First attempt at key shifting.

Don't know why but I have never tried to key shift. But I saw a video on a blog last night that got me thinking. So today while making lunch, I set up the light and gave it a try. I should have kept the reference shot but it got deleted.

Taken in full, bright sun, with one strobe...You can see the shadows from the sun on the deck.

What's key shifting? Is that what you are calling overpowering the sun?

Key shifting is overpowering any ambient light. Does not have to be the sun. The video I mentioned they key shifted from the Mercury vapor lights in a Track/field training facility to the strobes they set up. They key light is the brightest light in a situation. Your strobe or otherwise. When you key shift (as you stated) you over power it. This can be done in any degree. You can shift the sun to be your fill light. Or as in the video I saw, they pushed the MV light all the way to insignificant.

This is a image that got me thinking.
http://2.bp.blogspot.c​om …Qj3k0/s1600-h/track-3.jpg

Typically, 'key' refers to predominant levels of brightness affecting the full scene...background and subject both. High key (mid tones to highlights primarily) vs. low key (dark tones to mid tones primarily).

I can understand that one is 'shifting' the background from normal to 'low key' in altering balance between subject and background. But I can't say that I have heard the term 'key shifting' within the context of photography.

To give people a better idea of what you're talking about and the basic principle, take a look at this video from studiolighting.net

http://media.revver.co​m/broadcast/332921/vid​eo.mov

Wilt wrote in post #6447762
But I can't say that I have heard the term 'key shifting' within the context of photography.

Thats funny. Photography is the only place I have heard of that uses the term.

Mark1 wrote in post #6447907
Thats funny. Photography is the only place I have heard of that uses the term.

I have only heard the term used in music.

doidinho wrote in post #6447919
I have only heard the term used in music.

Me too!

'key shifting' appears to be a term which has been creeping into the vernacular for a while (found a web reference in 2001) and even into official curricula offered by some photo schools (e.g. Langara College photography certificate program), for studio and flash work. I've been employing the technique for over a decade, I just hadn't heard to the technique referred to a 'key shift'...I thought I was merely 'balancing background lighting vs subject lighting' so as to direct the viewer's attention to the subject ! Most inquiries about this term in photography are from the past year, however.

Wilt wrote in post #6448003
'key shifting' appears to be a term which has been creeping into the vernacular for a while (found references back in 2001) and even into official curricula offered by some photo schools, for studio and flash work. I've been employing the technique for over a decade, I just hadn't heard to the technique referred to a 'key shift'...I thought I was merely 'balancing background lighting vs subject lighting' !

That's what I thought too Wilt. I've been doing it to balance flash to ambient and subject area to background but hadn't heard the term until recently and remembered that Mark Wallace used it in the video I linked to.

I have been useing the term since the mid '80's when I started in studio work. Its not really ballencing withthe flash, but I see what you mean, as you are over powering not really ballencing. I have been ballencing light for ever, But never took the time to try to over ower the sun.

Balancing is a relative term and not intended to mean that you're looking for equal exposures. The balance could be leaning one way or the other. I don't think it matters what we call it as long as we all know how to accomplish and execute it correctly.

I agree. It just seems funny to me as it is a term I have known forever, but to others its new. Even if they have been doing it under a different name. I guess it is situations like this where there is regional slang that nobody else understands.

I've never heard of owerpowering ambient referred to as key shifting.

I was just looking through a photography book today and the author referred to "key shifting", basically as described.