{"id":60321,"date":"2015-07-30T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=60321"},"modified":"2015-07-30T09:04:33","modified_gmt":"2015-07-30T14:04:33","slug":"high-key-lighting-used-modern-films","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/high-key-lighting-used-modern-films\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use High-Key Lighting Without Looking Like a TV Movie"},"content":{"rendered":"

High-key lighting\u00a0is for more than just reality TV. Let’s take a look at a few cinematic examples and examine a couple\u00a0ways to get the shadow-free look.<\/h2>\n

What is High-Key Lighting?<\/h3>\n

High-key lighting<\/strong> (unlike low-key lighting<\/a>)\u00a0is a lighting technique in which shadows are minimized. High-key lighting<\/strong> has its roots in the era of classic cinema, when a set would simply be doused with light in the same manner in which a theatre stage is lit. In modern days, you will typically see high-key lighting<\/strong>\u00a0more in sitcoms and comedies than dramatic action thrillers.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

There’s no defined point at which low-key lighting becomes high-key lighting<\/strong>, it’s more of a general rule of thumb. For example, if you’re shooting outside in the shade, you’re probably going to have a more even distribution between light and dark areas on your subject. It would be safe to say that this would be considered high-key lighting.<\/strong> However, different lighting directors might have different opinions about what’s high-key<\/strong> and what isn’t.<\/p>\n

In short, high-key lighting is a cinematic effort to reduce shadows in your scene.<\/strong> In general, high-key lighting<\/strong> gives audiences the perception of lightheartedness and a lack of drama.<\/p>\n

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Notable High-Key Lighting Examples<\/h3>\n

None of this is meant to suggest that\u00a0high-key lighting<\/strong> doesn’t have a place in modern professional cinema. There are plenty of great examples of effective high-key lighting<\/strong> in modern films. Just take a look at a few of the following examples:<\/p>\n

Avengers<\/h3>\n

In this example from the first (and better) Avengers<\/a><\/em> movie, we can see\u00a0high-key lighting<\/strong> in action. In fact, it’s interesting to see how the lighting in the scene changes as the conflict escalates. At first everyone is evenly lit except for Nick Fury, but as the scene progresses we begin to see a shift to a more low-key\u00a0<\/strong>light setup.<\/p>\n