Bridesmaid High Key Black and White

[AmyMarieBoyd]

Hi All,

I would love some feedback on this photograph please taken of a bridesmaid at a wedding I have recently photographed. I felt the High Key look worked in this instance, i know some area's of the photograph are blown out But I really wanted to bring some attention to her face.

questions are:

1) do you think the High Key works in this instance?
2) what do you think of the composition of this photograph?
3) did I succeed in the focus?
4) what do you feel about the PP in this photograph?
and lastly i feel confused about the wrinkles in her neck do you think this adds to or takes away from the overall feel of this photograph.

EXIF information is

Camera: Olympus E520
Shutter Speed: 1/100th Second (this was hand held no tripod, this is because it was taken indoors in a dark space)
F stop: F/9
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 42mm
Flash: Fired (external flash attached to camera, diffused and bounced of the ceiling)

If you require anymore information please ask.

Thankyou so much for all of your help, I value all of your opinions and advice and thoughts.

[gturner]

Hi Amy

I really like this shot, although preferred the original (which I have linked from the other thread as it provides a great contrast.)
The highkey does work, but this is a little over-processed and a touch over exposed IMO. The dress has lost some detail and is blown a bit and you have lost the warmth of the original.
I think the answer is to find a balance between the 2 options

http://digital-photography-school.co...tml#post923988

PS - great to see you took the ADT pad out!

[dblightsey]

Im really not a fan of putting you mark on the head so you cant get a clear picture of whats going on. I know you dont want noone stealing your work but that might not be placed well.

[AmyMarieBoyd]

Thankyou for your comments i will try and find a balance between the two and will also look at my copyright symbol and where it is placed thankyou both so much. i value your opinions

[Benji]

A nice high contrast image. High key images do not have overexposed skin.

Benji

[sk66]

Originally Posted by AmyMarieBoyd

questions are:

1) do you think the High Key works in this instance?
2) what do you think of the composition of this photograph?
3) did I succeed in the focus?
4) what do you feel about the PP in this photograph?
and lastly i feel confused about the wrinkles in her neck do you think this adds to or takes away from the overall feel of this photograph.
.

1. It works, but it's a touch overdone.
2. Overall, it's nice. I don't think you paid enough attention when originally taking the shot with the security system pad behind her and her hand in a fist. I would probably clone out her entire left arm because there isn't a great way to crop it. It's a bit awkward as is, and gets worse cropped anywhere else, and including the fist would look wrong too.
3.Yes, I think so.
4. See above
5. The wrinkles are fine as is, not too harsh or anything. She would probably prefer they be softened/removed somewhat.

A very nice image as far as body/head pose and expression. Lighting is good and the vantage point is nice. Just needs a little more cleanup and toned back a little IMO.

[autofocus]

I think it's a nice image, but have one little area that bothers me, and that is her arm and cut off hand...it just seems to draw my eye away from the subject and out of the frame. I know it is what it is from the original shot, but if it were my image I think I would do some creative cloning and take the arm totally out. But I do like the high key look, think you did a good job with that.

Vince

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by sk66

1. It works, but it's a touch overdone.
2. Overall, it's nice. I don't think you paid enough attention when originally taking the shot with the security system pad behind her and her hand in a fist. I would probably clone out her entire left arm because there isn't a great way to crop it. It's a bit awkward as is, and gets worse cropped anywhere else, and including the fist would look wrong too.
3.Yes, I think so.
4. See above
5. The wrinkles are fine as is, not too harsh or anything. She would probably prefer they be softened/removed somewhat.

A very nice image as far as body/head pose and expression. Lighting is good and the vantage point is nice. Just needs a little more cleanup and toned back a little IMO.

Wow SK...looks like we're on the same page with this one (concerning the arm)

[LeeR]

Originally Posted by Benji

A nice high contrast image. High key images do not have overexposed skin.

Benji

You have every right to point out the lack of detail in the skin tones, if you like. They don't bother me as I see it as part of a stylistic effect. However, reclassifying the image as high contrast is unwarranted. I am not aware of any rule that states that skin tone detail is required for an image to be classified as 'high key.' High key simply means most of the image values are white to middle gray.

[Benji]

Originally Posted by LeeR

....reclassifying the image as high contrast is unwarranted. I am not aware of any rule that states that skin tone detail is required for an image to be classified as 'high key.' High key simply means most of the image values are white to middle gray.

I didn't reclassify this image as a high contrast image, it is a high contrast image. It is not a high key image. It has two of the three elements that make a high key image a high key image, that being a white (or pastel) background and white (or pastel) clothing and white (or pastel) props are the third, but overexposure of skin tones makes this a high contrast image.

I have written an extensive article on what is and what is not a high key image which includes a number of images and a definition. Here is a portion of it. "The term HIGH KEY has been questioned on another forum I frequent and I wrote a little something there that should be included here so here it is.

First I believe we must establish exactly what a high key image is. Since the advent of Photoshop and the internet, the definition of what a high key image is has seemed to have virtually overnight evolved into any image that is overexposed, or has a white background, or an image in which the subject is wearing white clothing, or any combination of any or all of the above. So I turned to Norman Phillips' book Lighting Techniques For High Key Portrait Photography for a definitive definition, and I quote, "High key is the term used to describe photographs with white or bright backgrounds and usually with bright lighting situations that render subjects in a light tone similiar to that of the background. The ultimate high key portrait is one in which the background is a clean white and the subjects are also attired in white. High key exists wherever the predominant tones in the image are somewhat brighter than the middle key."

The middle key in the digital world is 128 which is 18% gray and is exactly 1/2 way between pure black "0" and pure white "255."

Kenneth Hoffman in his internet article on High Key Photography states: In photography [High key] can easily be acheived by choosing elements of a white or pastel color placed on a white or very light background."

From DIY Photography.net. "To create a high key image you need to set your exposure levels to a high degree but watch out not to overexpose. High key images lack contrast and also there is a lack of shadows in the picture."

About.com Photography says, "High key pictures [can] contain small areas of dark tones, for example in the iris of the eyes in a portrait."

New York Institute of Photography Dictionary of Photography says under High Key: "A photograph made up entirely of tones above the middle tone with no heavy shadows."

Lastly a definition from the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (UK) and the British Professional Photographer's Association."High key-A scene with delicate tones or pastel colors. A photograph which contains large areas of light tones with few middle tones or shadows."

So according to the above, a high key image must have:
1- A white or very light pastel background.
2. Subjects(s) dressed in white or light pastel clothing.
3. Little or no contrast.
4. Little or no heavy shadows.
5. Few middle tones.

A high key image will not have:
1. Any overexposure of the subject.
2. Any areas below the middle tone except for small areas like the iris of the eyes.

The rest of the artricle can be found at High Key Imaging - PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum and it is free but you will need to register.

Benji