Playing around with low-key studio

[daniel_r]

I know a couple of other members here are keen Strobist readers.

I've been following some of the articles and so forth and tried my hand at some simple studio style shots using nothing more than a D2H/50.14 + SC-29 cable and a SB800 and SB600 in a master slave config.

Click for a larger version

#1 - Sublime


#2 - Apples


#3 - Schweppervescence (strobist bootcamp #4 entry)


Comments appreciated

[Oz_Beachside]

I like #1 - Sublime.

The detail via "catchlights" the flash provides on the water droplets caught me.

Nice color matching, with a variety of textures in the skins of the fruits.

I also like the pure back / blackout. Highlighting the subjects in perfect isolation.

Thanks for sharing.
Oz

[christiand]

Hi Daniel,

I like the photos.
I very much like the simplicity of the objects in the first two photos.
I like how two limes are accompanying the apples in the first photo.
The colour match between the limes and the apples is great.
The low key is cool and the subject has nice colour and is crisp.
The third photo I also like.
There is action and connection between the lime slice that was dropped into the glass filled with Tonic Water and the bottle.
I'd probably would have removed the top from the bottle in the last photo.
Also thanks for the link:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/

Question: is the low key "just" under-exposure or is there more to that ?

Regards,
CD

[Pa]

hi daniel i like the lighting in the first 2 shots . i think the third photo is a little bit to busy but well lit.
cheers pa

[jethro]

all great images especially No 1
jethro

[blacknstormy]

Daniel - lovely !!!!!
I had a play with this a while ago, and it is certainly addictive ! The selection of fruit, and 'framing' has been done superbly, #1 heaven, but I adore #2 - the play of the red and green is just beautiful

Well done

Christian - the definition of low key:
Low key pictures concentrate on the darker tones, often conveying an atmosphere of tension or a powerful deep strength. This has sometimes been use for male portraits, though more often a fuller tonal range with hard lighting is used.

Although low key often uses high contrast lighting, most of the subject is likely to be in shadow, with relatively small areas brightly lit. (edit - ripped off the web, but describes it perfectly)

......
so not underexposed, rather, perfectly exposed

[christiand]

Thank you blacknstormy,

Thank you for the explanation of low key - I have learned something

Cheers,
CD

[stubbsy]

Daniel

These are very good so I'm going to be very picky

#1 - is great, but I'd have liked either both apples with stalks or both without

#2 - stalks again, but more distracting because only 1 is missing.

#3 as already said would be better with the bottle cap removed (maybe with it placed upside down next to the bottle.

I'm impressed with the detail in all of these and really think the low key works exceptionally well. I'd rank these in order as #3 best, #1, #2

[marcotrov]

Very impressive images. Exposure is spot on. A little tidy up with the last. A few less water droplets and as Peter said cap off or exploding off with effervescence
cheers
marco

[sirhc55]

#2 is excellent with fade to black

[avkomp]

I like these a lot.
exposure is spot on in the first 2 which are my favourites.

Didnt really notice the missing stalk on one apple til stubbsy showed me.
now, i cant help but see them.

well done.
Steve