Camera Set Ups (Low Key/ Mood Lighting)

Low Key images are ones where the dark tones dominate the photograph. Small bright highlights punctuate the darkness creating the characteristics of mood/ low key images. The position of light for a low key image is behind the subject or off to one side, so a deep shadow is created." (Child J & Galer M, 1999, p96)


Backlighting is where a subject is back lighted from a dominant source of light from behind the subject. To take a reflected reading of the subject the camera would give an incorrect exposure. A reflected reading of the subject only or an incident reading from the subject to the camera would give correct exposure. The dominance of the backlight can therefore be controlled by exposure compensation. (Child J & Galer M, 1999, p95)

To set up low key you...

• Set camera to manual mode
• Shutter speed of 1/160
• ISO 100
• Set aperture to low
• Soft box on light
• Use light from the side, back or underneath the model.

Child J and Galer M (1999). Essential Skills Photographic Lighting. Oxford: Focal Press. p2 - 135.