Saturated With Color
Is it possible to have too much color in a color photograph? I think it is. This picture of flowers displays beautiful color, but does the picture tell a story or set a mood? It is a pretty picture for sure, but not necessarily an image with impact. There are so many things to consider when creating an image, and it is important to use color as an element to have the viewer see what you want. Use color to help with eye flow and framing and as another compositional element. Read on to learn some techniques you can apply on your next color photographic mission.
Instructions
1. In teaching color and color theory we often discuss a concept called memory colors. Memory colors are colors that we expect to see in a photograph. Since we all see color differently, we do not all see the same memory colors. For example, we all expect grass to be green, but in Kentucky the grass is a different green than it is in Holland. In this digital age when we can edit any color in post-production it is important to remember not to mess with memory colors in post-production. Bananas are supposed to be yellow, and if we change that color in post-production it will cause the viewer visual discomfort. Mess with the other colors, but leave memory colors alone.
2. Use colors to help the viewer see what you want and manage the eye flow. The eye will always travel to the brightest color. In this shot at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, it is almost impossible to NOT see the red boat first. After seeing the subject, the eye can then wander through the rest of the image. It helps when the composition uses the Rule of Thirds effectively, but even without that, as in this case, the color creates the eye flow.
3. Try to isolate a color to give it impact. Although this photograph is full color, the only color you really see is the blue door. Again, the color leads the viewer through the "story" into the mysterious doorway. There are lots of colors in the brick, but you only see them after being led through the blue door.
4. Use color as a background to make your image stand out. There is no background here except for the sea and the waves. Any additional colors would cause visual confusion. One of the things that makes the pelican stand out is the contrast of the image, but the other is the single blue "background" that helps isolate the less colorful pelican.
5. This is an example of using isolation and eye flow in the same image. The only yellow in the image is in the center of the flower, which is exactly what we want the viewer to see. The eye is drawn to the bright yellow and then expands to see the entire combination of colors captured in a single bloom. Think of color as another compositional element like the Rule of Thirds or depth of field to help make your images have more impact.
