Colorful world in photography: A bit of color theory.

"Color is life; for a world without colors appears to us as dead." — Johannes Itten.

Color theory has a variety of definitions and concepts. However, there are two basic categories of color theory that are useful for a photographer: the color circle and the color harmony.

The color wheel (or color circle) is an abstract tool which organizes color hues around a circle and shows relationship between primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors, etc.

Artists typically use RYB color model with red, yellow and blue primary colors. Printers use RGB color model with red, green and blue primary colors. The modern color model includes cyan, magenta and yellow as primary colors.

We’ll use traditional color wheel which have red, blue, yellow as primary colors; secondary colors which are the combination of two primary colors: red + yellow = orange, yellow + blue = green, blue + red = purple; tertiary colors are the combination of a primary and secondary color (red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet).

Harmony in general can be defined as a pleasing combination of elements in a whole.
Color harmony represents a balance of colors which is pleasing to the eye.
We can create color harmony using the color wheel.

Monochromatic harmony uses various values (tints, tones, and shades) within the same color family (hue – pure color; tint – hue + white; tone – hue + grey; shade – hue + black).

Analogous harmonies are based on three or more colors that are next to each other on the color wheel (for example: yellow-green + green + blue-green).
Make sure you have enough contrast when choosing an analogous color scheme. Usually one color dominates, the second supports and the third color is used as an accent.

Complementary colors are colors that are opposite of one another on the color wheel (yellow and purple, blue and orange, red and green). Such a combination of colors is often used in art; the complementary colors appear brighter together than solo or in other combinations.
"Complementary colors make a strange pair. They are opposite, yet they require each other. They incite each other to maximum vividness when together; and annihilate each other when mixed", — wrote Johannes Itten.

Fill up your life and your photography with colors!
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Cheers!

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Colorful world in photography: White.

“The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself”. (Lao Tzu)

The following words are synonymous with white and represent various shades of the color white: pearl, snow, paper, lily, cream, ivory, chalk, linen.

We can associate the color white in nature with snow, clouds, milk, chalk, paper, seashells, pearl, lilies, orchids, linen.

The color white arouses associations with abstract concepts with positive meaning (purity, innocence, goodness, heaven, sincerity, perfection, possibility) and with negative meaning (mourning – in eastern countries).

There are many set expressions with the word “white”: “white as snow” (if something/someone is as white as snow, they are perfect or honest), “pearly whites” (teeth), “whitelist” (in Internet terminology, a generic name for a list of e-mail addresses that is considered to be spam free), “white knight” (a hero who comes to the rescue; in business,  is a friendly investor).

Gilbert K. Chesterton wrote: “White... is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black... God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white”. And he was absolutely right.

I hope you liked my series of posts about colors in photography :)

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Colorful world in photography: Brown.

The following words are synonymous with brown and represent various shades of the color brown: chocolate, coffee, cocoa, sienna, cinnamon, chestnut, nut-brown, hazel, oak.

We can associate the color brown in nature with earth, sand, wood, nuts, cinnamon cocoa, coffee and chocolate.

The color brown arouses associations with abstract concepts with positive meaning (stability, peace, warmth, friendliness, health, security) and with negative meaning (lack of humor, boredom).

There are set expressions with the word “brown”: “brown study” (is used to describe somebody who is daydreaming and lost in serious thoughts), “brown-up” (a temporary reduction in electrical power), “brown-bag” (to take lunch to work typically in a brown paper bag).

Winston Churchill wrote: "I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns."  With all respect to his opinion you can agree or disagree.

Thank you for reading!

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Colorful world in photography: Violet/purple.

A Purple Cow
By Mr. Gelett Burgess

I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one;
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.

The following words are synonymous with violet/purple and represent various shades of the color violet/purple: lavender, plum, lilac, puce, orchid, mauve, magenta, royal, amethyst, wine, eggplant.

We can associate the color violet/purple in nature with fruits such as plums, grapes, vegetables such as eggplants, beets, purple cabbage and flowers such as lavender, iris, violets and orchids.

The color violet/purple arouses associations with abstract concepts with positive meaning (wisdom, creativity, inspiration, spirituality, magic, imagination, courage, generosity) and with negative meaning (death, cruelty, instability).

There are many set expressions with the word “violet/purple”: “purple with rage” (with a dark red face caused by anger), “purple prose/passage” (writing that uses difficult or unusual words - used in order to show disapproval), “purple patch” (a time when a person is very successful), “born to the purple” (born in a royal or aristocratic family).

In Ancient Rome the Emperors Julius and Augustus Caesar were the only ones allowed to wear purple Imperial robes. Violet was the royal color during Cleopatra's reign. Napoleon’s followers used violet to identify their comradeship.

Let me remind you what Leonardo da Vinci wrote about the violet color. He considered that the violet light shining through a stained glass window can increase the power of meditation and prayer.
Violet can help to develop imagination and creativity, because it’s individual and original, it “hates” to copy anyone else and “likes” to do its own thing.

Surround yourself with violet color to develop your imagination.


 All questions, requests, ideas and feedback are very welcome.

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Colorful world in photography: Green.

The following words are synonymous with green and represent various shades of the color green: olive, pine, mint, apple, sea green, aquamarine, lime).

We can associate the color green in nature with grass, plants, vegetables such as cucumbers, zucchini, green peppers, brussel sprouts, spinach, fruits such as kiwi, limes, green grapes, green apples.

The color green arouses associations with abstract concepts with positive meaning (nature, health, youth, peace, harmony, relaxation, trust, prosperity) and with negative meaning (illness, jealousy, inexperience).

There are many set expressions with the word “green”: “little green men” (humanoid-like creatures from another planet), “to be green with envy” (the state of being jealous of the good fortune of another person), “a greenroom” (a backstage room in a theatre or television studio where actors may rest or receive guests), “the Green Movement” (the social trend toward ecology).

Pedro Calderon de la Barca, Spanish poet and playwright, who lived in the 17th century, wrote: “Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”

If you want to lift yourself up, use green color in your photographs.

Thank you for reading!

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Colorful world in photography: Yellow.

The following words are synonymous with yellow and represent various shades of the color yellow: golden, lemon, amber, blonde, canary, citron, champagne…

We can associate the color yellow in nature with sun, fall season (autumn yellow leaves), sand, fruits such as bananas, lemons, vegetables such as corn, squash, potatoes, flowers such as sunflowers, roses, daisies, dandelions.

The color yellow arouses associations with abstract concepts with positive meaning (happiness, optimism, cheerfulness, wisdom, intelligence) and with negative meaning (illness, betrayal, cowardice).

There are many set expressions with the word “yellow” such as “yellow press” (journalism which exploits the news to create sensation), “a yellow ribbon” (a symbol of support of missing loved ones), “Yellow Pages” (a volume of a telephone directory that lists services, business).

Pablo Picasso said: “There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun”. These words  can be applied to photographers as well.

Let’s transform a yellow spot into the sun in our photographs.
Thank you for reading!

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Colorful world in photography: Red.

The following words are synonymous with red and represent various shades of the color red: rose, ruby, scarlet, vermillion, carmine, burgundy, rouge, rust, tomato…

We can associate the color red in nature with sunset, sunrise, fall season (autumn red leaves), flame, flowers such as roses, poppies, fruits such as red apples, strawberries, cherries, vegetables such as tomatoes, red peppers, red cabbage.

The color red arouses associations with abstract concepts with positive meaning (passion, love, action, energy, speed, fun, strength, courage) and with negative meaning (war, danger, anger, aggression, violence).

There are many set expressions with the word “red” such as “to catch somebody red-handed” (to catch a person doing something illegal or wrong), “in the red” (losing money), “a red letter day” (a memorably important or happy day), “the red planet” (the name for Mars due the color of its surface).

I can agree with Bill Blass who said that “Red is the ultimate cure for sadness”. You can create your “red period” in your photography to cure your sadness.

Thank you for reading!
I would like to know what is your favorite color in photography.

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Colorful world in photography: Blue.

The following words are synonymous with blue and represent various shades of the color blue: navy, steel blue, royal, sky blue, sapphire, azure, beryl, cerulean, cobalt, indigo, midnight blue…

We can associate the color blue in nature with water (ocean, sea, lake, river…), sky, ice, flowers like cornflowers, forget-me-not, birds like blue heron and bluebird, fruits such as blueberries and blue plumps… And I can absolutely agree with Bryan Batt’s words: “Great shades of blue, you find them in nature. They're all magic”.

Thinking about blue clothes we’ll surely remember jeans. As Yves Saint Laurent wrote: “I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes”.

The color blue arouses associations with abstract concepts such as trust, loyalty, peace, calmness, care, idealism, intelligence, success (positive meaning), sadness, conservatism, weakness (in negative meaning).

There are many set expressions with the word “blue” such as “blue bloods” (members of aristocratic families), a “blue ribbon” (the highest prize in competition or event), the “blue Planet” (the name for the Earth due to its oceans), “once in a blue moon” (very rarely)…

Picasso is known for a series of blue paintings during his “Blue Period”.
You can create your “blue period” in your photography.

Thank you for reading!
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Colorful world in photography: Orange.

With all respect to the classical b/w photography we live in the colorful world and many of us prefer color photography.
We’ll try to understand the color theory beginning with practice observations.

 I want to begin with orange color because I agree with Frank Sinatra’s words: “Orange is the happiest color.”

Orange is a vibrant color, it's a combination of hot, passionate red and sunshine, playful yellow.  As Wassily Kandinsky wrote: “Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.”

The following words are synonymous with or represent various shades of the color orange: carrot, pumpkin, peach, apricot, copper, citrus, tangerine… If it’s not so easy to remember all the shades of orange we can easily say a dark orange (instead of terracotta), a pure orange (instead of pumpkin), a red-orange (instead of persimmon), a light orange (instead of melon), a yellow orange (instead of mango), a pink orange (instead of salmon).

Orange brings up images of fall season with autumn leaves, of sunset and sunrise, of fruits such as oranges, tangerines, mangoes, peaches, apricots, of vegetables such as orange peppers, carrots, pumpkins (and Halloween as well), of heat-flame-fire.

Thinking about all these things can inspire you to create your own images in photography.
With that in mind you can add orange color in your life and your photography when you want:  to increase your creativity, to feel more joy, to lighten up the mood. But you need to remember that the orange color stimulates appetite and is the worst color to have in the kitchen if you are trying to lose weight.

So if one day you find yourself being depressed include orange in your photography (and your life – in many cases it’s just the same).

Thank you for reading!
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Black and White vs. Color Photographs with tips for the beginners.

The history of photography began with monochrome. There is nothing more classic than black and white photography. But modern photographers can opt for color or black and white images.

Is there an answer to the question: “What is better – color or black and white photography”?

Let’s appeal to the authority.

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!”

― Ted Grant.

So you can suggest that black and white photography is better, can’t you?

But here’s another opinion: “One very important difference between color and monochromatic photography is this: in black and white you suggest; in color you state. Much can be implied by suggestion, but statement demands certainty… absolute certainty.” – Paul Outerbridge.

Isn’t color photography better then?

Before making a choice let’s think about benefits of color and benefits of black and white.

In almost every image color catches your eye first. A viewer figures the time from the colors: orange-yellow-brown autumn image, white-blue winter image… A photo’s color scheme helps to capture the mood: a cold tone can evoke a feeling of sadness, a warm tone – a feeling of joy.

Use color images when color is a key element in your story. A photograph of a rainbow, for example, probably benefits from vivid colors.

Black and white images appear to be timeless.  If you remove the color it will be more difficult to put an exact date on a photo. A lack of color in a photo helps to accentuate the light and shadows, forms and texture of the image.

Use black and white photography if you want to concentrate on the image itself, rather than the color.

There is no universal rule how to shoot different subjects.

People – Photos of people can be beautiful both in color and monochrome. The choice of whether to use color or black and white for an image is subjective.

 Still Lives – Both color and black and white images can be beautiful. Monochrome helps you to achieve the sense of timelessness, color can add mood and life to the image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landscapes – color photography works best on sunny days and in the cases when you want to demonstrate emotional context associated with the colors. Black and white photography works when you want to draw the viewer’s attention more to shapes and lines or when you have an image with muted colors (for example, on a snowy day).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Night – color surely works best because the black background enhances the other colors in the image.

Buildings – Black and white image helps to show the details of the proportion, the sharp outlines. But the location must be considered. Skyscrapers in the megacity could be best in black and white but the old homes on the sea coast are best captured in color.

Nowadays we can shoot in black-and-white or in color. Both have their pros and cons. It’s only your choice. Generally speaking, you can shoot in color and edit your photos later if necessary.

What’s your opinion on the subject of black and white vs color for photography? When do you think it is better to use either?

The site is updated regularly, so come back and check out the new material!

All questions, requests, ideas and feedback are very welcome.

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