Is this high key?

[carlyfan]

This is my cousin. She was playing a game when I got this shot of her. There was light from a window on her right, and a white wall behind her. Would this be considered high key? I'm not sure about the focus; it seems a bit soft. Any other comments and critique you have is more than welcome!

Camera Brand: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Date Taken: 2010:11:25 14:26:14
Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.
Aperture Value: 1.70 EV (f/1.8)
ISO Speed Rating: 400
Flash Fired: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode.
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Focal Length: 50.0 mm
Software: GIMP 2.6.7


Thanks!
Lisa

[autofocus]

I would not consider it high key..high key would probably be somewhat closer to what I did below

[katia]

Originally Posted by autofocus

I would not consider it high key..high key would probably be somewhat closer to what I did below

i'm not sure if it's just my monitor calibration, or perhaps yours,...but the edit you did is completely grainy and discolored in the area where her hair meets her neck (right side of the picture). looks like it turned a bit red, too. and her teeth now look like fings. her teeth and eyes look like that crazy weird popart sorta thing that myspace girls do, lol.

[sk66]

Kind of, yes. But underexposed and over saturated.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by katia

i'm not sure if it's just my monitor calibration, or perhaps yours,...but the edit you did is completely grainy and discolored in the area where her hair meets her neck (right side of the picture). looks like it turned a bit red, too. and her teeth now look like fings. her teeth and eyes look like that crazy weird popart sorta thing that myspace girls do, lol.

All I did was copy her original photo over to PS, and bumped up the mid tones in levels..I'm working on a calibrated monitor, so you'd better check yours. You have to remember all you have to work on is a highly reduced resolution image to start with

[carlyfan]

Originally Posted by autofocus

I would not consider it high key..high key would probably be somewhat closer to what I did below

But isn't this just overexposed? I was told that there is a difference between high key and overexposed.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your comments. I wasn't necessarily going for high key; I was just wondering if it was.
Apart form the high key thing, how is it?

Lisa

[bookloveraz]

Hey Lisa, great pic! Not sure what high key is.... My only problem is that I'd like her eyes to be sharper... Not too hard to fix though.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by carlyfan

But isn't this just overexposed? I was told that there is a difference between high key and overexposed.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your comments. I wasn't necessarily going for high key; I was just wondering if it was.
Apart form the high key thing, how is it?

Lisa

Lisa, here's a definition of high key from DIY Photography,

"When looking at a High Key picture, you will probably notice two things right away. The first thing is that the picture is bright. Yes - to create a high key image you need to set your exposure levels to high values. You will want to watch out, though not to over expose.
The other noticeable feature of High Key images is the lack of contrast. In addition for the tone being bright, you will notice that it is almost even across the scene. This is achieved by carefully setting the lighting of the picture. More about that later.
A third feature, that need closer attention to notice is the lack of shadows in the picture. The shadows cast by the model (or subject) are suppressed by lighting in the scene"

High key can be achieved by how you light and expose your subject when shot, and/or by manipulating your photo in post to emulate the look of flat, bright, low contrast shadow free lighting

[carlyfan]

Thanks for the definition autofocus. So I guess mine is not high key because I have too much contrast and shadow. I do still like it though.

Thanks Amy! I will try to sharpen those eyes. I was thinking I might have missed them. I was using the center auto focus point to focus on her eyes and then recomposing and taking the shot. But that assumes she's not moving, which is rare with 4 year olds. I think some to the other ones turned out good though.

Thanks,
Lisa