Weekly Challenge Weekly Challenge #560 - Low key

Weekly Challenge #560 - Low key · **1 Like**

Again thanks to Bruse Clark for the last challenge and the nomination.
I`m sorry that the winner can`t host the new challange. His picture really deserves that honor.

Well This week I have decided on a theme of Low key. I really admire the results from this technique although my own experience with it is not so successful.
So I`ll be glad to see your experience and interpretation here. Hope you enjoy the challange

Rules
1. Post ONE photo (max 1024x1024).
2. The photo must portray an interpretation of the theme.
3. Post your single picture in this thread and explain what motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly theme (especially if it's not obvious).
4. The challenge is interactive. Any response is welcome.
5. The judge will pick the WINNERS and choose one of them to be the judge for the next week.
6. This challenge runs for 7 days plus an additional day for the judge to choose the winners.
7. Any Pentax camera can be used.
8. Pictures can be from any time frame, not just within the week of the current theme.
9. In case the winner of a challenge is unable to become the judge for the next challenge, they will PM the #2 winner for that person to be the judge.

Read more at: Weekly Challenge #559 - Water in motion - PentaxForums.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-key_photography

A few examples chosen randomly from Flickr here:

And one from me

_YAK0341

**RGlasel** · 11-12-2021, 06:28 PM - **1 Like**

Low key aftermath of an uptempo Christmas celebration?

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

**Hattifnatt** · 11-13-2021, 06:17 AM - **3 Likes**

Embrace in the rain, after a concert.

CedrusMacro · 11-14-2021, 10:14 AM - **3 Likes**

Some low key ceramics.

**pacerr** · 11-14-2021, 04:38 PM - **1 Like**

It would be . . . interesting? . . . instructive? . . . to see the histograms of these images.

CedrusMacro · 11-15-2021, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by pacerr

It would be . . . interesting? . . . instructive? . . . to see the histograms of these images.

Stacked heavily to the left pacerr! I'll be happy to share later.

Edit to save space, here's the histogram image from RawTherapee.

**Yaki** · 11-17-2021, 02:56 AM - **1 Like**

This Challenge will be hard to judge. Thanks to all.
You still have one day to make it even harder

**Yaki** · 11-19-2021, 09:10 AM

The Challenge is now officially closed.
now I`ll need some time to return the feedback and choose the winner.

**Vaskebjorn** · 11-19-2021, 01:37 PM - **1 Like**

Good luck with judging, won’t be easy I think.

Originally posted by Yaki

The Challenge is now officially closed.
now I`ll need some time to return the feedback and choose the winner.

**pacerr** · 11-20-2021, 02:33 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pacerr

. . . interesting? . . . instructive? . . . the histograms of these images.

Low Key seems to be a rather subjective opinion not confined to a definitive histogram. Here's two images I consider atypical for that label . . . but apparently considered acceptable for this task.

---------

As a side bar, the first two shots were taken in 1999 at the Wings Over the Rockies museum in Denver, CO. The third (not mine) is the same acft on the cover of the Aug, 21 EAA Sport Aviation magazine. An unexpected documentary surprise for a fine restoration?

**pacerr** · 11-20-2021, 04:04 PM - **1 Like**

A further comparison between as-shot and as PP-ed for Low Key. Could have been accomplished with in-camera control if I'd known I wanted to that -- 20 years ago!

My personal goal for low key effects is to have minimal data in the right third of the image; and most certainly no white clipping! There's a difference between contrast and key

Will in Seattle · 11-21-2021, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by pacerr

There's a difference between contrast and key

For those of us just getting familiar with the terminology, how would you define the difference? I see contrast as the difference between light/dark, but I thought "key" was more of a lighting technique (i.e. whether the subject is fully illuminated or in shadow). I could easily be wrong, but I would have described your two images as equally "low-key" with the second one having less contrast.

**pacerr** · 11-21-2021, 09:55 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Will in Seattle

. . . how would you define the difference?

I've been searching for a definitive answer to that questionfor over half a century.

Best I can offer is highly subjective: What's my 'emotional' response to the image? To me, the two compared images suggest entirely different 'stories'. Time of day? Ready to rumble vs. end of day?

Can you imagine a sunny, high contrast snowy scene as being described as low key.

The empirical histogram doesn't necessarily provide the answer as shown by contrast in CedrusMacro's histogram which I'd offer as a more typical description of low key. #20

Kinda like trying to categorically define 'bokeh'.

**Yaki** · 11-22-2021, 04:23 AM

I am glad the theme leaded to a discussion. It is so exciting.

Yaki
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11-15-2021, 12:36 AM	#20
CedrusMacro Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 513	Originally posted by pacerr It would be . . . interesting? . . . instructive? . . . to see the histograms of these images. Stacked heavily to the left pacerr! I'll be happy to share later. Edit to save space, here's the histogram image from RawTherapee. Attached Images Last edited by CedrusMacro; 11-15-2021 at 02:26 PM.

11-20-2021, 02:33 PM - 1 Like	#24
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,350	Originally posted by pacerr . . . interesting? . . . instructive? . . . the histograms of these images. Low Key seems to be a rather subjective opinion not confined to a definitive histogram. Here's two images I consider atypical for that label . . . but apparently considered acceptable for this task. --------- As a side bar, the first two shots were taken in 1999 at the Wings Over the Rockies museum in Denver, CO. The third (not mine) is the same acft on the cover of the Aug, 21 EAA Sport Aviation magazine. An unexpected documentary surprise for a fine restoration? Attached Images Last edited by pacerr; 11-20-2021 at 03:47 PM.

11-20-2021, 04:04 PM - 1 Like	#25
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,350	A further comparison between as-shot and as PP-ed for Low Key. Could have been accomplished with in-camera control if I'd known I wanted to that -- 20 years ago! My personal goal for low key effects is to have minimal data in the right third of the image; and most certainly no white clipping! There's a difference between contrast and key Attached Images Last edited by pacerr; 11-20-2021 at 07:13 PM.

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Will in Seattle Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 55	Originally posted by pacerr There's a difference between contrast and key For those of us just getting familiar with the terminology, how would you define the difference? I see contrast as the difference between light/dark, but I thought "key" was more of a lighting technique (i.e. whether the subject is fully illuminated or in shadow). I could easily be wrong, but I would have described your two images as equally "low-key" with the second one having less contrast.

11-21-2021, 09:55 PM - 1 Like	#27
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,350	Originally posted by Will in Seattle . . . how would you define the difference? I've been searching for a definitive answer to that questionfor over half a century. Best I can offer is highly subjective: What's my 'emotional' response to the image? To me, the two compared images suggest entirely different 'stories'. Time of day? Ready to rumble vs. end of day? Can you imagine a sunny, high contrast snowy scene as being described as low key. The empirical histogram doesn't necessarily provide the answer as shown by contrast in CedrusMacro's histogram which I'd offer as a more typical description of low key. #20 Kinda like trying to categorically define 'bokeh'.

11-22-2021, 04:23 AM	#28
Yaki Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Sofia Posts: 952 Original Poster	I am glad the theme leaded to a discussion. It is so exciting.