May 11, 09 · Cinematographers used lowkey lighting to get this effect because of its ability to show distinctness between light and dark areas One of the reasons many of the films of the 1940's and 50's have the "look" that came to be known as noir is due to small budgetsThe key light is the first and usually most important light that a photographer, cinematographer, lighting cameraman, or other scene composer will use in a lighting setupThe purpose of the key light is to highlight the form and dimension of the subject The key light is not a rigid requirement;Lowkey lighting typically involves lots of contrast and creates an entirely different mood than highkey lighting Lowkey's transition from highlight to shadow is much quicker and more dramatic — and harsh Usually lowkey lighting is very close to a subject, and the light source is typically dimmer to accommodate this How Low Key Lighting Can Instantly Make Your Film Dramatic Why is low key lighting used in fil
