high key

[scottishpaul]

so im back into the studio tomorrow at college. need a high key portrait.
just wondering if anyones got some good ideas. got most standard equipment like several flash heads, coloramas, dishes, honeycombs, fill boards etc.

maybe some lighting diagrams etc.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Do you mean high key or just a white background?

 

[scottishpaul]

a high key portrait

 

[Garry Edwards]

Basically, a high key portrait is nothing more than an absense of any tones darker than 50% grey.

To achieve this, you need to avoid high contast lighting that creates strong shadows.

There is no 'standard lighting setup' that will show you how to do that because, obviously, the lighting needs to suit and enhance the features of the subject but basically you can use any lighting arrangement you like as long as you avoid strong shadows,

For example you could use a high umbrella or softbox to accentuate the cheekbones with a fill light or fill reflector below the camera, you could use a rimlight to create short lighting as long as there is enough fill from the camera position, you could add a reflective umbrella or a honeycomb as a hair light.