Glossary: High / low key lighting
Illumination that creates comparatively little contrast between the light and dark areas of the shot, with fairly transparent shadows brightened by fill light (high-key lighting); illumination that creates strong contrast between light and dark areas of the shot, with deep shadows and little fill light (low-key lighting). The low-key effect of extremely dark and light regions within the image is called chiaroscuro.
From The Big Sleep
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Frame 1: High-key lighting
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Frame 2: High-key lighting (note that a scene lit
for night can still use a high-key approach, as can be seen from the
lighting's softness, its low contrast, and its detail in shadow areas)
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From The Graduate
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Frame 1: Low-key lighting
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Frame 2: Low-key lighting
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