Two of the most common lighting techniques in film are high-key lighting and low-key lighting, each of which has distinct uses, methods, and purposes. Film lighting sets the tone and mood of a film.

The term high key and low key lighting is regularly heard in photography circles but often misunderstood. In it’s simplest terms a high key image is a bright image full of light and mostly white ...

By keeping the key light to fill light ratio so high, this style results in a bright and even image with very little in the way of shadows. Low-key lighting is the opposite of high-key lighting.

High-key lighting involves using bright and even lighting to illuminate the entire scene. This technique ensures a low contrast—white tones dominate while black and mid-range tones are minimized.

The way you use a single studio light can completely change the mood and overall feel of your portrait, and mastering both high-key and low-key effects can really help your work have a very ...