The Monday Lesson- Color & Simplicity
Here is the Monday Lesson, one day late! Sorry about the now Tuesday lesson but yesterday I was away from the web all day shooting. Thanks for being patient and for coming to see these lessons each week.
Objective: to put the idea of simplicity together with the idea of color and see how it can change your images.
A few weeks back I posted a lesson on how keeping your images simple can really improve your compositions. This week I want to take it one step further. I would like to talk about color and how simplifying the colors in your image can help increase their impact.
When you visit a professional portrait studio the photographer will usually consult with you about wardrobe choices. There are things that work and things that don't. Every photographer has their own take on this one. The reason that we do this is that if you reduce the amount of colors or the possibility of conflicting colors, the image becomes easier on the eye and therefore easier to really see. In the case of portraits, patterns and conflicting colors can really draw your eyes away from the people's faces and expressions. This is not only the case in portraits though. With any image, we want the viewer to readily see what our intended subject and focus is meant to be. We want to guide the viewers eyes right to what is the most important thing.
Here are 4 examples from a portrait session where the color palette is coordinated and limited.
When I say limit the color palette, that doesn't mean it has to be muted. You can be bright and bold but still reduce the amount of colors in a given scene. Something like this:
This brings us to your homework...try and create some images using a limited color palette. You don't have to try this with moving children. You can always try and create some still life images as a way of practicing. I really enjoy this blog and she does a really nice job of simplifying color in her Polaroid images. As always, I would love to see your experiments and hear your comments!
Farrah Braniff
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Cool. I tried, but maybe too simple? Lol
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hippyhappyhay/2570177180/
I think it looks great! Thanks for sharing.
Farrah