Taking photos in color is easy, but taking color photographs with a wow-factor requires a little thought. It is vital to be aware just how powerful color can be in an image and how you can use this to your advantage. Too many different bold colors will invariably produce a confusing and unsatisfying image. Ensure that the hues you are including in your photograph do not compete with each other for attention, but contribute to a well balanced composition.
TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF COLOR
Look for a Dominant Color: Colorful scenes are usually the ones that inspire photographers to grab their cameras, yet they are often the least likely to result in striking images unless considerable care is taken in the composition. Too many vivid and bright colors will compete for the attention of the viewer and make it difficult to find a focus point. One way of giving a color photograph a bold, eye-catching quality is to select a subject in which one particular hue completely dominates the scene. This can be achieved by a careful choice of viewpoint, and the way in which the image is framed. The result can be even more spectacular if the other colors in the image are either quite subdued or create a pleasing contrast.
Use Color Contrast: Bold, eye-catching pictures can be almost guaranteed if you know how to make good use of contrasting colors. The most striking effect will be created when just two colors from well separated areas of the color spectrum are included in the image, such as red against green, or orange against purple. The use of a color wheel can help you understand the relationship between complementary and contrasting colors. As a general rule, the simplest combinations are the strongest, and the more saturated the colors are, the more eye-catching the result will be.
Keep it Simple: If there’s a good general rule to follow in photography it is to keep it simple, and this is especially true when working in color. An image that includes only the essential elements of the scene will invariably have more impact than a complex image with too much detail. Always identify the element in the scene that appeals most strongly to you within the subject, and then consider which of the surrounding details you need to include.
Photo by Shonee Leake