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High Key and Low Key Lighting Techniques

The document provides lighting techniques for high key and low key silhouettes using various numbers of lights and modifiers. It includes tips on positioning lights and subjects as well as recommended camera settings. Examples of each technique are shown through photos with additional behind the scene photos.
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100% found this document useful (2 votes)
927 views26 pages

High Key and Low Key Lighting Techniques

The document provides lighting techniques for high key and low key silhouettes using various numbers of lights and modifiers. It includes tips on positioning lights and subjects as well as recommended camera settings. Examples of each technique are shown through photos with additional behind the scene photos.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE LIGHTING SERIES

Collection n.1
2 LIGHTS
HIGH KEY SILHOUETTE

White seamless backdrop f 8 1/200 ISO 100


Two lights diffused with two
40x180cm strip boxes
Keep the power of the lights high,
both at the same power
Be mindful of the distance
between the model and the light
source + the backdrop. If she is
getting too much light spills on her
body or face, ask her to take a
step towards you
Don't turn the softboxes too much
towards the backdrop, otherwise
you will get a light grey center and
white edges which is the opposite
of what we want to achieve. You
want the area around the subject
to be pure white already in camera
2 LIGHTS
HIGH KEY SILHOUETTE
BONUS! BACKSTAGE

In the picture: two strip boxes 40x180cm, white seamless paper


Fabric used is white chiffon
ONE LIGHT
HIGH KEY SILHOUETTE

f 9 1/200 ISO 100

One light: 5' octa


Subjects are
positioned right
in front of the
softbox
ONE LIGHT
HIGH KEY SILHOUETTE
BONUS! BACKSTAGE
2 LIGHTS + BLACK V-FLAT

f 5.6 1/200 ISO 100

White seamless
backdrop
Main light: octa 5"
camera right
Background light:
Positioned right behind
the subjects, pointed at
backdrop. Modifier
used: reflector
Black v-flat to add
more contrast
1 LIGHT
LOW KEY SILHOUETTE

f 9 1/200 ISO 100

Seamless backdrop. Since


we're using a grid on our
light source you can use
either a white, grey or black
backdrop. It'll turn out dark
One light diffused with a
40x180cm stripbox (or
an octabox depending on
what you have available, it'll
work as well) + GRID
Light is positioned behind
the subject, choose the
subject's best side/profile
1 LIGHT
LOW KEY SILHOUETTE
BONUS! BACKSTAGE

Shot during a 1:1 mentoring of mine at my student's studio


using a 4' octa with grid
2 LIGHTS LOW KEY SILHOUETTE

f 9 1/200 ISO 100

Rim lights: Two lights placed


behind the model, one on
each side, diffused with
40x180cm stripboxes + grids.
Almost facing each other
Seamless backdrop. Could be
white, grey or black. It'll turn
out dark because we're using
the grids and we're
directioning the lights
towards the subject only, so
that there's no light spill on
the backdrop
BUTTERFLY

f 5,6 1/200 ISO 100

Dark grey or black


seamless backdrop
Main light: positioned right
in front of the subject,
diffused with a 3' octa
Check the catch light: it
should be at 12 'o clock.
I recommend to use a boom
(arm, as shown in the
lighting diagram) so there's
no light stand in the way
ONE LIGHT FEATHERED

f 5,6 1/200 ISO 100


Hand painted backdrop
Main light: one flash
diffused with 5" octa,
camera left and feathered.
The subject is only getting
the light coming from the
edge of the softbox and not
the hard light coming from
the center of the softbox
(called hotspot). This way
you get a nice and soft
transition between
highlights, mid tones and
shadows
ONE LIGHT FEATHERED
BONUS! BACKSTAGE

Baby and Kid Argentina, live shooting on stage. October, 2019


ONE LIGHT

f 8 1/200 ISO 100

Canvas backdrop
Main light: 5' octa,
camera right, pointed at
the subject
ONE LIGHT

f 8 1/200 ISO 100

White seamless backdrop


Main light: 5' octa pointed at
the backdrop and only very
slightly at the subject
White v-flat or polystyrene
board in front of the subject
to bring some detail out of
the face
2 LIGHTS (SOFT LIGHT)

f 7,1 1/200 ISO 100

White seamless
backdrop
Main light: 5' octa,
camera left, feathered
Fill light: Deep XL
Umbrella with diffusion
2 LIGHTS (SOFT LIGHT)
BONUS! BACKSTAGE
2 LIGHTS

f 8 1/200 ISO 100

Dark grey seamless


backdrop
Main light: 3' octa +,
centered in front of the
subject (butterfly)
Background light: bare
strobe, positioned behind
the subject and pointed ad
the backdrop
3 LIGHTS + CTO GELS

f 10 1/200 ISO 100

Dark green canvas


backdrop
Main light: 5' octa
positioned in front of the
subject (butterfly)
Rim lights: two bare
strobes with full CTO gels

*CTO = Color Temperature


Orange
3 LIGHTS + CTO GELS
BONUS! BACKSTAGE

Live shooting on stage at Baby and Kid Italy, February 2020


3 LIGHTS + WHITE V-FLAT

f 6,3 1/200 ISO 100

White seamless
backdrop
Background lights: two
bare lights
Main light: Deep XL
umbrella + diffusion
centered, towards the
subject
Fill light: white v-flat
Bonus: fabric used is
chiffon
3 LIGHTS + WHITE V-FLAT
BONUS! BACKSTAGE
STUDIO LIGHT + NATURAL LIGHT

f 5 1/125 ISO 250

Main light: 5' octa,


camera right
Fill light: natural light
coming from the windows
Raise your ISO to use
natural light as a fill light
3 canvases used as
backdrops + 1 canvas used
as floor
Flowers in a pot in the front
2 LIGHTS

f 4 1/125 ISO 100

Canvas backdrop
Main light: Deep XL
umbrella + diffusion,
centered in front of the
subject (butterfly)
Background light:
pointed at backdrop,
with reflector.
Tip: Using a light pointed
at canvas backdrops
brings out the texture
2 LIGHTS
BONUS! BACKSTAGE
GEAR & EQUIPMENT

LIGHTS

Profoto D2 500W
Profoto B1 500W

MODIFIERS

Profoto 5' octa


Profoto 3' octa
Profoto Deep XL Umbrella + Diffusion
Profoto Zoom Reflector
Jinbei Strip box 140x80cm

V- FLATS

Foldable v-flats
Polystyrene board (one side painted white, one side painted black)

COLORED GELS

Profoto OCF colored gels kit

CANVAS BACKDROPS

Artery Backdrops
Milano Backdrops

CAMERAS

Fujifilm GFX50S
Nikon D750

LENSES

Fujifilm 63mm
Nikon 24-70 f2.8
The information contained in this collection is for
personal use only. It must not be shared or resold.

www.donatellanicolini.it
FB: Donatella Nicolini Studio
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[email protected]

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