Intentionally overexposing a photograph can create a fascinating image that tells a beautiful story. High key photography can be achieved by adjusting your camera settings or by using your photoshop high key feature ,though high-key is actually best obtained in-camera, rather than done in post-processing,the results are more convincing and tones more natural.

Everything you need to know about High-key photography is actually in the name. It means that the image’s key tone is high,key tones are usually the mid-tones, so by placing them high, meaning high on the exposure scale, we are making them lighter/brighter. This has two crucial side-effects..if mid-tones are bright, then the high-tones – those which are usually nearly white – will be even whiter. Well, tones can’t be whiter than white in digital photography so these super-white tones are clipped down to keep them to white. At the other extreme, areas that normally register with dark tones are dragged up the brightness scale so that they become much brighter. The key to high-key photography is actually in the control of these dark tones.

To achieve this you will need to take care with exposure for best results,experiment to match your taste,you’ll need to over-expose by at least one stop, more like two and even three stops: exposure control is the key, so give yourself lots to choose when shooting your subject. start with; +1, +2 and +3 stops. This way, you don’t need to open the image in image manipulation software and struggle with Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation or what not,just shoot and enjoy.

Over the last few weeks with the beautiful sunny weather the country has been bathed in I have used the bright,contrasty conditions to my advantage in creating some different Barn Owl images at a site I have covered in many previous posts,where the pair are doing find,and I am just loving watching,capturing these beautiful birds.With the light during the day bleaching the ‘Colours’ out of the image,its a good way of using what light you have to still create an image,with an artistic streak to it.

The beauty of Hi-Key is you can experiment as much or as little as you wish,creating a really different,arty look,while also working in difficult lighting,which for Wildlife photography is about an hour after sunrise and throughout the day.With direct sunshine ‘Drainning’ the colour from the subject you wish to photograph.Following the simply tips I have given you above,will enable you to capture really good Hi-Key images,good luck and should you wish to email me with any questions you have then please feel free by clicking Here.

Before I go big thanks to the small group that joined my last week on the beautiful Farne Islands,where I am at present running small ‘OneDay’ workshops on these beautiful islands.Where I show you the best places I have found to photograph the abundant birdlife these two island offer during our summer months,all in a friendly, relaxed environment. As a group they where all able to put this ‘Hi-Key’ approach into full swing due to the times you are on these islands during the day, normally about 1-2 hours on Inner Farne then the same time on Staple island,with the direct sunshine it’s hard to capture something without this ‘Bleaching’ effect I have mentioned,but perfect for Hi-Key images.I have a few dates between now and the end of July so drop me aline if you are interested.

Below is an image I captured of a Puffin who’d landed just to my front with a beak full of sandells,the rocks where covered in this ‘Sunburst Lichen’ which has given this image its amazing colours,proving once again my’ Ethos’ when it comes to ‘Wildlife Photography’ and that is’ There’s always a image to be had.’ never put the camera down,go with your instinct when you like something and just capture that moment!.