Ready for some fun, creativity and perhaps to learn something new? So what is a technique challenge? The host challenger selects a specific “technique” to try. It may be brand new for some, or just a challenge to be creative for others. Techniques may include high/low key, macro, portraits, landscapes, abstracts, the possibilities are endless. It could even be specific techniques in processing. The host will select a technique along with some links and examples. Constructive & kind feedback is encouraged. Feel free to share tips, suggestions or how you were able to get the terrific photo you did. Posting your photo on this thread is encouraged but not required. The challenges will last about 7 days.
To post a photo on this thread:
1) Go to your page that has the photo you would like to post.
2) Find the code located toward the bottom right side of your page. The code is on the right side of the word "share". Copy that code and paste it in this thread.
All photos must be taken within the challenge dates. Enter as many as you would like. Voting will last about 3 days. The winner will host a new challenge (or gets someone else to host it).
This week’s technique challenge is LOW KEY photography. I don’t claim to be an expert on low key but it seems to be somewhat tricky and so I thought it would make a good challenge. The goal of low key isn't to have everything dark but to be selective on what portion of the image will have the lighting. TAG your photos “ technique1 “
Here is an article I found on low key – if you find others please feel free to share.
http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/lighting/the-complete-beginner%E2%80%99s-guide-to-shooting-low-key/
Challenge starts today, March 23rd and lasts until Midnight March 31th. (extra day due to the Easter holiday). Voting will take place April 1st - 3rd.
This was my first attempt at this low light, this is a 1890's car light with a small candle inside to light a bit of the brass inside. Thanks Kathy for the PUSH!
@herr_mm Micheal I love this one, great pov, lighting, nicely done @Cheesebiscuit Nice one - looks like a challenging subject @httpgeffed Colleen I love the feel of this one!! :Low light works perfect with a subject like this @nadaa Creative subject for low light - I think it is good to have the white files mixed to help with the visual - nice DOF too @smithak Oh how creative - bokeh and low light! Beautifully done @gphelps5 Awesome shot, love the reflection! @dixon the low light puts a bit of elegant in this - beautiful example
@cameraholic I think this turned out very well. You selected a tough subject for your very first low key photo. You may want to keep playing with it with other subjects. I think you should be proud of your first low key shot. @aforart I would call it nicely done! It has a bit of a mystery feel to it. @fullcircle I think this turned out well. I read on your posted page that you took a lot of pictures and were struggling with it. I would keep playing with this taking different types of subjects and just play some more with the settings as well. I think it has a bit of an elegant feel to it.
ANY ONE ELSE WANT TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS TO ANY OF THESE SHOTS??
@fullcircle I noticed that your photos are not showing up in the photos for this challenge. It looks like you added an extra space between Technique and the number one. I love how you are trying so many different shots too.
this is definitely a technique i'd like to master, and i really struggle with the balance of how much light and contrast is the right amount... happy for any input...
Some of the suggestions from the article include:
1) Use only one light source
2) keep the ISO low - such as 100
3) Keep the background dark and not lite
4) Use a fast shutter speed
6) "Start with the aperture wide open (low number). Take a test shot and progressively narrow it until there is no ambient light in the frame. The histogram should be flat lined at the bottom.
From there, you have to experiment. Set up your flash and shoot. If there is too much light in the scene, you could lower your flash output or move the light further away. If the background is contaminated,"
@Cheesebiscuit I am one who avoids using the flash, but there are some applications that the flash is acceptable and since you can adjust the brightness of the flash (we had that setting in one of our camera settings challenge) you might find a flash setting you like. I personally would like to allow enough light in the subject so I don't need a flash or adjust either the shutter speed or aperture to bring in the right amount of light. I thought the article was good and another way of doing low key. I think with most photography the rules can be altered a bit depending on the photographer as long as the end results is what you are trying to achieve.
@myhrhelper Yeah. I mean, I was surprised it would even work with a flash, for some reason (gives me something else to try out I guess!), but I also tend not to like flash photography very much either. I'll try it, see what happens :)
Ok this is my first attempt. After I took it and skimmed my notes again it turns out that I had the ISO way high and the shutter speed too low. See if I could read my notes in the dark this wouldn't have happened.
@herr_mm - this is funny & creative - love this @darjas WOW low key & smoke all in one photo - @lyno Great shot - love the colors @taffy Taffy really a gorgeous shot - it especially is lovely when viewed large @aponi Kathryn, looks like your first attempt turned out really nice! I think once you do these you will have 2nd, 3rd ..... attempts @mikehamm sooooo beautiful!! Oh this makes me wish spring (spring weather that is) would hurry up! @masosy Love,love this! so creative and a different twist on low key @gazbadger What a beautiful portrait of a very pretty girl. This works well in low key - and I LOVE seeing spring time flowers right now
@danitech beautiful, beautiful, such lovely composition too @colie The low key adds a little mystery feel (in my opinion) to this portrait. Really, very nicely done @northy ohh I love the feel of this, makes me wonder what is going to happen after I sit in that chair - will the interrogation lights shine in my face?? the low key really adds such a drama effect to this @0liverphotograpy Wow such a mysterious feel to this one! So glad you are enjoying this challenge too @aforart Very well done - I think the flowers next to the lighted window works great in this shot, it really adds drama to this room
@judis Judy I will try to give a few suggestions since you asked.
Although the higher ISO did bring in a little more light I would tend to go with a lower ISO since the potential of having more grain. I would put it somewhere between 200 - 400. Your shutter speed is only at 1 second so you could use a slower shutter speed to bring in more light but you will either need a tripod or if you don't have one something you can set your camera on while snapping the photo so you don't get camera shake. I think a big help would be to just add a little more of a light source, perhaps a candle, or something to lighten it just a bit more. I think you are very close. Low key is not easy but I think a great technique to learn since it can really change the mood of the photo.
@myhrhelper Thank you... I have been working on this for the last hour or so. I wasn't sure it was even going to work at first so I am pretty pleased that it came out well =)
@meganc1 Thank you Megan for your example of low key. It looks like you are pretty new to 365 so welcome and I hope you enjoy, 365 has a lot of great people that you can learn as much about photography as you want, and help express your creativity or thoughts. For this challenge the photos should be taken between March 23rd - March 31st.but we are always interested in seeing people's shots whenever they were taken. hope to see some more great low key shots taken this week!
@colie So pretty, gorgeous colors - this makes me really anxious for spring weather - snow is finally melting.
@mace508 Wow, very unique subject for your low key photo.
@mikehamm This turned out really well, pretty b&w shot too.
@alceyone Anne, this one is really lovely, I love the brightly lit sections and the very dark shadows too.
@kali66 Wow another creative subject - This turned out well
@3whiteroses Oh the low key really makes the fake spider look real and adds the dramma that a high key wouldn't do. Great idea
@mikehamm Now that just makes me hungry - I love stuffed peppers!!!
Interesting subject for a low key shot
@dtigani Oh yeah this really adds to the drama feel of this character! @meganc1 Megan, even if you don't it is a fun technique to play with even when the challenge is officially over. I won't actually judge the entries until some time on Monday, so if any photos sneak in before I pick the finalist that would be ok.
@myhrhelper Thanks so much Kathy. I did photograph it on the 29th but was unable to upload it until today. Is is still okay for the challenge? And so glad you reminded me about the tag :)
Everyone's efforts look so great. I am still trying to get a good take on "a box full of darkness". I am finding it very challenging to get such an image. I followed suggestions and added an additional light source etc. Here is my take 2.
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@gphelps5 Do you have any tips or suggestions you could share on low key? Can't wait to see what creative mix you come up with!
Please tag people you know about this challenge since it is brand new to get the word out.
Thanks
http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/lighting/the-complete-beginner%E2%80%99s-guide-to-shooting-low-key/
under low key conditions:
(Okay, it's not exactly the same - I wanted to concentrate on the the front of the bull - but the subject is the same.)
This was my first attempt at this low light, this is a 1890's car light with a small candle inside to light a bit of the brass inside. Thanks Kathy for the PUSH!
@Cheesebiscuit Nice one - looks like a challenging subject
@httpgeffed Colleen I love the feel of this one!! :Low light works perfect with a subject like this
@nadaa Creative subject for low light - I think it is good to have the white files mixed to help with the visual - nice DOF too
@smithak Oh how creative - bokeh and low light! Beautifully done
@gphelps5 Awesome shot, love the reflection!
@dixon the low light puts a bit of elegant in this - beautiful example
I haven't figured out what to call it yet, but here is mine.
@aforart I would call it nicely done! It has a bit of a mystery feel to it.
@fullcircle I think this turned out well. I read on your posted page that you took a lot of pictures and were struggling with it. I would keep playing with this taking different types of subjects and just play some more with the settings as well. I think it has a bit of an elegant feel to it.
ANY ONE ELSE WANT TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS TO ANY OF THESE SHOTS??
Still working on a concept
I like this challenge.
I pulled up an article that I thought was interesting - here is the link: http://www.lightstalking.com/low-key-photography
Some of the suggestions from the article include:
1) Use only one light source
2) keep the ISO low - such as 100
3) Keep the background dark and not lite
4) Use a fast shutter speed
6) "Start with the aperture wide open (low number). Take a test shot and progressively narrow it until there is no ambient light in the frame. The histogram should be flat lined at the bottom.
From there, you have to experiment. Set up your flash and shoot. If there is too much light in the scene, you could lower your flash output or move the light further away. If the background is contaminated,"
@myhrhelper
I'm noticing that low key shots look much better when large.
@darjas WOW low key & smoke all in one photo -
@lyno Great shot - love the colors
@taffy Taffy really a gorgeous shot - it especially is lovely when viewed large
@aponi Kathryn, looks like your first attempt turned out really nice! I think once you do these you will have 2nd, 3rd ..... attempts
@mikehamm sooooo beautiful!! Oh this makes me wish spring (spring weather that is) would hurry up!
@masosy Love,love this! so creative and a different twist on low key
@gazbadger What a beautiful portrait of a very pretty girl. This works well in low key - and I LOVE seeing spring time flowers right now
@danitech beautiful, beautiful, such lovely composition too
@colie The low key adds a little mystery feel (in my opinion) to this portrait. Really, very nicely done
@northy ohh I love the feel of this, makes me wonder what is going to happen after I sit in that chair - will the interrogation lights shine in my face?? the low key really adds such a drama effect to this
@0liverphotograpy Wow such a mysterious feel to this one! So glad you are enjoying this challenge too
@aforart Very well done - I think the flowers next to the lighted window works great in this shot, it really adds drama to this room
Although the higher ISO did bring in a little more light I would tend to go with a lower ISO since the potential of having more grain. I would put it somewhere between 200 - 400. Your shutter speed is only at 1 second so you could use a slower shutter speed to bring in more light but you will either need a tripod or if you don't have one something you can set your camera on while snapping the photo so you don't get camera shake. I think a big help would be to just add a little more of a light source, perhaps a candle, or something to lighten it just a bit more. I think you are very close. Low key is not easy but I think a great technique to learn since it can really change the mood of the photo.
Don't forget to tag your photo Technique1
@mace508 Wow, very unique subject for your low key photo.
@mikehamm This turned out really well, pretty b&w shot too.
@alceyone Anne, this one is really lovely, I love the brightly lit sections and the very dark shadows too.
@kali66 Wow another creative subject - This turned out well
@3whiteroses Oh the low key really makes the fake spider look real and adds the dramma that a high key wouldn't do. Great idea
@mikehamm Now that just makes me hungry - I love stuffed peppers!!!
Interesting subject for a low key shot
@dtigani Oh yeah this really adds to the drama feel of this character!
@meganc1 Megan, even if you don't it is a fun technique to play with even when the challenge is officially over. I won't actually judge the entries until some time on Monday, so if any photos sneak in before I pick the finalist that would be ok.