Landscape Photography | A complete guide to High Key Processing

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THE VIDEO:
I was asked to make a video on how to process high key images, and I have done so! :-) I also show how to make even a dark and gloomy image into high key with an exciting and quick method in Lightroom.
Also this week, on our other channel THE ZEN HAGGIS, I discuss the concept of not just thinking outside the box, but dissolving the box all together.
The Zen Haggis Channel: shorturl.at/zNS45
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[@kevodonnell4765]

Hi. I have just watched this video, and you Have totally gob-smacked me with your tips to High Key processing. I am fairly new to Light room, all of what I generally do is alter tones on my photo's. I am going to try High Key processing on a photo. I will lookout more of your videos in future. Cheers Kev O'Donnell

[@Alister_Benn]

Brilliant, always delighted to hear when my work has such impact

[@friendfortheartists]

Inspiring and refreshing. I wanted to immediately jump into Lightroom after watching just for 5 minutes. 👌👍

[@Alister_Benn]

Brilliant, delighted to hear that

[@paulpodgarden9255]

I have not thought in this way before about high key photography

[@Alister_Benn]

Awesome, thanks so much

[@furbs9999]

Alister, you have no idea what effect you and this channel has had on me personally and my photography. I can not thank you enough.

[@Alister_Benn]

A huge thank you for that - I am pleased to be making a difference.

[@furbs9999]

@@Alister_Benn Edit- *what effect

[@jrodewald2010]

Thanks for doing this one, Alister! This really was excellent. I have been staring at a few images from Costa Rica for several years now not sure in my mind what I really wanted to do with them. This actually opened up a bunch of new ideas for those. Thanks so much, such a great discussion of expressive opportunities with some images.

[@robertappleyard2776]

Another really interesting Tutorial ( GREAT).

[@Alister_Benn]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@claudehamel9228]

Excellent!

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks very much

[@jefftrapp5407]

this was fun!! that second image is really nice! Thanks Alister.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks mate , fun is always good 🥰

[@vivianalyon3791]

Love the second one. Reminds me of a Roger Dean painting.

[@mitymous1]

Interesting for technique and creativity - good stuff, as always!

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for that, I always appreciate your comments.

[@kapurar]

Alister, one of the best videos I have seen on editing photos. Thank you! I learned a lot from you.

[@Alister_Benn]

Wow, thanks!

[@kevinsink3799]

Wow. Stunning images & transformations! They convey such emotional content. Really fun, helpful & inspirational to watch. Thanks Alister!!! Now I want to dive back into a whole bunch of images in LR over the winter.

[@Alister_Benn]

That's great to hear. I'm really happy to motivate this type of action...

[@p1pepper]

Always educational , always interesting . I learn more from your videos than anyone else's with regard to philosophy , technique and processing . Could ( and have ) watched for a couple hours !

[@Alister_Benn]

So nice of you - thank you so very much.

[@kencarlson542]

Very nice post Alister! High key is not something that I have consistently kept in the back of my mind and your examples have pushed them further than I would normally have. Listening to ideas and thoughts of people who I respect, opens my eyes a little more each time. Thanks!

[@Alister_Benn]

Excellent Ken, I’m pleased it was useful

[@paton156]

Thank you for sharing this. I thought that the 4th image looked better when flipped! We all see the world slightly differently.

[@juliehillin1875]

Fascinating! I especially liked your explanation for making and creating mood and emotion during post processing. Can't wait to apply some of your high key knowledge to the processing of some aerials I took recently inspired by your Gobe Desert image. Thanks

[@RiccardoPareschi]

Great video, awesome photos, all well explicated. High Key (as Low Key) are fantastic way to express own art. Thanks !

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks. Yes, there is a very obvious emotional feeling with each of those extremes

[@BrianNorthmorePhotography]

Really enjoyed that Alister. So pleased I found your channel. I follow a lot of photographers on KZbin as I enjoy there content. But I think I’m going to get a lot of creative mileage and things think about from yours that will help with my own photography.

[@Alister_Benn]

Awesome, thank you! delighted to hear that.

[@richardbryant808]

A good video. I found the context helpful. And have never thought about flipping an image. Cheers

[@Alister_Benn]

Glad it was helpful! Happy to hear that, and thanks for the comment.

[@josefernandezgarcia9146]

I totally agree with you amigo

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks man - love to you and the family

[@alanwallace3205]

I found this video by chance when looking for high key photography. Excellent presentation without the frenzied hype of many videos. It was interesting that the concepts of feel, mood, etc. were very prevalent in the presentation. I think we photographers often forget to consider what we are trying communicate to the viewer.

[@Hirsutechin]

Interesting! I really like the second image, the feel of light and the weather. You're really pushing the "try different approaches" and it's an exciting change to how I'm approaching my own processing. Cheers, Alister!

[@Alister_Benn]

Great, happy to hear that mate

[@lindapowell6718]

Alister, thank you for taking my suggestion and making this informative video about high key processing. I watched it just now while traveling and can’t wait to get home to find some images to experiment with. The inverted version really caught my attention because I loved the tree version you made while you and Adam Gibbs were processing member images and wondered how you accomplished the inversion.You have made a big difference in my outlook on my work and in my processing skills. Please continue to share your knowledge with the many aspiring artists in the photography realm.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thank you too Linda, I really appreciate this.

[@kevinheywood156]

I'm so glad to have found this tutorial. I'm experimenting more with high key now and wasn't sure how on track or not I've been so far. As it turns out I'm not far off and found I can actually push a bit further. I really liked the 2nd image with the winter scenes and the ghostly figure in the gobi was spooky (I think I may have flipped it 90 deg and hung in on Halloween 😀.. Anyway tnx again and well worth a follow 👍🏻

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I LOVE that photo inversion! I took an image yesterday that this might be perfect for. If it works I'll definitely thank you!

[@Alister_Benn]

Great - creativity has no borders.

[@williamneill8839]

Well done, my friend! Got me psyched to do more of these!!

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks mate... Yeah, I've been loving your posts these days.

[@williamneill8839]

@@Alister_Benn Thank you. Working on more!

[@rickardandersson5114]

Great editing! Found your channel a while ago and I really like it.

[@Alister_Benn]

Awesome, thank you!

[@dianevose9655]

Oh this was an excellent video Alistair, really stirring up lots of creative ideas! Definitely going to try high key editing on some fog/misty images and snowy scenes 🤩📷

[@Alister_Benn]

Excellent, very happy to hear that.

[@robertd.skonbladandersson269]

Very inspiring, I had to pause the video several times just to try to find some foggy shots to try this on...!

[@Alister_Benn]

Go for it!

[@alanclark9691]

A very interesting look into something that is out of my normal comfort range - something I've often wondered about without really knowing how to go about achieving the desired result. My 'normal' modus operandi tends to be quite high contrast & saturation, but I really welcome an insight into something very different that I'm now keen to explore further. Thanks Allister.

[@Alister_Benn]

That's great to hear Alan - enjoy that exploration, it's what makes life so fun...

[@blivieriphoto]

That was interesting how you changed the woodland scene into a high key image. I never would have thought to do something like that, nor how to even get there. Stick with this photography gig, I think you've got a knack for it! 😂

[@Alister_Benn]

LOL, thanks for that - I'll stick with it, in between the Zen Haggis content.

[@benbowland]

I loved the first three photos (especially the first one)... And then I damn near wanted to punch my screen as you totally destroyed that gorgeous cool, dark, moody forest shot. Great demonstration of personal preference haha

[@Alister_Benn]

😂 lol, it was more for demonstrative purposes than personal preference 😂 alisterbenn.com/portfolio-items/music-from-dark-spaces/?portfolioCats=90

[@joelwolski]

I find your assessment of the first image when you flipped it as being under "less tension" curious, because I had the exact opposite reaction. Maybe it's just the abrupt change that threw me, but looking at various photos of mine I have hanging in my office I find that I like the distant thing to be on the right. Whether it's negative space or the subject of the image, I feel like I prefer an image to lead me from the bottom left to the top right. Now you've got me wanting to try flipping some photos that just seem off to see if it removes that subconscious tension I'm feeling. Always a rewarding pleasure joining you on these little creative adventures. [EDIT] Well son-of-a-gun, I think that just fixed one of my favorite photos. Who'd-a-thunk? The only issue I have now is that I know where it was taken and that is totally the wrong direction. I'll hang both on the wall and see how my brain adjusts.

[@Alister_Benn]

LOL, everything changes :-) I only tend to do this with pretty anonymous scenes!

[@esanford]

Nice & Challenging....

[@Alister_Benn]

Cool. happy to hear that

[@howardallen5390]

Thanks, Alister. I think this technique will work well on a foggy image I took recently so it’s a timely reminder for me that not all images have to be dark and moody. Despite what you say, I suspect that wearing that kilt of yours has prompted you to think about high-key images.

[@Alister_Benn]

LOL, yes, I have a tendency to dark and moody, but I do love high key also

[@Alister_Benn]

Not sure if the connection between kilt wearing and high key! 🤪

[@gruagach1]

Flipping the image feels right because in the west we read from left to right so the information we see feels natural to the eye. Also we then have a visual stop on the right which brings the eye back into the image.

[@Alister_Benn]

It's a powerful tool

[@user-wh4wm3mw7l]

6:26 interesting point. Why is that? Maybe because we read from left to right? Is this also the way we "read" photos?

[@andrewsimpson5436]

I aint afraid of no Ghosts! but dissolving the box! That's another story! Good explanation and illustration on high key processing, now do I process something I'm thinking off or go Zen???

[@Alister_Benn]

Tough call! 😂😂😂

[@ianwm54]

Loved the video and other content I have watched on your channel recently. Coincidentally I have also just finished reading Luminosity and Contrast. I notice in the book you use Lightroom, Nik and Photoshop, whereas on your recent videos it is only Lightroom. Just wondering whether you consider Lightroom to be powerful enough for most black and white processing.

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks Ian. In the end of the day, they are all just tools. If you know what you're doing you can do most of it in Lightroom I'd say. There are a few specifics that I do in PS with TK's luminosity Masks and of course that is shining the finished product.

[@ianwm54]

@@Alister_Benn Thank you for replying! I appreciate your time. I have been using SilverEfex with just a few tweaks in Lightroom for the last couple of years. Your recent videos have opened my eyes up to what can be done in Lr. Thank you for that as it has also caused me to be more reflective of what I am trying to achieve and the best tool to use for that. Best wishes (and look after your voice!).

[@aengus1948]

I hope that you might consider sharing how you would treat high key images in print, are there concepts in printing that may enhance this effect or possibly detract ? High key images seem to be made for screen viewing at least the ones you created. At any rate they are just great !

[@Alister_Benn]

Good, that'd be a fun video to make. I love printing high key, and I assure you, they can look stunning.

[@aengus1948]

@@Alister_Benn tx to you i took a photo that i thought was rubbish (dunes in Death Valley from several yrs ago) reworked it in high key and printed it. I absolutely love it !! I have to say that i never would have thought outside the box to try this :)

[@Alister_Benn]

@@aengus1948 That's awesome. So pleased to read that.

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

Question: if you're pushing up highlights and it starts clipping in an area that already looked white anyway, is that really an issue? Allowing those bits of sky to clip can allow other bits to be pushed up further.

[@Alister_Benn]

Yes for sure, this can be neat when printing too, allowing ink to dissolve into paper, especially textured like Hahnemuhle German Etching or similar

[@francoisbouchart4050]

Interesting that you are using the sliders rather than making adjustments to the tone curve. The tone curve should give you more control, no?

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks for the comment. As you know there are any number of ways to achieve the same thing in Lightroom/Photoshop/ACR etc. The sliders in the basic panel work just fine, but I do use the curve as well. I just tend to mix it up so I don't do the same thing all the time. That's the danger.

[@IanWilkinson]

Really interesting and inspiring stuff - must give it a try, even though I tend to favour high detail, rather than high key. [By the way, the shorturl for Zen Haggis in your video description hasn't been converted into a clickable link by KZbin parsing. Perhaps you need to include the "" prefix in order to provoke it into action.]

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks, I'll fix the URL