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Snap into spring

As the days grow longer and spring takes hold, it’s the ­perfect time to explore light and colour with your photo­graphy. The topic is worthy of a library covering everything from colour theory and the science of vision, to camera technology and photo processing. Devoting a little time to increasing your understanding of each element is one sure way to improve the quality and impact of your photos.

By Kellie Nolan & Bryon McCartney
While you could spend years studying the science and theory of colour, there are some basic concepts you can put to work today. A colour wheel is a simple way to understand the relationship of colours and how to use colours effectively in your photography.

Celebrating colour

Complementary colours – found ­opposite of each other on the colour wheel – abound in nature and in cityscapes: orange in architectural details against a clear blue sky, ­red flowers and green leaves. Positioned side-by-side in a photo, ­complementary colours contrast each other, adding an intense ­dynamic to your image.
Analogous colour schemes – clustered next to each other on the colour wheel – range from the greens and blues of landscapes to the bold reds of a fiery sunset. You can use this colour harmony to help add mood and meaning to your ­images.
Colours are often referred to as warm or cool. You can see these colours in nature as you watch the sky change from bright blue at ­mid-day to warm orange and yellow at sunset.
Colour can also help you compose an interesting photo from even the most ordinary, everyday scenes: Large elements in contrasting colour – a yellow sign on a red wall.
Focusing on just one or two colours is also a great way to make bold, abstract images. Working with speciality lenses, such as the LensbabyTM collection – with lenses that add a vintage feel or a selective, soft focus – or macro lenses for extreme close-ups, add interest to your colour subjects.
 Whether you are drawn to bold, contrasting colours or a saturated monochromatic palette, look for ­opportunities to photograph colour with a purpose. With clever use of colour, you can create more interesting images with dramatic compositions and help focus attention on your subject.
Try it: Shoot a limited colour palette. Choose a dominant colour and shoot everything you see that is in that colour range. For example, a Vespa, painted doorway, car plaque and post box work together as an eye-catching, monochromatic photo series.

Painting with light

It’s impossible to talk about colour in photography without talking about light. In fact, the word photography comes from the Greek words phos (light) and graphe (line ­drawing). Photography is literally drawing with light.
The time of day and the source of light have a significant effect on the colours you capture in your image. A little knowledge and some useful tips can go a long way to working with light in your photos.
Time of day: Experienced photographers know that the day’s best light is usually in the early morning and early evening hours. These times are often referred to as “the magic hours”, thanks to the warm, golden quality of light. Take time to observe how light changes throughout the day to understand the ­differences it makes to your photos.
Try it: Choose a colourful location that is already part of your weekly routine, for example, a train station, tram stop, or a lakeside cafe. Keep your camera on and ready to shoot. Take time to shoot a few ­photos at different times of day. Don’t worry about making changes to your camera setting – simply use the automatic or programme mode. At the end of the week, compare ­the photos and study the various effects the changing light has on the colours. You should see a difference in the colour as daylight goes from warm morning light to cooler mid-day light and back to warm evening tones.

Selecting the source

Just as the quality of daylight is ­affected by the time of day, the ­appearance of colour is also affected by the source of the light. Whether it’s the yellow glow of a street lamp, the stark white of office light, or the golden light of early morning – ­observe the variations and learn to use different light sources to your ­advantage.
Most cameras have an automatic white balance (AWB) setting that corrects for the colour cast related to the light source. Depending on your camera, you may have the option to manually adjust the setting and trick your camera into balancing the light for a specific effect. For example, if you are shooting in the early evening, you can use the tungsten setting (usually a light bulb symbol) to make the early evening sky ­appear deeper blue.
Finally, be creative and use the location of your light source to add interest to your photos. By positioning yourself so the subject is ­between you and the light, you can creative interesting lighting situations, including silhouettes, shadows and glowing colour.
Try it: For interesting flower photos, shoot from a low angle, with the sun behind the flower to illuminate the petals and create a glow. It might mean getting down on the ground to shoot straight up at the flowers, but you will be rewarded with a far more interesting photograph.
With a little bit of time and ­effort, you can use colour and ­light to add something special to your photographs and make them stand out.