• Home
  • Download PDF
  • Order CD-ROM
  • Order in Print
Color Contrast
Figure  5-18.High-key  scene

Photography (Basic) - Introduction to photography and other graphic techniques
Page Navigation
  106    107    108    109    110  111  112    113    114    115    116  
Figure  5-17.–Low-key  scene. PH2 Neil Crews 302.301 LOW- AND HIGH-KEY SCENES.–When  a scene contains mostly dark tones or colors, it is low key (fig. 5-17). When the scene contains mostly light tones, it is high key (5-18). Low-key and high-key pictures convey mood and atmosphere. Low key often suggests seriousness and mystery and is often used in horror pictures, such as a dark-granite castle in a thunderstorm. High key creates a feeling of delicacy and lightness. A photograph of a fair-skinned, blond-haired mother dressed  in  a  white  gown  against  a  light  background nursing her baby is a good subject for a  high-key picture. HIGH- AND LOW-KEY COLORS.–High-key color pictures contain large areas of light desaturated colors (pastels) with very few middle colors or shadows. Intentionally  overexposing  color  film  (exposing  for  the shadows)  helps  to  create  a  high-key  effect. A low-key effect is created when the scene is dominated  by  shadows  and  weak  lighting.  Low-key pictures  tend  to  have  large  areas  of  shadow,  few highlights,  and  degraded  colors.  Naturally  dark  subjects are best for low-key pictures. Low-key color pictures can be induced by exposing color film for the highlights. FRAMING Framing  is  another  technique  photographers  use  to direct the viewer's attention to the primary subject of a picture.  Positioned  around  the  subject,  a  tree,  an archway, or even people, for example, can create a frame within the picture area. Subjects enclosed by a frame become separated from the rest of the picture and are emphasized. Looking across a broad expanse of land or water at some object can make a rather dull uninteresting view. Moving back a few feet and framing the object between  trees  improves  the  composition. An element used as a frame should not draw attention to itself. Ideally, the frame should relate to the theme of the picture; for example, a line of aircraft parked on the flight line framed by the wing and prop of another  aircraft. Not only is framing an effective means of directing the viewer's attention, it can also be used to obscure undesirable  foregrounds  and  backgrounds.  The  illusion of depth can be created in a picture by the effective use of  framing  (fig.  5-19). 5-20







Western Governors University

Privacy Statement
Press Release
Contact

© Copyright Integrated Publishing, Inc.. All Rights Reserved. Design by Strategico.