[Benji]

The internet is a great source of two things. Information, and MISinformation.

I found the following definition on another photography forum which IMHO is accurate: "High Key In Photography, lighting that produces tones that fall mostly between white and gray, with very few dark-gray or black tones. In the digital age this translates to all tones in the image will be above 128 with the exception of [a] few black tones. These few could be for example the pupils of the subject's eyes in a portrait and/or the hair of the subject. This would not include a subject wearing black slacks posed on an all white background." The first image I posted below is a true high key image.

In low key images everything is below the above mentioned 128. Again a few areas can be above 128 such as a collar or jewelry etc. but a subject wearing a white shirt on a black background would not be a low key image. The second image I have posted below is a good example of a low key image.

DIY high key is going to be difficult, although if you live where there is lots of snow maybe not!!! Low key is easy for the DIYr.

Benji