Project 52 - Week 11: High Key

My original thought process was leading me to using studio lights and set ups to achieve a high key image for this week.  But then SNOWMAGGEDON hit Northeastern Pennsylvania, and 28" of white stuff filled my world--some of the best high key quality material one can find!

High key images don't necessarily require a white background, but it does help if you are looking for brightness, and the elimination (or brightening) of shadows.  High key is a style choice.  It's fun to experiment with, but it isn't something I'm going to look to do on a regular basis.  High key images allow for blown out areas in a photo.  I really prefer the use of shadow in my photos, contrast and normal lighting situations.

All of the dogs that make up our family right now, have never seen this much snow all in one day.  They weren't quite sure how to react.  We dug our paths for them to run, but the snow kept coming down and adding more inches.  Ultimately, their plan of action was run out, do what needed to be done, run back in.  A few tried to play, but found that the snow beyond the paths was just too deep and gave up.

Below you will find some of the photos I managed to snap when I wasn't getting snowed on.

Above is Bethy in one of the snow tunnels.  The snow is higher than she is.  I don't think she knows what to make of it at this point.  Her image is the darkest of all the images I photographed, but the tunnel itself is reflecting light.  Again, I like the shadows to define some of what is around her, but if I were being true to high key, those shadows would be brighter.

Danny fared better in the snow, because he is taller, but he hates it because it bothers his paw pads.  My lens picked up some snow, as you can see by the water marks around Danny's face, but I liked this image best of the ones I took of him, since he looks like he is in a snow cave.  He also hates the camera, so his expression is saying "GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME...IT'S BAD ENOUGH I HAVE TO BE IN THE SNOW!"  He does like eating snow, though, but mostly from a clean patio where his paws can remain dry.

Finally, Moe, who is a little taller than Bethy and a little shorter than Danny, emerging from one of the pathways with his famous M.O.E. (minus obvious energy) expression. This is when you realize your white dogs aren't really white.

I am starting this blog post on Tuesday.  Let's see if Wednesday is a brighter day and if I can get some additional high key shots of the dogs outside.
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So here we are on Wednesday, back out into the Alaskan wilderness.......oh wait, I live in Pennsylvania.  We are on DAY TWO of snow removal and still not able to actually use our vehicles to go anywhere, which is actually okay because only our car is free from snow at this point--the truck looks like Mt. Everest.  The paths for the dogs got some additional snow fall overnight and had to be reshoveled.

It is a bit brighter today and allowed me to capture these images of Lilah.  The snow acts like a giant reflector around her.

I think Lilah's expression says it all, don't you?

I don't know about you, but I'm hoping for some sunshine and beaches in the blog circle today.  For more high key images, start with Cahlean Klenke of About A Dog Photography, serving St. Cloud and central Minnesota, then work your way around the circle until you find yourself right back here on the frozen tundra!  You can probably guess what my weekend will be like....but I'm dreaming of summer vacation!  Enjoy!