Creating a Stark Black & White Effect

Every once in a while I like to experiment with high key black and white photos. A high key photo has most of the mid-tones removed, leaving only the darkest part.

There are basically three ways to do this:

• Overexpose the subject leaving little detail of the mid-tones.
• Use high contrast film eliminating or minimizing the mid-tones of the original.
• Use digital software to achieve a similar effect.

Here are a few examples using all three techniques.

 

Typically, a photo that is very bright and has almost no shadows is considered to be high key.

 

Some of these images were processed in the darkroom using high contrast film (they’re from the 1970s) and others were adjusted digitally to make them brighter and to remove the shadows.

 

I’m happy with the results.

 

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Beach Portraithigh key effect of an old scanned photograph using digital software

CandyWhile developing the film, the water got very cold and caused the "reticulation" pattern on the negative. It produced a very surprising and interesting result.

Dunes Portraitscanned transparency using digital software to produce high key effect

Four Part Compositedarkroom produced high key effect using high contrast film from 1970s

Jones Beach Candiddarkroom produced high key using high contrast film

Local Park Portraitscanned negative from 1960's using software to produce high key effect

On the Patiodigitally manipulated to achieve high contrast/high key effect 2022

Sleeping Bear Dunesscanned transparency from 1970s using digital software to produce high key effect

Snow Stormin-camera high key exposure on negative film

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