High-key photography, what is this? A basic explanation of a high-key image is an image in which the lighting ratio is reduced, or more simply put, an image in which bright lighting is used to reduce dark shadows. This can either be done while taking the actual photograph by purposefully overexposing the image, or enhanced through post-processing. Apart from being a sought-after effect, purposefully overexposing, and therefore shooting in high-key is sometimes the most effective method to take photos because of the factors placed in front of the lens. I’ll start out by using two examples to best explain what I am trying to describe.
Shooting in high-key:
![Plaque Rock Female Lying In Marula (7) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/11144422/Plaque-Rock-Female-lying-in-marula-7-RCB-scaled.jpg)
The Plaque Rock Female lying in the limbs of a marula tree.
A pretty young playful female found along the river to the east of camp
By setting my exposure compensation to +1, the background of the photograph is blown out. This also eliminates the dark shadows of the leopard and tree in the foreground that would otherwise be very dark as the camera is picking up light from the whole scene, and not just the subject.
Achieving a high-key image through post-processing:
Before:
![Kangela Male Leopard Ascending Marula (8) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/14142145/Kangela-male-leopard-ascending-marula-8-RCB-1-1065x1598.jpg)
The Kangela Male ascending a marula tree- unedited!
A supremely relaxed male leopard, roaming a nomadic journey for the time being.
In the above scenario, I couldn’t afford to purposefully overexpose and therefore shoot in high key. That would have resulted in my shutter speed being too slow to capture a sharp image of the leopard ascending the tree (and therefore the subject being blurry given the low light conditions). The dark shadows however render the leopard and tree’s detail unappreciated so post-processing was necessary to achieve the desired effect.
After:
The Kangela Male ascending a marula tree- edited
I could very easily have kept the photograph in colour, however, a monochrome high-key edit is often more appealing to the viewer (that’s the case for me at least…). By significantly increasing the shadows of the leopard and the tree, one can appreciate their texture and beauty. I also lifted the exposure of the sky to get a white background and the result is a black and white high key image.
My favourite high-key images:
During the Summer months at Londolozi, overcast conditions often prevail, especially during the morning game drives. These conditions are well suited for shooting in high-key and my camera’s memory card is littered with subjects (mostly leopards and birds) that have bright backgrounds. In this photographic blog post, I’d like to share with you some of my favourite High-key images that I have taken both recently and over the last year or so. I hope you like what you see!
Birds:
Whether birds are flying or perched in a tree (or simply very tall in the case of ostriches!), they will often have bright skies behind them making shooting in high key or lifting shadows to reduce the lighting ratio applicable.
![Male Ostrich Portrait B&w [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/11144533/Male-Ostrich-Portrait-BW-RCB-scaled.jpg)
While driving through the open grasslands of southwestern Londolozi, we came across a family of ostriches that allowed us to get close enough to snap this highly detailed high-key shot.
A Yellow-billed Kite overhead was making the most of a termite emergence, as were the swallows that are out of focus in the background
![White Backed Vulture High Key [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/22093052/White-backed-vulture-high-key-RCB-scaled.jpg)
Vultures tend to use dead trees, or trees with no foliage to roost in. With their large wing spans the foliage and branches would make landing and taking off more tricky, so photographic opportunities in trees like this almost always ensure that the background is open and bright allowing for a high-key edit.
![Bateleur Perched In Dead Leadwood [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/22094812/Bateleur-Perched-in-Dead-Leadwood-RCB-scaled.jpg)
An adult male bateleur perched in the high reaches of a dead leadwood tree
Leopards:
Known for climbing trees or perching on termite mounds for a better vantage point, shooting leopards in high-key can be very effective.
![Mawelawela Male Lying In Marula Tree [rcb] (2)](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/14141432/Mawelawela-Male-Lying-in-Marula-Tree-RCB-2-scaled.jpg)
The Mawelawela Male rests in an open marula tree, this sighting was already unusual as this male is normally unrelaxed and would usually have descended the tree and hidden in the grass. On this occasion he didn’t and allowed me to take this image in the fading light.
Began as a fairly unrelaxed leopard in the southwestern parts of the reserve. Now providing great viewing in the open grasslands
![Mawelawela Male Lying In Marula Tree [rcb] (5)](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/14141406/Mawelawela-Male-Lying-in-Marula-Tree-RCB-5-scaled.jpg)
From a different angle, I then took another photo with the same light but have now edited it into a high-key black-and-white image.
![Mawelawela Male Lying In Marula Tree [rcb] (6)](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/14141332/Mawelawela-Male-Lying-in-Marula-Tree-RCB-6-scaled.jpg)
Just highlighting the diversity of high-key images here is another one from the same scene where the leopard is in colour but with a blown-out background.
![Ngungwe Female Leopard In Dead Knobthorn Tree [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/22094736/Ngungwe-Female-Leopard-in-Dead-Knobthorn-Tree-RCB-scaled.jpg)
The Ngungwe Female perches regally in a dead knobthorn tree and looks back towards a nearby herd of impalas
![Ngungwe Female Leopard In Dead Knobthorn Tree (5) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/22094717/Ngungwe-Female-Leopard-in-Dead-Knobthorn-Tree-5-RCB-scaled.jpg)
Once content with what was going on around her, the Ngungwe Female descends the dead tree to rest in the shade nearby.
Young inquisitive beautiful female, bordering on independence as of November 2021
Young inquisitive beautiful female, bordering on independence as of November 2021
A dominant male leopard over the majority of the north. He originally took over the 4:4 Male's territory when he died.
A couple of others for good measure:
![Zebras At Eye Level B&w [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/23171458/Zebras-at-eye-level-BW-RCB-scaled.jpg)
Zebras being black and white often make for great subjects in a monochrome image as the contrast is accentuated.
![Klipspringer On Boulder [rcb] (2)](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/14141242/Klipspringer-on-Boulder-RCB-2-scaled.jpg)
Klipspringers will almost always be perched above eye-level on a boulder with a clear background making shotting in high-key an easy task
I love your photos, Robbie. High-key is certainly a fascinating way of taking or editing photos.
Can we get a story on the talsasa lioness please?
Personally, I love the shots of raptors in bare trees against the blown-out backdrop the most.
Well done and some useful tips. The ostrich is the absolute best 0 the detail is fantastic!
Hi Robert, such magnificent pictures in this blog, birds are beautiful and zebra and klipspringer are lovely, but leopards always get me in awe with their majestic and perfect beauty. They are so unique and special. I read the family tree of the Kangela male, it’s fantastic that all cubs survived, what a story his family had. The other males are so impressive and the female exquisite. Fingers crossed for their cubs!
Amazing shots Robert! I tend to appreciate full color in most cases (especially with leopards) but the edited shot of the Kangela Male ascending is stunning! Also the shot of the bateleur in the tree with his colors really popping on the white background is so cool! I aspire to learn more and get better at photography!
Hi Robbie, your monochrome foto’s are absolutely fantastic. I am still learning photography and you have given me a good idea to try using the monochrome tactic. I see your foto ‘s the shutter and Iso are high so I am checking my settings as well according to the light available. I’m battering with dusk fotos and that’s when the impala’s come and eat right in front of our house, then I don’t know if I must make the shutter higher and Iso lower or Visa versa. Your foto of the Kangela male leopard is my favorite and it stands out with the back ground being white. Did you Rangers have trying in photography and Light Room processing.
Very cool and super informative post Robert! I loved the before and after examples, but of your favorites, the birds seem to benefit to such an extent that I have to choose those images. But only under protest!!
As a fan of high key photography, thanks for sharing your post processing techniques as well as some examples of your work. When others complain of lack of sun, I am thrilled for the gray/whitish skies. I really like your b/w images but appreciate the few with color as well. My favorite is the ostrich portrait – just classic!
Robert, interesting and educational photography suggestions. Thanks for sharing your insights and pictures. The shots are beautiful.
Thank you for explaining the mechanism behind it. I have been wondering about the specifics involved, and appreciated both explanations for how to achieve this look. The detail on the ostrich is incredible!