Firstly I have to say Wow, what an honour (and totally unexpected) to win the latest CSC challenge. Thank you all so much for your votes...now let's see if I can get this part of it right...
Oh dear god I hope this goes well...nervous.com
This week’s challenge is: LOW KEY...Let out your dark side (we all have one, so make friends with it!) I'm not saying for a minute that I'm a "Low Key God" but it is dear to my darkened heart and empty soul...
Explanation: A low-key image is one that contains predominantly dark tones and colours. Like high-key images, they convey atmosphere and mood. But where a high-key image feels airy and light, a low-key is usually dramatic and full of mystery. And where high-key lighting over-lights the subject to reduce contrast, low-key lighting creates striking contrasts through reduced lighting. Shadows are now the primary element of the composition.
Additional Tips: Ideally your ISO needs to be around 100, and it needs to stay there. Start with the aperture wide open, set up your shot and take a couple of test shots before jumping right in there and letting the darkness out. They don't have to be Monochrome but personally I've found they work the best for Low Key shots...colour can be great if the light is right. Most importantly...have fun - weird, whacky, gruesome, mysterious...
Tag: CSC14-11
Helpful Links:
www.lightstalking.com/low-key-photography
Google and Wiki of course!
Experienced photographers who are knowledgeable in this particular setting are encouraged to offer “kind and constructive” suggestions on the posted entries. Those entering this challenge want to learn and improve.
This challenge starts today TODAY, Thursday 17th July 2014, 12:00pm Central Standard Time (17:00 Zulu time http://www.zulutime.net). All photos must be taken during these dates to be considered. Enter as many as you would like- the idea is to practice & learn. TAG YOUR PHOTO CSC14-11 AND post your picture in this thread to receive feedback from other experienced photographers specific to this challenge.
Voting will take place Thursday 24th July (and remain open 24 hours) and the winner will be announced Friday 25th July. The winner of the challenge will select an experienced photographer to host a new challenge. It is the winner’s option on who they want to host the next challenge; it may be someone they follow whose work they admire, or someone who is active offering suggestions on previous CSC challenges. The winner may also select an experienced photographer for the list of photographers who have agreed to host future challenges as another option. Here is the link to that list: http://365project.org/myhrhelper/365/2011-12-12
Expect to receive constructive suggests on how to improve your skills.
How to post your photo on this link:
1) Go to your page that has the photo
2) Go to the lower right side of the page and find the word "sizes"
3) Click on the word that says "view all" and COPY the code for the large size photo - (use the longer code)
4) Go to the challenge page and "paste" the code in your discussion
low key? really? from you? oh I am falling faint onto the floor!
hee hee - brilliant - I can do this ( I can can't I ) - oh now I am at nervous .com :)
@lynnilou It's in the range - I think (and I'm no expert) that low key theoretically has one light source only. I do mine in a darkened room usually, lit with a light box, but what ever it takes to get the effect really.
This is way out of my comfort zone so I'm pushing myself to give it a try! Here's my first go… based on what I have read I have too much texture in the background. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
@maishanny It's an interesting shot with lots of detail - I'd suggest (not that I'm an expert) that for a low key shot the back ground is too detailed, as you said. Try with the ISO right down to 100, aperture wide open - you may need a tripod or at least something rest your camera on, I found also that most of mine work best in monochrome. The lighting coming in from the right is spot on though!
@andrewkru This is just amazeballs and works for me. I had a look at the exif info and it fits the range but I absolutely have to know how you did it...just how...? :)
Its quite simple and easy to do, I used a flexible neon light cable and placed it in the bottle and wiggled it around for 38 seconds. so basically light painting. I hope that answers your questions.
@graemestevens Thanks Graeme, I will try that. I kept the ISO at 100 and since I was using my son as the subject and he can't stay still for more than 1/100th of a second :), I had to keep the exposure short. As a result, I had to crank up the exposure in LR to actually 'see' him... Do I need more light? How do you do low key with a live subject when you're forced to use fast shutter speeds? Your tips greatly appreciated! thanks...
@andrewkru I really love this shot and it's excellent light painting! I would probably say it is less "low-key" only because the aperture is pretty tight and that allows all the precision with the illumination in the shot, so there's lots of light in the shot still (especially in the spout). But I do love it very much! And I'm no expert! Just my two cents. @graemestevens Graeme, thanks for this challenge! I'm going to give it a try if I have time because it is really the one area I have not done much with at all.
@maishanny It's a beautiful first try! I think Graeme's advice is good. If you have a tripod, a dark place with a side light and same subject, you might find a different result. I'm not clear on the aperture settings and am now getting confused because a nice tight aperture will retain some definition if you do a long exposure too. Oh, this just means I'll have to participate because now I'm wondering. This one has great potential! you are in the right direction I think.
This is my first attempt and I 'm no sure about it. I think it should be darker and I should have done better with the light and shadows. I will carry on trying!
@lambda the only live subject I ever use is myself, mainly because I know I'm going to be able to sit still! I'd try a little bit more light - I use an app on the iPad called softbox for lighting, it's a nice crisp, clear white light.
@maishanny awesome, to me it's low key, love it @penna That is very cool. I must admit I don't do a lot of what I'd call "still life" and I'm by now means an expert on Low Key (just trying to learn myself) but I really like this
@maishanny@darylo I'll let you into a little secret...all my set ups are "home-spun". I get strange and perturbed looks from both wife & daughter, and sometimes even the dogs aren't too sure. I've answered the door in full face paint/make up to much shock and then hilarity. I figure as long as it's fun then who cares?
This should be fun. I love low key, but don't know how to do it. I already learned something (setting the camera to ISO 100). So, well see how it goes this week.
@lambda wow, what a difference, superb @ounooi Awesome, love it, spot on @houser934 Excellent shot, maybe needs to be a little darker in the background but nice details and lighting @semjaja awesome as usual!
@lisatown I really like this - I agree about your arm though, I think without it you'd a great shot. I love the lighting on this one as well. Not that I'm asking you to go and cut your arm off...
@maishanny Super cool shot - your settings are spot on (from what I understand of low key), loads of details, awesome shot. The most important question is this: where can I get one of these???
@eyeamlisa Pretty much - my understanding of low key, as limited as it is, is that it creates contrasts through low/minimal lighting along with drama and mystery...
@april16 very cool shots, I think of the two the Jug is closest to the mark. Maybe try moving the light source so that we can't see all of the subject as that might help to create a bit more "mystery" but great shots none the less! @ladygator And it works - really like this, very cool shot
@epcello Not too late - love this, superb shot with lighting that to me is spot on. @jasperc Not too late, great shot though, love the colour @olivieto Just on the nick of time, saw this on my "feed" and thought it was a damn cool shot
@april16 Very cool, love the graininess to it - I'm no expert but I think if the ISO was around 200 it would have bee a crystal clear image. Having said that I really like the simplicity of it and that grain I think is pretty cool
@graemestevens Thank you, Graeme. Sorry to say but I was going to ask you how to get rid of the grain. Ha! I will have to retry one of these days and check the ISO. The low key is hard to do but a lot of fun! I have enjoyed this challenge.
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hee hee - brilliant - I can do this ( I can can't I ) - oh now I am at nervous .com :)
@newbank snort
@lynnilou It remains to be seen
@lambda likewise ;)
Its quite simple and easy to do, I used a flexible neon light cable and placed it in the bottle and wiggled it around for 38 seconds. so basically light painting. I hope that answers your questions.
Trying my hand at still life photography, have always shot sports action or portrait.
@penna That is very cool. I must admit I don't do a lot of what I'd call "still life" and I'm by now means an expert on Low Key (just trying to learn myself) but I really like this
Here's my attempt on low-key. I took it a bit to the max with rim-lighting.
I'm going to try a bit more proper low-key later.
Thought I'd give this a whirl thanks to @spanner 's heads up
@ounooi Awesome, love it, spot on
@houser934 Excellent shot, maybe needs to be a little darker in the background but nice details and lighting
@semjaja awesome as usual!
"All of these low key images have forced me to clean my computer screen :)"
@annied superb, love the graininess
@ladygator And it works - really like this, very cool shot
I think I'm a bit late but here's a cuppa for you.
@jasperc Not too late, great shot though, love the colour
@olivieto Just on the nick of time, saw this on my "feed" and thought it was a damn cool shot