Art 177 :: Creative Photography. Color & Color Theory

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1 Art 177 :: Creative Photography Color & Color Theory

2 Color I never met a color I didn t like. Dale Chihuly

3 Color [electromagnetic spectrum] The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of all forms of electromagnetic energy Power transmission AM Radio The energy is categorized by the length of its waves. The longest to the shortest are: HD TV (analog) FM Radio Microwaves Infrared Light Visible Light Ultraviolet Light X-Rays Gamma Rays

4 Color [electromagnetic spectrum] Obviously we are primarily concerned with visible light Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

5 Color [visible light] Each color has its own specific wavelength Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet 700 nanometer < Longer Wavelength Shorter > 380 nanometer

6 Color [visible light] The ancient Greeks thought that pure light was white Sir Issac Newton disproved this in 1666 He used a glass prism to break up light into separate colors He then passed those colors through a second prism The colors joined together to make white again Doubters thought that the prism created the colors Ohhh Magic!!!

7 Color [visible light] Light passing through a transparent object will be bent when it enters a medium of different density This is refraction The amount it bends depends on the difference in density of the media

8 Color [visible light] The angle of deviation during refraction depends on the wavelength Shorter wavelengths bend more This is why a prism breaks up white light into different colors

9 Color [visible light] Objects reflect the wavelengths of the color we see A blue box appears blue because it absorbs red and green light and reflects the blue A white egg appears white because it reflects all the visible light wavelengths

10 Color [visible light] Transmitted light affects the objects it lights Red filters absorb blue and green light and only transmits red light When the red light strikes a white egg, the egg only has red light to reflect This turns the egg red

11 Color [additive color] Light is additive color. The primary colors are: Red Green Blue RGB

12 Color [additive color] Combining primary colors creates secondary colors Red + Blue = Magenta Blue + Green = Cyan Green + Red = Yellow

13 Color [additive color] Combining all three primary colors = white

14 Color [subtractive color] The secondary colors Cyan (C), Magenta (M) and Yellow (Y) are also the primary pigment colors (Red, Yellow and Blue used to be considered the primary pigment colors) Black (K) is used in printed material K Often seen with inkjet printers

15 Color [color temperature] When we look at the light striking a building at noon, the colors look normal to us. When viewing the same building at sunrise or sunset, it looks yellower or redder The same building, when viewed on an overcast day will appear slightly bluish Obviously, the building hasn t changed, only the light. The color change is a result of a change in the color temperature of the light

16 Color [color temperature] Color Temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin 5000K 5500K is noon daylight 2300K 2800K is the color of light from a standard incandescent light bulb

17 Color [color temperature] Light sources, such as the sun, are based on a blackbody radiator A blackbody radiator is a theoretic object that absorbs all light and radiates a specific hue when heated to certain temperatures If heated to 5000K, it produces the hue of daylight Blackbody radiators produce light within a yellow to blue spectrum [yellow blue shift]

18 Color [color temperature] Some light sources are not based on blackbody radiators Lights such as fluorescent lighting or sodium vapor street lights may have peaks of certain colors and may be lacking of other colors Fluorescent lights lack some red. Because of this the light may appear to be green Sodium vapor street lights are so extreme, it is impossible to obtain accurate colors

19 Color [color theory] There are certain principles, guidelines, and theories that will allow color to help make stronger photographs

20 Color [color theory] Color can affect how we interpret objects in a photograph Altering composition Symbolism Influencing emotion Personal choice

21 Color [color theory] Altering composition The use of complementary colors will create contrast Make objects stand out

22 Color [color theory] Altering composition The use of complementary colors will create contrast Make objects stand out

23 Color [color theory] Altering composition Using analogous (adjacent) colors creates harmony and relationships

24 Color [color theory] Altering composition Using analogous (adjacent) colors creates harmony and relationships

25 Color [color theory] Altering composition Color can influence the appearance of depth Warm tones advance forward Cool tones recede into the background

26 Color [color theory] Altering composition Color can influence the appearance of depth Warm tones advance forward Cool tones recede into the background

27 Color [color theory] Symbolism Can be used to add meaning to a viewer s interpretation Can easily mislead

28 Color [color theory] Influencing emotion Most common colors and the emotions they evoke: Red Passionate, aggressive, important Orange Playful, energetic, cheap Yellow Happy, friendly, warning

29 Color [color theory] Green Natural, stable, prosperous Blue Serene, trustworthy, inviting Purple Luxurious, mysterious, romantic

30 Color [color theory] Pink Feminine, young, innocent Brown Earthy, sturdy, rustic Beige Isn t attached to emotions, but accentuates surrounding colors

31 Color [color theory] Black Powerful, sophisticated, edgy Gray Neutral, formal, gloomy White Clean, virtuous, healthy

32 Color [color theory] Personal choice People may choose colors just because they like them This can be problematic if the viewer interprets the colors based on emotional qualities or symbolism May mislead from or contradict the intended message of the photo It may also result in a photograph that isn t technically successful