The Sunday Challenge - Get Personal!

What a lovely story and beautiful stein.

Thank you Cordia.

Very nice personal story and photo.

Thank you Harriet. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I love the story behind your objects, Karen! They make for a beautiful still life, too! :)

Thanks Val. It was a great experience and I'm glad you like it.

Lovely story Karen. I'm interested in your high key shot as my camera doesn't have that setting I don't believe

Thank you Jan. I don't understand hi key at all yet, but I'm sure we will get that chance sometime soon. I wonder if it can be done in post processing?

I don't know what the camera setting did, except maybe a little overexposure, but the ambient light you used is definitely high-key according to how it is defined on studio TV-shooting. There are no dark shadows, which gives a nice soft touch to the shot =) And a good idea to use mirror.

Thanks Sami. I wanted to show some of the back side of the stein.

So is high key just over exposure?

No no, over exposure is only one tool to achieve the goal, especially used on still photography. Here's a short list what one tries to achieve, or as I think what high/low key photography is about:

High-key:
- Dark sharp shadows are your enemy. Get rid of the shadows by using light, and some more light!
- Avoid high contrasts.
- Use reflectors and diffusers to get the light evenly scattered around the setting.
- Utilize overcast weather when shooting out.
- Use and photograph items that are already light (color) because then the items work as reflectors themselves, diffusing the light around them.
- Consider over exposing because light meter easily gives you false results, confused by all the bright lights used =P
- If the camera software allows you to adjust in-camera contrast, then adjust it to very low contrast. Choose low contrast films on film cameras.
- On post processing (or in camera software) try using "softening techniques".

Low-key:
- Shadows are your friend! Let the darkness swallow the items on your setting.
- Seek high contrasts.
- Utilize sharp and narrow spotlights to pick up details.
- Use dark, black surfaces to avoid reflected light. Large white surfaces are your enemy! >=D
- Photograph items that are already dark in color.
- Consider under exposing because the light meter easily over exposes when shooting overly dark settings.
- If the camera software allows you to adjust in-camera contrast, then adjust it to very high contrast. Choose high contrast films on film cameras.

But to come up with something creative, break against these suggestions! =D

Thank you Sami. That is REALLY helpful. I love getting input like this. I will be playing around with it. :)

Congrats on Explore, Karen! :))

Thank you Val.

Great photo! Love it!

Thanks sassy and Norm.

Love these beer steins. Such a great set up with the mirrored reflection. I didn't realise that some of them were musical. A lovely family treasure.

Nice choice of effect. Very beautiful!

Thank you very much Gillian and Kenny.

Perhaps not high key, but a lovely shot and story all the same! :)

Really haven't a clue yet Paul so thanks for your opinion. :)

Very traditional jug

Hello and thanks for stopping by Sanna.

Awesome composition.

Thank you Don.

It is high-key for me and it gets a soft light feeling in the picture