 Loc: Orting, Washington

greg vescuso wrote:

What rpavick says is all you have to do to blow ou... (show quote)

Mmart0418 Loc: Orting, Washington

mborn wrote:

Here is one taken on a cloudy day with a basically blank Bg In LR I raised the Highlights to 100 and the with an adjustment brush brought the highlight back in the Merlin

I am also learning LR. I did not know you could do that in LR. Thanks

Mmart0418 Loc: Orting, Washington

Here is my photo from indoors with photo club light setup. I think it should be brighter.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Mmart0418 wrote:

Here is my photo from indoors with photo club light setup. I think it should be brighter.

Boost the blacks

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

Mmart0418 wrote:

Here is my photo from indoors with photo club light setup. I think it should be brighter.

I think this is excellent!
If you think it should be brighter thats fine, but I really like it just the way it is.