Light & Dark
Low-key is a style of lighting for photograph and film. It attempts to create a chiaroscuro effect. In traditional photographic lighting, three-point lighting uses a key light, a fill light, and a back light for even illumination. Low-key lighting requires only one key light, optionally controlled with a fill light or a simple reflector.
Low key light accentuates the contours of an object by throwing areas into shade while a fill light or reflector may illuminate the shadow areas to control contrast. Below are 20 mysterious examples of this technique on different subjects and different lighting sources.
Hand by Lucas Cobb
Jack Low Key Tattoos by DSPhoties
Low Key Mood by Sasha Segade
Alexisonfire by Patrick L.
VisionMongers by Hasby
Guitarist by John Lucia
Flower by Evan Leavitt
Jen by Laura Grogan
Selfie 2 by Mike Jennings
Tap Shoes by Nicholase Pelletiet
Low key by Apprime
Keys by Anna P.
Studio Shot by Jean Malnory
Water Lilly by Shaun Dunmall
Low key by Angela
3 Apples by Nazri Ibrahim
Sissy by Jack Strutz
for Kamina by Ruby T.
Ballet by Paul Stowger
I really hope you enjoyed this post and have developed an intrigue in the technique of low-key photography. It’s best to use a tripod and set for a long exposure. If you want to learn more about low-key photography, check out this great low-key photography book:
‘Lighting Techniques for Low Key Portrait Photography
Alternatively, feel free to link to your own low-key photographs in the comments below!
