Colour Rules OK!
The use of colour in photography is one of the most powerful tools that a photographer has at his or her disposal. I’d say at times it even ranks above composition. Although, obviously the ideal is the perfect union of both colour and composition.
The correct use of colour can create something so striking that it’s impossible to ignore.
When thinking about colours in photos it’s important to understand why certain colours work together, and why others are just a bit… ‘meh’. The diagram below is a depiction of what is called in colour theory The Colour Wheel – it helps us to understand which colours work with which…
The Colour Wheel
The Colour Wheel is segmented into 12 portions, with the 3 Primary colours (Red, Blue and Yellow) spread at equal distances apart, a Secondary colour (Green, Orange and Purple) opposite each. Colours which are opposite each other in the Colour Wheel are Complimentary Colours – they work well together.
Blue and Orange: A Winning Combination!
So Red and Green are complimentary, as are Blue and Orange. Use these combinations boldly in a photo and you will be guaranteed something striking and aesthetically pleasing. You don’t have to go to extremes though, colours don’t have to be directly opposite each other to work well together – just spread them around the wheel as much as possible. Also any primary colour will generally work well with another (i.e. Red and Blue). The same goes for Secondary colours. Just try to keep the number of bold colours to a minimum in order to form some cohesion.
Red and Green: Another Sure-Fire Winning Combo
The other interesting thing about the Colour Wheel is that the colours are grouped according to Temperature. The Orange side of the wheel features the Hot colours, while the Blue side features the Cold. And Colour temperature has an interesting effect. Hot colours will always extend Towards the viewer, while Cold colours seem to Retreat from the viewer. Take a photo of a red box alongside an equally-sized blue box, set the same distance from the camera – and I guarantee that the red box will be the one the viewer looks at first.
And red and orange are the colours this is most true of (as they are the ‘hottest’). Which leads us to the realm of the Red Rule. Got a photo which just isn’t working? There’s nothing there to grab the attention of the viewer? Maybe a street scene? Get somebody to stand in the centre of shot in a red t-shirt. Suddenly the shot is a hundred times more memorable. A splash of red will instantly transform, and possibly make, a shot. The power of the Red Rule really is quite scary (it even has its own Flickr group)… try it out, you’ll be astounded.
The Red Rule: Would this shot be half as interesting without the red paper scarf?
It’s impossible to quantify the creative potential of a single bright red scarf or coat – anyone who has seen Don’t Look Now should be able to attest to that!
2 Comments to Colour Rules OK!
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This explains why I always wear a red shirt in my self-portraits! I’m subconsciously gravitating towards the Red Rule. It’s not just cos I’m gross and never change my shirt.
This is a really good article, full of theory stuff I should know – the colour wheel is a handy little thing to remember, I think that’ll help me a lot, especially when I’m outside taking photos, to be able to spot a potential great image.
I’m going to go & stick some red in my 52 this week, just as soon as I get a decent idea for it. Or maybe that is the idea!