By Gay Eskew
Colors enhance our world. They exude vibrancy. Colors in nature are created to present a pleasing appearance. When we dress ourselves, most of us choose colors that complement one another: different shades of the same hue, colors that go together, or colors that do not clash, such as orange and red.
When a photographer takes pictures, he or she deliberately or subconsciously makes allowances for various colors. Colorful photos attract attention. Sunsets are usually big hits because they combine many of the principles of good photography, including color, into a single image.
Michael Phelps, a local artist, instructor, and photographer, shares some tips about the color wheel. (Check out the photo.) The basic color wheel consists of the three primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) with their secondary colors. The 3 primary colors are placed in every other space in the triangular-shaped “pie” pieces of the circle. Between red and blue is purple, formed by mixing the two. On the other side of blue is yellow, which together make green. The last color is orange between yellow and red. Together, they illustrate the contrast and complementary status of the six main colors. Any two of the three primary colors go together (red, blue, and yellow), or any two of the three secondary colors (green, orange, and purple).
Directly opposite each primary color is its complementary color. The complementary color does not contain the opposite primary color. (See the pie piece “colors”):
Opposite BLUE is the color orange. Think of the blue sky with the orange sunset.
Opposite RED is the color green. Think Christmas, holly branches, or autumn!
Opposite YELLOW (GOLD) is the color Purple. Think of royalty with their gold jewelry.
Overall, a warm color is paired with a cool color opposite it on the color wheel: orange (warm) with blue (cool); red (warm) with green; and yellow (warm) with purple. Warm colors produce different emotions than cool colors. For example, would you rather have your bedroom painted red or painted blue? There is a place for every color on the color wheel and its variations. Wisely orchestrate colors to produce an emotion. For example, a wildfire photo could create a fear of destruction. A photo of a slow-moving river creates a sense of peace. Use colors to stir emotions to connect with your photo viewers on a deeper level.