So when we talk about the color palette, this is really something that separates the pros 2 2
from the amateurs. And even for myself, I still find it to be one of the most difficult 3 3
things to achieve in my photography. So what color palette is deciding what colors are 4 4
in your frame and ultimately what that does to your image and why you choose to do it. 5 5
Typically, warmer colors — reds, oranges, yellows — are a little more energetic. They 6 6
add a little bit more life to your photo and it's a reason that a lot of people love the 7 7
sunset golden hour is that it adds this warm glow, it’s really happy, it's romantic, 8 8
it’s beautiful. On the flip side, you have the cooler colors, you have the greys, the 9 9
blues, the greens, and these really add a sense of coldness, sometimes loneliness, maybe 10 10
a little bit more emotional to them. But they can have a lot of energy as well, but they’re 11 11
a little bit colder. And deciding what type of photo do I want and where am I taking the 12 12
photo, what time am I taking the photo. 13 13
So how do you work with the color palette and how do you start to form ideas of what 14 14
colors you want to use? A great way is to look at past photography and to look at films 15 15
even and see what colors they use and then go out and practice. One of my favorite things 16 16
is going out into the forest. You have a lot of greens, you have browns, you have a lot 17 17
of blues, and it's a very natural feeling. But then you put a subject in there that is 18 18
wearing red, let's say, and it just pops out so much. It’s so vibrant compared to everything 19 19
else and it adds another dimension to it. 20 20
Another great way to play with the color palette is learning your complimentary and secondary 21 21
colors. And these are colors that really meld well together but have contrast. So blue to 22 22
yellow, red to green, these colors sort of offset and add an extra dimension to your 23 23
photography. At the end of the day the colors are another subject in your photo. And really 24 24
what colors you choose to have in your frame both in the background and on your main subject 25 25
make a huge difference as to the motion and the mood of your photo. So be sure to pay 26 26
attention next time and make a conscious decision of, “Oh well I'm going to shoot in the forest.” 27 27
Do you want the character or the subject to meld in and match the background or do you 28 28
want them to really stand out and be a more vibrant subject? It's something that you can 29 29
play with and as you get into fine tuning it, refining it, you'll find locations that 30 30
you love to shoot at, that you know the color palette and you know that your subject that 31 31
you’re bring into that environment is going to work well. 32 32
So go do some research, go see what the different colors are, go find out which ones oppose 33 33
each other, which ones complement each other. And really look at how other photographers 34 34
use these colors in their photography.