Assignment 3: Colour

The brief for this third assignment was to produce images that show my understanding and command of colour in photography.

I was to identify at least two kinds of colour relationship from:

• Complementary (colours that face each other on the colour wheel)
• Similar (colours near each other as in cool or warm range of colours)
• Colours spaced about a third of the way around the wheel from each other (contrasting colours).  These are not necessarily harmonious but are eye-catching.
• A final kind of relationship is when one small area of colour sits against a much larger background. A colour accent.

The idea was to take four photographs that illustrate each following colour relationships:

• Colour harmony through complementary colours
• Colour harmony through similar colours
• Colour contrast through contrasting colours
• Colour accent using any of the above

My tutor has criticised my work in the past for being over complicated and 'busy' I have therefore tried extremely hard to simplify my images.

Colour harmony through complementary colours

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/14, 1/125s, ISO 640 (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

I used the strong red colour of the tomato against the green of the grass for this colour relationships.  It isn't quite the 1:1 ratio needed for balance but I think the vertical lines of the grass help to add balance.

Tutor comments:

The tomato, leaves and vine make a good colour combination for 'complementary'. The greenery on the right appears to be grass. This looks incongruous next to the tomato. The combination of a round object with straight lines balances well. Set-up still lifes are fine but need to be plausible. A plate or chopping board might be backgrounds, a knife or other tomatoes (with more of the vine) would make obvious accompaniments. More imaginative accompaniments would be better, but they need to be plausible.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/14, 1/100s, ISO 400 , 0.67ev (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

I used the ratio of 1:2 orange:blue in order to achieve the colour harmony in this image.

Tutor comments:

The blue and orange liquids are complementary. They need to be a little brighter, as does the first shot, to give a correct exposure and better colour rendition. The composition and framing are good. Again, the blue liquid raises questions as to what it could be, as does the phial or syringe of orange liquid. A caption would certainly help to clarify what is in the shot.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/10, 1/125s, ISO 800 (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

I like how the strong violet colour of the orchids is off set by the yellow background.  I have tried to keep to the 1:3 ratio of yellow:violet by cropping the image.

Tutor Comments:

The flowers are a good foil to the yellow background to produce the complementary colours. The top of the flowers is right on the frame's edge; could it have been included or cut off more deliberately? There is a shadow on the top of the background that draws the eye away from the flowers. This shot is also too dark. Check your camera's histogram when shooting and adjust accordingly. Otherwise, brighten the image now, using software on your computer (digital cameras are accompanied with free software on discs).

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/10, 1/125s, ISO 160 -0.33ev (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

Tutors Comments:

I can't tell what the blue object is, which is both intriguing and frustrating. The shape is unusual and thought-provoking too. Does the flower sit well on it? I am not sure. I like the juxtaposition of the colours, but the situation appears too contrived for my liking.

Colour harmony through similar colours

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/8, 1/125s, ISO 800 (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

I used the similar greens and yellows of this honeysuckle to achieve colour harmony.

Tutors Comments:

The colour combination in this image is very good. the leaves are yellow/green and the yellow of the flowers is a cool yellow tending towards blue). The background flower adds context but is sufficiently out of focus so as not to detract from the foreground interest.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 65mm, f/13, 1/60s, ISO 125 (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

Although this image only has one colour, the differing shades of blue used creates a colour harmony.

Tutors Comments:

The positions and framing of the toys is very good. The combination of blues tones, including variations caused by lighting, are all withing the purple/blue to cyan/blue range, harmonising well. Perhaps a bit more direct light on the subjects would inject some 'light and shade' to add more interest and modelling of forms.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/6.3, 1/160s, ISO 100 (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

The cool colours of the threads on these cotton reels and the shallow depth of field help to achieve the colour harmony.

Tutors Comments:

The reels of cotton follow a similar range of blue tones to the last image, but I find this shot has more interest. The taller reel on the thirds just adds something extra to the line-up. A little more light, more directly on the subjects rather than flat, would lift the shot considerably. This picture could be a good example of 'rhythm' for the previous assignment too.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/13, 1/100s, ISO 320 +1ev (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

Again I have used cool colours to achieve the colour harmony

Tutors Comments:

The buttons are a more interesting subject than the reels or the toys. Their range of shapes, textures and different reflections add greatly to the variety of shapes, colours and tones to view. A closer crop, with the buttons filling the frame would be a more striking image, especially if some care was taken in their arrangement so as to benefit the composition.

Colour contrast through contrasting colours

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 400 (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

Tutors Comments:

The vibrancy of the lemon yellow against a larger area of dull blue really makes the lemon's shape stand out. It is a classic colour relationship to illustrate colour contrasts. You have followed my advice for simplifying your shots and removing clutter. The lighting has just enough direction to bring out the form of the lemon whilst also revealing its surface texture. A little more direction would have helped to bring out both of these properties. I am less sure about the text here. The eye is drawn to text in an image and therefore tries to read it. It isn't clear what the text is here so therefore it is a mystery as to what it's significance is to the shot.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 84mm, f/16, 1/100s, ISO 100 (sharpening and cross processed in Apple Aperture 3)

Tutors Comments:

The colour contrast is very strong. It is increased by the harsh, directional lighting. Why is this shot in strong light and the other set up shots in dull light? Colour is at its most saturated in this type of lighting. A reflector to the right of the frame would lift the deeper shadows to balance contrast. Could the picture have been taken with a background in keeping with the subject matter?

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 320

Tutors Comments:

The only two significant colours included are an indigo blue and a yellow/orange. There are also small areas of red but most of the frame is taken up by the background's grey. If the exposure was set for the light available, instead of using auto exposure, this background would be nearer to white and the colours far more vibrant. The framing and composition are good.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 500, -0.33ev (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

Tutors Comments:

This is another close-up still life that needs some more directional light and more exposure. The background has the light on it whereas the subject is almost in silhouette. The dominant colour therefore is the pale blue background which I imagine was not your intention. The flowers are right at the top of the frame, almost out of shot, leaving the majority of the image out of focus.

Colour Accent using any of the above

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/4.5, 1/1250s, ISO 500, +0.67ev (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

Tutors Comments:

The colour combination of purple and yellow is a strong one but the vibrancy of the solours is subdued due to underexposure. Is the orange blob in the liquid, floating on top, or a reflection in the surface? If find it is too small to tell.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 105mm, f/13, 1/13s, ISO 3200, +0.33ev (raw conversion and sharpening in Apple Aperture 3 and cross processed)

Tutors Comments:

The red/blue/yellow combination here is a classic three way contrasting colours shot, so it could be used in that category. Having said that, this also works as an accent, albeit accents is more appropriate. The mottled blue background is a foil for the bright yellow duck, the red is small enough to be unobtrusive but adds to the interest of the shot. This is the best shot of the assignment. The exposure is good, as is the placement of the duck in the darker area, to one side

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 47mm, f/13, 1/40s, ISO 250, -0.33 ev (sharpening in Apple Aperture 3)

Tutor Comments:

The watering can is in a plausible setting here. The contrast of a small yellow area against a large, dark green ground works well as an accent. I'd suggest moving the accent into the frame a little more, towards the thirds.

Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens, 70mm, f/13, 1/125s, ISO 100 (cross processed in Apple Aperture 3)

Not sure this last image is a colour accent as the leaf is rather dominant against the sky and the sky itself is not a total block of colour.  However, I like the contrast of the green against the blue and the use of the telephone wire as a diagonal across the frame.

Tutor Comments:

The modelling of form and texture on the leaf is very good. The acute angle of the light on the left side picks out its texture, whilst the right side has reflected light on it, showing more of the true nature of its colour. The sky is a good foil for the leaf and the clouds add extra interest. Is the dark line behind the leaf significant, or could it have been left out? Could the leaf have been further into the frame, including the twig it was attached to?

Trying to achieve the correct balance of colour within in an image to produce harmony is extremely challenging and something that doesn't come easy to me.  I have tried very hard to simplify my images and take on board the criticism of my tutor.  I'm not happy with how I light the still life elements of my images and still need some practise in the correct exposure and how to use lighting to achieve a more dramatic effect.  Perhaps photography is really not for me?