Driving Question: 

Introduction : Low key photography is great in studio for portrait photos but is also amazing for all kinds of photography.  Low key refers to a style of photography that utilizes predominantly dark tones to create a dramatic looking image. Where high key lighting seeks to over light the subject to the point of reduced contrast, low key lighting intensifies the contrast in an image through intensely reduced lighting.

Low Key Lighting In Art

Artists recognized the power of low key lighting long before photographers came around. Painters during the Renaissance and Baroque periods often used a technique known as "chiaroscuro" to achieve a similar dramatic tone for their images. Chiaroscuro comes from the Italian "chiaro" meaning clear/light and "oscuro" meaning obscure/dark.

Chiaroscuro was used not only for drama but also to bring realism to a painting. The varied lighting creates a sense of three dimensional depth that can be quite stunning.

Low Key in the Studio

If you have your own photo studio, there are lots of ways to setup low key shots that will give you fantastic results. First, make sure you have a large black backdrop. As a general rule, try to avoid hitting with any lights in such a way that it shows texture, wrinkles, etc.

You can definitely have a low key portrait with other types of backdrops, but this will help you achieve that classy solid black look that comes to mind when you think of low key photography.

MATERIALS:  Low Key Photography

If you have absolutely no idea how to take low key photos, then first of all you should take care about the availability of the necessary gear. Low key lighting doesn’t require any special gear. In fact, for creative pictures you’ll only need the following:

1. Camera  

2. Tripod Light source (either natural or artificial)

3.  Black or dark grey background 

4. Good editing software 

Once you’ve learned the basics of low key lighting, you might also invest in a large soft lighting source like a softbox. Another great addition for low key lighting photography is a fast lens that reduces problems with camera noise.

PROCEDURES 

Experiment with lighting

Light can make or break your photograph. A light directly in front of your subject’s face is not low key. You can try to experiment with side lighting, Rembrandt lighting, light modifier or any other type of lighting to add depth and drama to your photos. 

Camera settings

There are certain camera settings that will let you achieve the best low key portraits. We will tell you how easy it is to make low key photography without flash, just using the right camera settings. When it comes to ideal camera settings for low key photography, you should try to keep your ISO low and aperture wide open. You can start by setting your ISO to 100 or as low as possible on your camera.  This is quite important because low ISO will make your image dark and noise-free. Once you’re satisfied with your choice of ISO, you can adjust your shutter speed and aperture and achieve the desired effect for the light you've chosen.

You can set the aperture by starting with the smallest f-number, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8. This will allow you to take in the most light and adjust from there. You will be able to use a relatively fast shutter speed if you stick to the widest aperture, but you will surely have to adjust your shutter speed depending on the light source you’re working with.

Lighting

Using low key lighting is ideal for dramatic portraits. It can add a certain depth and mystery to the subject and composition. Dark shadows and strong contrast can easily alter the mood of the entire scene and make it more alluring.

A choice of light and its strength and direction is up to the photographer. The only rule you should follow when shooting low key is to never allow light to reach your background. In addition to that, most photographers also try to avoid casting dark shadows on the faces of their subjects. Even though low key portraiture is dramatic, it should be flattering for your subject.  

Keeping The Background Dark

No matter what lighting pattern you choose to experiment with, you should make sure that the background is dark enough. In case your background seems light and distracting, you should move the model and the light evenly away from the wall. If you do that, you’ll notice the light on the model stays the same, but the background gets darker – and that’s exactly what you need!

Another way to make the background darker is by moving the light to the side. In this scenario, the background will darken even more and your portrait will look more dramatic, which is great if you’re looking to achieve something really bold.

In case you have a grid in your studio, you can control the light even more by using this handy light modifier. The grid restricts the light to whatever is in front of the light only, which means the light won’t spill on the background.

Low ISO

 When we talk about low key lighting setup, this is the first important factor. Set your ISO to 100 or as low as it will go on your camera. This will keep your image dark and free from noise. Then adjust your shutter speed and aperture from there.

Low f-number and fast shutter speed 

If you start with a low f-number, you’ll take in the most light and be able to adjust from there. A fast shutter speed is generally recommended for low key photography settings, though you may need to adjust depending on the light source you’re experimenting with.

Editing  Low Key Photography in Photoshop

Photoshop is one of the most famous tools for photo editing, and you can achieve a lot by using it in post-production. For example, if you’re not satisfied with the background in your low key shot and some unnecessary light shines through the darkness, you can easily set this by using the adjustment brush tool and darkening the levels. Photoshop gives you a lot of options to edit the depth of field, contrast and shadows to add even more drama to your low key pictures. 

1. Brighten Your Subject

Your subject is probably the only bright part of your low key photo. You may need to brighten your subject a bit more especially if you didn’t use a flash! To do this, you should adjust the Exposure, Highlights and Whites in Lightroom.

2. Adjust White Balance

White balance in low key images often tends to be off  – if you’re using a flash it might be too cool and if you’re using indoor lighting it might be too warm. Because of this, make sure to check and adjust white balance during post-processing. 

3. Reduce Noise

Noise is one of the typical issues in low key photography. Even though we should keep our ISO low, sometimes it’s impossible to avoid cranking it up. Bear in mind that noise reduction should be used carefully because it blurs the photo. Use it only when it’s truly necessary.

4. Play With The Colors  

If your image contains both cool and warm tones, you can play with the colors by using the HSL panel in Lightroom. Feel free to shift the colors and create a bold and playful contrast between cool and warm parts of your image. 

5. Add A Vignette

Low key photographs, especially portraits, are ideal for experimenting with vignettes. You can use the Radial Filter in Lightroom to create vignettes –  it actually works better than the Vignette Tool because this filter allows you to easily control where your vignette should be placed. 

6. Fix Backdrop Pleats Or Wrinkles

If you’re shooting in a studio, you probably want your black background to be impeccable and wrinkle-free.  In order to achieve such a uniform background, you will need to adjust the Shadows and Blacks sliders until you get a wrinkle-free black background. Bear in mind that these two are global adjustments and that they will affect the subject too – you might need to use the Adjustment Brush to bring back some details.

Essential Understanding:

 I learned how to use camera manual settings and i also learned how to shoot different photography styles with this project.

Low key photography is often used in advertising and commercial photography to create a specific mood or atmosphere. For example, a low key image might be used to promote a luxury product, as the dark tones and intense contrast can give the image a sense of sophistication and exclusivity. Low key lighting can also be used to create a moody or edgy aesthetic, which can be effective in promoting certain types of products or brands. Low key photography is also commonly used in editorial and fashion photography, where it can be used to create a dramatic and fashionable look. In these contexts, low key lighting is often used to highlight the clothing or accessories being worn by the model, creating a sense of glamour and style. Overall, low key photography is a versatile technique that can be used in a variety of contexts to create a specific mood or atmosphere. Whether you're taking portrait photos in a studio or shooting a commercial product campaign, low key lighting can be a powerful tool for creating striking and memorable images.

EDITED LOW-KEY PHOTOGRAPY PHOTOS