Low Key Photography & a brief history of the Dry Plate Process

Dry Plate Photography

The Dry Plate Process revolutionized photography and made it much more accessible to the masses.  All the way through the 20th Century, this was the primary method with which photographic and moving images were made.

For a brief history of the process, check out this page.

https://notquiteinfocus.com/2014/04/23/a-brief-history-of-photography-part-5-dry-plate-photography/

For a video that explains the process in more detail, check out this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqWyJstBSoo


Low Key Photography

Low-Key (or Chiaroscuro) photography is where you properly expose the subject, but you also have an entirely black or very dark background. This technique is often used in portraiture and product shots.

Here is a video that contrasts high-key and low-key photography.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TqdKnFA6IA

Low key lighting is often used in Film Noir, here is an excellent video that explains this lighting technique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsmVL7SDp5Y