High Key profile

[noise626]

Hi all!

I was asked to give a description on how I got this particular high key shot, so I thought I would do that very thing. First off, the shot:




This was taken at Attitudes Dance Studio. Lots of white walls, wood floors and a staggering amount of white florescent light. Using my Canon T1i and a Canon 50mm f1.4 lens, I went for a 1/60 exposure set at f2.0 with an ISO of 1600. Yep, lots of light in an already very bright room. I wasn't so much concerned about noise, since I felt it would add to the look of the exposure overall. I had her sit on a chair directly under a florescent light near a wall. I climbed on top of a chair to get a good height above her, had her look up until the light fell on her face properly, and snapped away.

In post, I did a little unmask to sharpen the eyes a bit. That it!

[LostMahbles]

Thanks a lot! So it seems the way to do it is light, light and more light. My setup wasn't nearly bright enough I don't think. I'll give it another go :-)

[noise626]

Yup...tons of light and a wide open aperture seem to do the trick.

And please post with what you come up with!!

[dessa]

This really is quite special. Question though, is she meant to be looking into the light? I only ask because she looks to be looking at 1 O'clock but the light looks to be between 2 and 3 O'clock.

[noise626]

dessa:
she was looking up into the light, but was catching reflections from the white wall on the side as well.

[CatcherT]

lovely picture, thanks for explaining, I would of never guessed all that "white and light" to make that pic!

[Trevor Blackman]

Great detail! The exposure is awesome. Wonderful picture. I would have never have guessed such a high ISO.

[jplumansoc]

I like the feel of the photo alot, her face and eyes looking up, the flower makes the photo delicate. The catch light in the eyes is great too.

A little constructive criticism.
I personally am not a fan of the blown highlights (arty effect but also a technical point) The detail in the hair could have been kept as well as the right of her face. it blends in too much with the wall behind it. I think it needs just a little bit of separation. I would have dropped the ISO down to 800 to keep some detail.

[raicamortensen]

hi i see the picture and thanks to share this information now i can also create this type of picture dueto your help thanks...