High-key lighting
is a style of lighting for film, television, or photography that aims
to reduce the contrast ratio present in the scene. This was originally
done partly for technological reasons, since early film and television
did not deal well with high contrast ratios, but now is used to create
an upbeat mood. It is often used in sitcoms and comedies. High-key lighting
is usually homogenous and free from dark shadows.
In the 50s and 60s, high-key
lighting was achieved through multiple light sources lighting the stage
- usually using three fixtures per person (left, right, and central) which
results in a uniform lighting pattern with very little modeling of the
face. Nowadays, the multiple (hot) light sources have been substituted
with much more efficient, fluorescent soft lights which provide a similar
effect.
The advantage to high-key lighting
is that it doesn't require adjustment for each scene which allows the
production to complete the shooting in hours instead of days. The primary
drawback is that high-key lighting fails to add meaning or drama by lighting
certain parts more prominently than others.
Most recently, shows with bigger
budgets moved away from high-key lighting by using lighting setups different
from the standard three-point lighting. Part of the reason for this is
the advent of new lighting fixtures which are easier to use and quicker
to set up. Another reason is the growing sophistication of the audience
for TV programs and the need to differentiate.
