[Benji]

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 question has been raised as to whether a dark skinned subject dressed all in white and photographed on a white background would be considered high key. According to the above I would answer yes. Nowhere is it stated that that the skin of the subject has any bearing on the key of the image.

Benji