Ever wonder why it feel like your photos are missing something? I know I did for a little while until I figured out this trick!
At first when I’d look back at some of my photos like this one:
I just couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t anything spectacular. I mean I had a good composition, I was focussed in the right spot and it was exposed properly.
Still, it felt like something was missing. It wasn’t a powerful image like I had wanted it to be.
Then I found out a little something that greatly improved the impact of my photos and this is what I want to share with you today!
WHAT IS COLOR THEORY?
Color Theory is just another tool, like composition or choosing a depth of field when we take a photo. Adding the ingredient of color theory to that delicious photo we’re about to take just helps to create a stronger, more powerful image overall.
Colors affect us emotionally and understanding the emotions they evoke can help us when trying to create the right vibe in our photos.
For example, do you want to create a sense of harmony and calmness in a meadow surrounded by mountains? Or do you want to evoke a sense of shock and call attention to your daredevil friend who is pretending to jump off of a waterfall?
Either way, color can help you achieve this. Let’s dive in to understanding how!
HOW TO CREATE MORE POWERFUL PHOTOS USING COLOR THEORY
ANALOGOUS
create a sense of harmony
Analogous colors just look great together. Simple as that!
What they are though, are a set of colors that sit beside each other on the color wheel, like Blue, Green and Yellow. But, it doesn’t have to be three, it can just be two colors, all the way up to half way across the color wheel.
Anything more than that will start to blur the Analogous look your going for.
Analogous colors can often be found naturally. Think of how beautiful the colours look in the fall. Now think of the main colours you see in a fall photo. Yellows, oranges and reds. See? Analogous!
So the next time you’re heading out on an adventure to the mountains, make sure to dress in orange! Yup. Head to toe! Just kidding, you don’t have to do that. However, my Uncle did the first time we went to Disney World and let me just say, we never lost him! (I know it doesn’t have anything to do with color theory, but I hope it gave you a little laugh!)
COMPLEMENTARY
heighten contrast to the max and call attention to subjects!
When we talk about complementary colors, we’re talking about two colours that sit on the opposite sides of the color wheel. These are the most common:
But any color that opposes each other on the wheel can create the same effect.
Cool colours like purples, blues, and greens work beautiful with warmer tones like yellows, oranges, and reds because they are dramatically different. So pairing them together creates a powerful photo and can really draw attention to a subject. Check out the scale in this photo:
MONOCHROMATIC
evoke emotion and create a sense of timelessness
Black and White photography is mostly what we think about when monochromatic comes to mind, but this can actually apply to any of the colors.
The trick here is to just use different tones of that same color to create a monochromatic effect.
Here’s an example to give you an idea:
If I’m being honest, Complementary is my favourite color theory to use when out taking photos with Analogous as my second. Rarely do I use Monochromatic at the moment. Boy-oh-boy is it powerful when you nail it though!
But who knows, my photography style is constantly growing and evolving. And that’s a good thing right?! We should always be growing. Honestly it seems like it would be difficult to run out of techniques or skills or even styles of photography to learn and I love it!
WHEN TO USE DIFFERENT COLOR THEORIES?
Color theory can be applied to all niches in photography – Portrait, Weddings, Macro, Architectural, and the list goes on! I know I definitely use it now in my landscape and travel photography and I love the impact it has.
Here’s a couple of examples to get you started:
- Ever notice how the red jacket stands out in a green forest? What color theory are they using? Complementary!
- How about seeing a yellow jacket in a green forest near a waterfall? Yup, you got it. That would be Analogous.
But how do you know when to use each one?
COMPLEMENTARY
Well, when it comes to Complementary, try not to over do it. By this I mean, don’t have 50% green and 50% red.
The reason why is because pairing these two colors together can be quite jarring to the eye. I know it seems odd but if you look at red and green right beside each other, the point between the two colours will start to shake.
This is because the opposing colors are very hard on your eyes.
Fun Fact: Look up the Night Cafe by Van Gogh and notice how he introduces shades of grey between the reds and the greens to make it easier on the eyes.
So the trick to using complementary colors is simply to not over do it.
Complementary colors are great to use when you want to call attention to a subject. Just be sure to keep the ratio of the subject small compared to the rest of the scene. And introducing shades of grey in-between the two complementary colors, just like Van Gogh, will help reduce the strain on the eyes.
ANALOGOUS
The idea of creating a sense of harmony is a little bit more freeing. Photos that have say three Analogous colours create a calm and relaxing vibe so if you’re going for the zen look, Analogous will help you portray that perfectly!
Check out this one. Aaah, feels like I can breathe!
MONOCHROMATIC
This is great to use in macro photography. If we’re trying to call attention to the beautiful repetition of a succulent, the emphasis is on the repetition, not so much the color. The monochromatic look ties it all together and makes for a timeless vibe.
It’s also great to use in architectural photography when the goal is to emphasize patterns or symmetry. Alen Palander is a master at this. Have a peek at the architectural shots on his instagram page to see what I mean.
OTHER COLOR THEORIES TO TRY
There are a few other color theories in photography than just the ones noted above such as:
Triadic – These colors are equally spaced from one another on the color wheel, like blue, yellow and red. This can also give a powerful feel to your photos. Think of a beautiful sunset photo over a body of water and you’ll see what I mean.
Quadratic – These are four colors that create a rectangular shape on the color wheel like blue, green, orange and red.
This is also referred to as double complementary. Check out the color wheel. I think you can see why!
Diad – A diad is separated by two hues of color. This creates a harmonious vibe similar to Analogous tones.
These color theories are meant to help you see the harmonious, contrasting and timeless combinations when you’re out photographing.
Sometimes I like to plan in advance with a color theory in mind when possible. For example, if you’re doing a family photo shoot at the beach, perhaps consider having the family members dress in airy light yellows and blues to complement the scenery.
But, it’s not to say that you should only be using these colour theories. Sometimes it’s great to just experiment and see what works for you. For example, try putting blue and pink together. They make a great pair when it comes to color combinations even though they don’t pop up in any of the theories above.
I hope this inspires you to get out and play!
If you’re a beginner in DSLR photography and you’re looking for other tips like this to improve your skills, make sure to sign up for our FREE 8 Essential DSLR Photography Tips for Beginners.
These are the tips that gave me creative control over my photos. Now, I actually understand how to use my DSLR to get the feeling I want and capture the moment each and every time!
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Have an awesome rest of your day! Hopefully you can get out and practice getting some powerful shots using color theory soon.
Bob Allen
I am interested in Using Color Theory information. Is this available as a single unit. ?
Hey Bob, I’m not exactly sure what it is you’re looking for. Would you mind elaborating for me?
I have a need for the information contained in your Using Color Theory. Am not able to tell how to get this information. Is it a class I take on line or it comes as a download, and what about the cost for this information only. Thanks, Bob Allen
Thank you, Claire! I LOVE color theory and enjoyed geeking out while reading this article.
Awesome to hear! Thanks so much for your kind words my dear!