On Saturdays and Tuesdays, live photography streams broadcast on Olympus U.K.'s Facebook page. This week’s Tuesday video, a High Key photography tutorial, was presented by Gavin Hoey and is now available as a video.
Olympus U.K. regularly hosts tutorials on Facebook Live aimed at all photographers. There is a huge back catalog of videos on their Facebook page that is growing a big following not only from here in the U.K., but from around the world. These events have become especially popular over the last year. They have been running two Facebook Live events almost every week; bright moments in dark times.
The presentations do, of course, contain some specific Olympus information and Olympus cameras are used throughout, but they are worth watching, no matter which brand you use.
High Key Tutorial
In this video Gavin Hoey covers various techniques to improve high-key images, explaining why side lighting works well. Additionally, he demonstrates how the high key effect can be used in portraiture and still life. He also covers why predominantly white scenes appear gray unless you apply exposure compensation. The video rounds off by showing how to get a specific look by adjusting sharpness, saturation and contrast within the camera.
Gavin is a well-respected photographer, trainer, and YouTuber, as well as an Olympus Ambassador. His live videos are always fun, entertaining, and informative. Additionally, there is a good rapport with the live audience, via his wife Sam who is twiddling the knobs behind the scenes. As with all live presentations, things sometimes don't go as planned. Nevertheless, Gavin always manages to laugh at the hiccups and push on regardless of his well-planned delivery. This enjoyable approach is exactly what we need in these difficult times.
After the live presentations, the videos are available to watch on the Olympus UK Facebook page. But, it is worth scheduling the live events into your diary. They are usually 2 pm on Tuesdays, and 10.30 am Saturdays, U.K. time.
I use a high key technique a lot in seascapes, so it was interesting to see his approach that achieves a different look from the one I usually aim for, and in another genre of photography. Gavin points out there is no right or wrong way a high key image should look; I thoroughly agree that photographic all photographic results are subjective.
Gavin was shooting his images in his studio with his Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, using the Olympus m.Zuiko 12-40mm Pro lens and the 60mm f/2.8 Macro. He uses the Interfit Badger B l60W LED light.
