Category Archives: Ex.25 – Colour relationships

TAoP – Exercise

The Art of Photography – Exercise 25 – Colour relationships

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The following is a direct copy and has been Pasted in for future reference from the Art of Photography coursework PDF Doc. (pasted in Maroon)

3 photographs for the first part, 3 – 4 for the second part

This exercise is in two parts. The first is to produce one photograph for each combination of primary and secondary colours, adjusting the distance, focal length or framing when you shoot so that you compose the picture to the proportions listed above — or at least close to them. Finding these combinations will not necessarily be easy, and adjusting the proportions even less so.

For the second part, the rules are not so strict. Produce three or four images which feature colour combinations that appeal to you. They can be combinations of two colours or more. The objective here is to demonstrate that there is no single ‘correctness’ to complementary colours. But you should be aware of any imbalance in the combination and study its effect. Write this in your learning log for future reference. As discussed when looking at balance, the slight tension that comes from imbalance can often be more interesting than perfect equilibrium. What is important in this course is that you are aware of it and can make use of it in your own work.

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Equipment

Nikon D4

24/70  f2.8 lens

80/400 f4/5.6 lens

Nikon Speedlight 910

Tripod

Method

Part A – My approach to this part of the exercise was based on finding prime and secondary colours that I could use to fully emphasise two complementary opposites. Added to this, the exercise asks the student to produce photographs with the correct colour ratios given from the coursework and after spending two days walking around my local town and Oxford city thinking of particular places I might find opportunity to capture such material I came to the conclusion that it would be best and more accurate for me to create the images needed by selecting various coloured items and arranging them myself, this would also allow me to calculate the correct ratios for each image.

Part B – In this part of the exercise I have shown four varying colour combinations which have both captured my attention and also appeal to me.

Please see the images below.

Note – all pictures have been compressed hence there will be a quality reduction when enlarging.

Part A

Picture 1 Red against green (Ratio 1:1) Details This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f16 and a speed of 0.8th sec. ISO 640, focal length 66mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod. Comments The combination of red against green is probably the most common of the three examples as there are vast amounts of plant and flowers offering this combination. I deliberately choose the colour of lime green as the background for this subject as I find the balance more striking, I also see more tension between the vibrant reds and the lime green. I did try a more sombre emerald green as a background but I preferred the harder colour contrast from the lime green, it was almost as if the lime green was too safe and did not provide the impact I was looking for. For details showing how I accurately calculated the ratio of 1:1 please see my learning Log - Exercise 25.

Picture 1
Red against green (Ratio 1:1)
Details
This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f16 and a speed of 0.8th sec. ISO 640, focal length 66mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod.
Comments
The combination of red against green is probably the most common of the three examples as there are vast amounts of plant and flowers offering this combination. I deliberately choose the colour of lime green as the background for this subject as I find the balance more striking, I also see more tension between the vibrant reds and the lime green. I did try a more sombre emerald green as a background but I preferred the harder colour contrast from the lime green, it was almost as if the lime green was too safe and did not provide the impact I was looking for.
For details showing how I accurately calculated the ratio of 1:1 please see my learning Log – Exercise 25.

Picture 2 Orange Against Blue (Ratio1:2) Details This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f5.6 and a speed of 10th sec. ISO 640, focal length 70mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod. Comments This combination of orange against blue is my personal favourite, I find it the most vibrant and regards to the most commonly seen orange / blue combination it would have to be the sun setting in the sky or the golden colours that the trees provide in the autumn, again against a blue sky. My own feelings of these two colour tones are total harmony, the vibrant orange against the royal blue background provides an incredible punch of colour and contrast. For details showing how I accurately calculated the ratio of 1:2 please see my learning Log - Exercise 25.

Picture 2
Orange Against Blue (Ratio1:2)
Details
This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f5.6 and a speed of 10th sec. ISO 640, focal length 70mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod.
Comments
This combination of orange against blue is my personal favourite, I find it the most vibrant and regards to the most commonly seen orange / blue combination it would have to be the sun setting in the sky or the golden colours that the trees provide in the autumn, again against a blue sky. My own feelings of these two colour tones are total harmony, the vibrant orange against the royal blue background provides an incredible punch of colour and contrast.
For details showing how I accurately calculated the ratio of 1:2 please see my learning Log – Exercise 25.

Picture 3 Yellow Against Purple / Violet (Ratio1:3) Details This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f16 and a speed of 1.3 sec. ISO 640, focal length 70mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod. Comments This combination of yellow against violet is like a night and day contrast, imagine the lemon being the moon and the violet representing the sky. For me this is the most striking of the three combinations I also find it offers the most visual energy. Again I could liken these two complementary opposites to the lemon being the electric nucleus and the violet being the protons and neutrons. For details showing how I accurately calculated the ratio of 1:3 please see my learning Log - Exercise 25.

Picture 3
Yellow Against Purple / Violet (Ratio1:3)
Details
This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f16 and a speed of 1.3 sec. ISO 640, focal length 70mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod.
Comments
This combination of yellow against violet is like a night and day contrast, imagine the lemon being the moon and the violet representing the sky. For me this is the most striking of the three combinations I also find it offers the most visual energy. Again I could liken these two complementary opposites to the lemon being the electric nucleus and the violet being the protons and neutrons.
For details showing how I accurately calculated the ratio of 1:3 please see my learning Log – Exercise 25.

Part B

Colour combinations that appeal to me.

Picture 4 Rousham Gardens Details This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f5.6 and a speed of 200th sec. ISO 125, focal length 45mm. Camera hand held. Comments In this picture I tried to capture the pastel colours and wanted the effect to be something like a water coloured Monet, to really benefit from the vast amount of floral detail in this picture it really needs to be enlarged for maximum effect. With regards to mood from this picture, due to its gentleness of pastel colours and classical composure I find it brings a more placid and calming effect.

Picture 4
Rousham Gardens
Details
This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f5.6 and a speed of 200th sec. ISO 125, focal length 45mm. Camera hand held.
Comments
In this picture I tried to capture the pastel colours and wanted the effect to be something like a water coloured Monet, to really benefit from the vast amount of floral detail in this picture it really needs to be enlarged for maximum effect. With regards to mood from this picture, due to its gentleness of pastel colours and classical composure I find it brings a more placid and calming effect.

Picture 5 Winter Pansies Details This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f2.8 and a speed of 320th sec. ISO 250, focal length 70mm. Camera hand held. Comments I took this picture of a winter flower recently whilst abroad in Italy. What draws me to this subject is the rich colour combinations and its migration from yellow into blue and then into the deep vivid purple. I particularly like the abrupt cut off from the yellow and the way that the electric blue gently bleeds into the purple. In this colour combination the yellow is the real energy of the subject as it demands immediate focal attention and this energy is provided from the blue and vibrant purple secondary and primary colours. With regards to the ratio between the purple and yellow its more like 10:1 in this instance opposed to 3:1 but the effect is still very striking.

Picture 5
Winter Pansies
Details
This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f2.8 and a speed of 320th sec. ISO 250, focal length 70mm. Camera hand held.
Comments
I took this picture of a winter flower recently whilst abroad in Italy. What draws me to this subject is the rich colour combinations and its migration from yellow into blue and then into the deep vivid purple. I particularly like the abrupt cut off from the yellow and the way that the electric blue gently bleeds into the purple. In this colour combination the yellow is the real energy of the subject as it demands immediate focal attention and this energy is provided from the blue and vibrant purple secondary and primary colours. With regards to the ratio between the purple and yellow its more like 10:1 in this instance opposed to 3:1 but the effect is still very striking.

Picture 6 The London eye at night Details This picture was taken with a 80/400mm lens, aperture of f5.6 and a speed of 400th sec. ISO 100, focal length 400mm. Camera held and positioned on a monopod. Comments This picture shows four parts of the colour circle – orange, yellow, green and blue. The only two complementary opposites are the orange and blue but the autumnal variation is one of natures finest. The tension is between the blue sky in the background and the varying colours of leaves in the remainder of the image. What draws me to these colours is the orange and blue, I love autumn photography and this picture takes my mind immediately to that time of year.

Picture 6
The London eye at night
Details
This picture was taken with a 80/400mm lens, aperture of f5.6 and a speed of 400th sec. ISO 100, focal length 400mm. Camera held and positioned on a monopod.
Comments
This picture shows four parts of the colour circle – orange, yellow, green and blue. The only two complementary opposites are the orange and blue but the autumnal variation is one of natures finest. The tension is between the blue sky in the background and the varying colours of leaves in the remainder of the image. What draws me to these colours is the orange and blue, I love autumn photography and this picture takes my mind immediately to that time of year.

Picture 7 The London Eye at night Details This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f2.8 and a speed of 1/3rd sec. ISO 800, focal length 45mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod. Comments Of the three times I have been on the London Eye by far the best was at night time. I don’t know London well but the hue of lights from the city at night was spectacular, they say if you ever get the chance or privilege of being on the eye at midnight ‘new years eve’ the fireworks are second to none. In this picture I am drawn towards the balance of electric blue against the brownie red sky, I also like the randomness coming from the lights switched on within the London County Hall building to the right of the eye.

Picture 7
The London Eye at night
Details
This picture was taken with a 24/70mm lens, aperture of f2.8 and a speed of 1/3rd sec. ISO 800, focal length 45mm. Camera held and positioned on a tripod.
Comments
Of the three times I have been on the London Eye by far the best was at night time. I don’t know London well but the hue of lights from the city at night was spectacular, they say if you ever get the chance or privilege of being on the eye at midnight ‘new years eve’ the fireworks are second to none. In this picture I am drawn towards the balance of electric blue against the brownie red sky, I also like the randomness coming from the lights switched on within the London County Hall building to the right of the eye.

What have I learnt from this exercise

I have learnt a great deal from this exercise and in particular the colour circle with its primary and secondary opposites.

Thoughts and Reflection

This exercise took me considerably longer than I first anticipated, I read the coursework through twice and as mentioned above spent two days walking around my local town and Oxford city thinking of particular places I might find opportunity to capture such material. After deciding to construct the pictures and apply the ratios myself, I fully enjoyed the exercise and its outcome. I now feel confident in recognising colour combinations and colour tensions not to mention the knock on effect that even opposing colour combinations from the colour circle can have on balance and character.

For details showing how I  accurately calculated the colour ratios and more information with my thoughts and reflections, please see my learning Log – Exercise 25 and also my hand written notes in my ‘schematics and thoughts’ sketch book (Jan 2014).