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Indoor Lighting Tutorial 1: High Key Photography

Sep 26, 2011

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    1. High Key Images: Relative bright images with a lack of contrast. This tutorial will cover on how I achieve high key images for BJD photography. This may not be the best of example since I am trying to use just what is relatively affordable and also shooting a smaller subject does have a little more disadvantage when it comes to shadow falloff. Also if I pass the image posting limit in a single thread do inform me as i cant find a better way to illustrate ideas then this.

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      ThisIsMyRabbit-1 by tassardar, on Flickr

      In high key photography, there is relatively a lack of shadow. Im pretty sure some will wonder why the photos they took contains so much undesirable shadows. For this we need a little understanding of light.

      Light travels in a straight line. If light travels out from a point source like a small flash or torchlight, its a cone of straight lines. When a object blocks this light lines of light, you cast a shadow.

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      Point Source Light by tassardar, on Flickr

      With a flash from a camera or a small little the same effect as the diagram above will happen

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      Flash by tassardar, on Flickr

      On a larger light source, one that is much bigger then the subject itself, light overlaps as such shadows are minimize or lost

      [​IMG]
      Large Light Source by tassardar, on Flickr

      Using this concept, if a large umbrella reflected light is used, the same large light source can be duplicated and base on my hand again

      [​IMG]
      Large Light by tassardar, on Flickr

      As you can see, the size of the light matters as and a larger source usually means a smaller shadow. However do note, if the source is too far , it will become a point source. A good example is sunlight on a hot day, the sun is huge but due to its distance, it becomes a strong point light source.

      [​IMG]
      Setup by tassardar, on Flickr

      My setup is a relatively cheap CFl bulb light with a umbrella to simulate a large source. You can get one at amazon something like this:
      http://www.amazon.com/LimoStudio-Ph...XK/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1317081151&sr=8-20.

      Its just a high wattage lamp to say. Not those fancy flashlight you get in studios.

      This is my raw output of the photo infront. Some brightening up and it will do just fine :)

      [​IMG]
      1D3_9456 by tassardar, on Flickr

      Also for those who want to know the setting
      Manual Mode
      No Flash
      ISO 800
      F 2.8
      Shutter 1/80
       
      #1 zerartul, Sep 26, 2011
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    2. Thank you for posting this! The examples are super helpful, and so is the Amazon link. That's much more affordable than I ever thought. Great photo of your girl, too :)
       
      #2 quiet0ne, Sep 26, 2011
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    3. I cannot express how happy I am to have finally learned this! All this time I kept thinking it was the camera or photoshop but my main problem has been lighting. THANK YOU THANK YOU!! :D
       
      #3 silverangel902, Sep 27, 2011
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    4. Thanks for sharing, this is really useful :D
       
      #4 miyako, Sep 27, 2011
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    5. Thank you. This was exactly what I was wondering about in the other thread. The link is especially useful. :)
       
      #5 Helter Skelter, Sep 27, 2011
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    6. Great tutorial! I always have difficulty is low key shots. O_O
       
      #6 xobrittuhox, Sep 29, 2011
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    7. Thank you so much for this! It's very useful, and I can say I'll be investing in one of those lamps.

      ETA: I did invest in one. XD Lighting was one of my woes, so hopefully this will help a lot!
       
      #7 pinksugar, Sep 29, 2011
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    8. Thanks for these tips! :D
       
      #8 Lawlietuser, Sep 29, 2011
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    9. Thank you so much for the tips, AND that amazon link!!!!! You're so awesome, I'm going to have so much fun with this!!!
       
      #9 AnchixDPx, Oct 6, 2011
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    10. Thank you so much! I have horrible lighting in the house and usually take pictures outside. This is extremely helpful and the link has plenty of affordable options!
       
      #10 kadepie, Oct 18, 2011
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    11. I am so excited to have found this thread. Thank you so much.
       
      #11 DreamsofViolets, Oct 24, 2011
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    12. Oh goddess, thank you so much for that link. Lighting is one of my woes. I usually mess around with my lamps some are pinker, bluer, and yellower than others so it's fun messing around with different matches to get good lighting. I'll definitely be investing in one of these.
       
      #12 SharinganBlossom91, Oct 25, 2011
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    13. Oh woah...now I know what I have been doing wrong!!!! THANK YOU...
      Looking forward to next installment!
       
      #13 Mechakal, Oct 26, 2011
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    14. :D Thanks much for this thread: now I have an idea as to what to buy for my light source! I tried backdrops, but none of the lights I have at home are large enough or bright enough for the crispness I want in my photos...except for the UV lamp I use for my screen printing. x( Not the kind of tan my dollies want. xD
       
      #14 Zabb, Oct 27, 2011
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    15. I hope you don't mind but I added your tutorial here.
       
      #15 Zettai_Yoru, Oct 31, 2011
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    16. This was soooo helpful. I just went on amazon and purchased the kit :) I usually end up using a black backdrop to eliminate the shadows. Now I can add variety!! Thank you!
       
      #16 AmoraSeth, Nov 2, 2011
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    17. Thank you soooooooooooooo much!!! I tired to use two light source to eliminate shadows but they didn't work well... and the kit is ON SALE!!!
       
      #17 misaki0818, Nov 4, 2011
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    18. I went to Amazon and ordered the light umbrella. It's on sale for only $25.00! Thanks soooo much. I have trouble with faces blurring and black clothes taking on a light sheen. I hope this umbrella helps!
       
      #18 FaithyHopey, Dec 13, 2011
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    19. Wow! That makes so much sense! Thank you!
       
      #19 makki, Jan 19, 2012
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    20. Thank you, this was really helpful!
       
      #20 WitheringWarumono, Jan 22, 2012
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    21. Thank you very much for the tutorial. I've been studying portrait lighting and couldn't figure out why it was never close to "BJD Photography" and now I realize it's because it's a totally different style. This is very helpful and I ordered some studio lighting!
       
      #21 threnodys, Jan 22, 2012
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    22. Thank you for this info! I really appreciate it!
       
      #22 Renearla, Jan 27, 2012
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    23. Thank you, this was so useful, I'll totally take example from this in the future! ^0^
       
      #23 AngellDoll, Jan 28, 2012
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    24. Thanks for this really useful tutorial. Many of my photos turn out flat and a bit dull (I rely on natural light coming in from a window) so I'm going to give this a go!
       
      #24 psychotic-kitten, Jan 29, 2012
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