Color and Abstracts

Color in Photography

Color has a dramatic effect on how the viewer perceives and experiences a photographic image.  Cool colors (blues, greens; any image with a bluish tint) come across as emotionally distant, calm, professional (think IBM logo), and sometimes sad.  Warm colors (reds, oranges; any image with a yellow tint) come across as friendly, warm, lively, inviting (think fast food logos), and usually have a happier feeling.
 

Color Techniques

Color contrast/complementary color:  Colors opposite each other on the color wheel are called complementary colors.  This creates a high-energy photo with lots of tension, drama, and impact.

Color harmony:  Colors that are close to each other on the color wheel.  This creates a harmonic, calmer, and more peaceful photo.

Color discord:  Colors that seem weird or out of place.  This creates an image with strong visual interest and a feeling of chaos and discomfort for the viewer.

Color spot:  One small area of a color that is in contrast to the color in the rest of the photograph.  This will create a very strong center of interest and act as a leading line to draw the viewer’s attention to this spot.

Monochromatic color:  An image that has shades of primarily one color throughout.  Can be boring, but usually the subtle hues of one color give a feeling of peace and calm to the viewer.

Primary colors: Images that have all three of the primary colors: red, yellow, blue.

Abstracts

Rather than shooting to show a specific subject, abstract techniques allow you to see an image in terms of line, color, form, shape, texture, and tones.  Some of you will really love the freedom of these techniques, and some of you will have a tougher time visualizing the elements of an abstract picture.  Abstract images can be very striking and dramatic.  Moving in close will help you make abstract images.
 

Abstract techniques

Common subject viewed in an unusual way:  Move in close, shoot only part of your subject, or shoot from a very different angle of view.

Reflections:  Use reflections in glass, water, metal, or a mirror to distort your subject into an abstract.  Try to make sure the subject is not instantly recognizable.

Camera movement:  Try zooming or moving your camera during a long exposure (1/30 or 1/15).  Look for a scene with a lot of color and shapes for the best results.

Patterns in nature:  Look for the repetition of shapes and texture.  Look for good lighting to highlight the patterns and add texture if possible.

Manmade patterns: Buildings, structures, roads, fences, etc all have repetition of shape.

Shadows: The graphic quality of a shadow can create a striking abstract image.  Look for interplay between light and shadow to create a dramatic composition.

Assignment

Shoot six images for this assignment as follows:

1.       Three shots using three different color techniques

2.       Three shots using three different abstract techniques
 

Color technique (three (3) of your six (6) photos), Abstract Technique (three (3) of your six (6) photos,) Subject (for all six (6) photos),

Be creative and do your best work. When done, insert into PowerPoint, one color or abstract photo per slide. (total of seven slides INCLUDING title slide), and submit on a flash drive by end of class, Period 5 on Monday or Period 4/6 on Tuesday.