Low key lighting can evoke feelings of noire, mystery, intimacy and sometimes even fatalism. The images have dramatic shadows, and dark backgrounds, which are often black. They also have a dramatic mood.
We’ll show you how to do this with low-key lighting and the camera settings that are required.
What is Low-Key Lighting?
Low-key lighting embraces chiaroscuro techniques made famous by 17th century painters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt. Chiaroscuro is derived from the Italian words “chiaro”, which means clear/light, and “oscuro”, meaning obscure/dark.
Low-key lighting can also be seen in film noir. The minimal light sources, dark shadows and deep blacks make it instantly recognizable. Low-key lighting will give your photos a cinematic feel and add drama.
In a more traditional lighting setup, there is a keylight, a filllight and a rearlight. However, in a low-key setup the keylight is used primarily. Fill light should only be used to add some detail in shadow areas.
Low-key photography creates an eerie atmosphere by using the low-key light. Reduced lighting creates striking contrasts in the images. Shadows are the main element of the composition, creating a dramatic effect. Shadows and dark shades are used to emphasize the subject’s form, shape, etc.
Note A low-key lighting setup will have a high lighting ratio (8:1), which is a comparison between key light and fill light.
We’d like to share some tips on how to create a dramatic look or achieve this gorgeous noir look.
