Achieving High Key and Low Key Looks via Post Processing - can it be done?
Feb 4, 2019 12:32:13 #
This topic is posted to explore a question in another thread, "it's mostly an issue with lighting but PP adjustments could also play a significant role, yes?"
Please use your software to create a high key or low look look. Post and discuss here. Thanks for participating!
EDIT 3:30 pm EST see E.L. Shapiro's definitions and descriptions on page 2 of this topic:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-577019-2.html#9844627
And read his very well expressed opinion of why post-processing for these looks is about as effective as using software in place of a polarizing filter on your lens
Many thanks for an excellent lesson, Ed!
Please use your software to create a high key or low look look. Post and discuss here. Thanks for participating!
EDIT 3:30 pm EST see E.L. Shapiro's definitions and descriptions on page 2 of this topic:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-577019-2.html#9844627
And read his very well expressed opinion of why post-processing for these looks is about as effective as using software in place of a polarizing filter on your lens
Many thanks for an excellent lesson, Ed!Feb 4, 2019 12:40:35 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
High key - uses unnaturally bright lighting to blo... (show quote)
Here's a couple of high key nature shots.
Feb 4, 2019 12:58:41 #
DWU2 wrote:
Thanks Dan! I tend to think of high key as more pastel and "light" feeling (not that I'm correct Here's a couple of high key nature shots.
), so #2 will hopefully generate discussion. How much of each of these looks was achieved via PP?Feb 4, 2019 13:02:31 #
#1 - under-exposed on purpose, with deeply shadowed background and the rising sun illuminating only the rose and some leaves. Nik Color Efex low key filter completed the look. Controls in that filter include glow, saturation, whites and contrast - along with "dynamic low key" and "standard low key." See https://youtu.be/wQHVd-IuXq4
#2 - the background was blown (bright sun), but I used several Nik Color Efex filters + levels and saturation adjustments to achieve this look because the rest was dark. This is a re-do of what I posted earlier today. After participating in this thread, I had one of those brain sparks that said, "if you go back to your raw file and do initial ACR edits specifically with high key in mind, you might save yourself a lot of grief work."
#2 - the background was blown (bright sun), but I used several Nik Color Efex filters + levels and saturation adjustments to achieve this look because the rest was dark. This is a re-do of what I posted earlier today. After participating in this thread, I had one of those brain sparks that said, "if you go back to your raw file and do initial ACR edits specifically with high key in mind, you might save yourself a lot of grief work."
Feb 4, 2019 13:04:44 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Thanks Dan! I think of high key as more pastel and "light" feeling, so #2 should generate discussion on degrees. How much of each of these looks were achieved via PP?
For the avocet, it was mostly achieved in camera, with the vignette added in LR.
For the orchid, white balance correction, and cloned out some distractions. Otherwise, SOOC.
Feb 4, 2019 13:10:26 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Thanks Dan! I tend to think of high key as more pastel and "light" feeling (not that I'm correct ), so #2 will hopefully generate discussion. How much of each of these looks was achieved via PP?
), so #2 will hopefully generate discussion. How much of each of these looks was achieved via PP?Following up on your thought, here's one definition of high key (from SLR Lounge): "High Key is a term to describe images that are bright and contain little to no shadow. The term comes from the early days of broadcast television when scenes with higher contrast were not reproduced well. To make a scene that was easier to properly show on screen, the ratio between the key and fill lights was minimized. It is also sometimes used to describe photos and the photographic style that is simply bright, often with an overexposed background."
Feb 4, 2019 13:17:36 #
My last two days of tulips images are low key.
See them at my 365project.org albums and on my instagram. These links are on my website under galleries.
Most of the low key aspects of these images were done in camera with flash set at TTL -3.0, SS at 250, f11-f16, and auto ISO.
In post with Capture One Pro 12, I auto adjusted levels, high dynamic range, and white balance. a few of the images I used color balance and color editor.
Then taking the images into Zoner Photo Studio X to heal out spots of dirt on the flowers and some of the background if needed. Then resize and remove noise.
I prefer healing over cloning because healing better blends with the color already present.
See them at my 365project.org albums and on my instagram. These links are on my website under galleries.
Most of the low key aspects of these images were done in camera with flash set at TTL -3.0, SS at 250, f11-f16, and auto ISO.
In post with Capture One Pro 12, I auto adjusted levels, high dynamic range, and white balance. a few of the images I used color balance and color editor.
Then taking the images into Zoner Photo Studio X to heal out spots of dirt on the flowers and some of the background if needed. Then resize and remove noise.
I prefer healing over cloning because healing better blends with the color already present.
Feb 4, 2019 13:48:27 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
(topic edited 1:34 pm EST) This topic is posted to... (show quote)
Linda, here's one more - maybe it also stretches the definition of high key, since the blacks are so stark. This was taken against a gray sky, but I used the program Dynamic Auto Painter, with its preset called Graphic Novel, which removed the gray sky and clouds, and made the tree and birds inky black. It also sort of stylized the branches.
Feb 4, 2019 13:56:04 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
(topic edited 1:34 pm EST) This topic is posted to... (show quote)
Finally, since you also asked for low key, here's a photo of the Biltmore Mansion. After some minor adjustments in LR (mainly contrast), I exported it to NIK Silver Efex Pro to create the foreboding sepia. The picture was taken on a sunny day, but I'm inclined to look for flying bats when I look at it.
Feb 4, 2019 13:57:00 #
This was shot during a opera rehearsal.
The original (RAW) was low contrast, leaning towards a bit high key. The background was mostly a white wall.
It was shot in a hall with just 8 banks of twin flouro lights (utilitarian) in the high ceiling, with a bit of diffused sunlight coming through the western windows very late in the afternoon. Normally it is not a great place to shoot (lighting wise) ISO 1600 @ F2 territory.
This is an unedited NIK Silver Efex high key preset for the B&W conversion.
.
The original (RAW) was low contrast, leaning towards a bit high key. The background was mostly a white wall.
It was shot in a hall with just 8 banks of twin flouro lights (utilitarian) in the high ceiling, with a bit of diffused sunlight coming through the western windows very late in the afternoon. Normally it is not a great place to shoot (lighting wise) ISO 1600 @ F2 territory.
This is an unedited NIK Silver Efex high key preset for the B&W conversion.
.
Feb 4, 2019 13:58:06 #
Feb 4, 2019 14:49:54 #
DWU2 wrote:
Another challenging one for me with the background being lighter than the subject - the opposite of what the definitions and examples indicate for the technique. You're either expanding my horizons significantly or sending me over a cliff Finally, since you also asked for low key, here's a photo of the Biltmore Mansion. After some minor adjustments in LR (mainly contrast), I exported it to NIK Silver Efex Pro to create the foreboding sepia. The picture was taken on a sunny day, but I'm inclined to look for flying bats when I look at it.
Feb 4, 2019 14:51:13 #
RichardTaylor wrote:
Very effective, Richard. It's all about the subject's body language, intently focused on his task.This was shot during a opera rehearsal. br br The... (show quote)
Feb 4, 2019 14:58:35 #
chapjohn wrote:
Appreciate your visit, John!My last two days of tulips images are low key. br ... (show quote)
Feb 4, 2019 15:03:44 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Very effective, Richard. It's all about the subject's body language, intently focused on his task.
Thanks. He is also a performer in opera and musical production. He makes for a good subject.
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From personal experience I feel a better way is to get it "right in camera" by using exposure and/or lighting instead of relying a lot on post processing. I can post an example, with your permission.
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