Color and Light in Photographic Composition
Knowing how interplay between color and light in photographic composition works and using that knowledge will result in images that you will love.The first example is about how light shining through translucent material intensifies the color.
This is a picture from my backyard after a spring shower. The leaves appear so beautiful and the color so pure because of the diffused light that is shining through.
You can use the same principle to photograph stained glass windows – like the one at Gillette Castle in CT. At a photograph, this is nothing special and no more than an illustration of the technique.
The technique works well with translucent fabric or similar material too, as shown in the picture catching the natural light coming through the blue umbrellas. It was overcast and gloomy yet there was enough light to liven up the blue umbrellas.
Light and color influence the mood of a picture. Sunlight is warmer early in the morning and later in the afternoon. This casts a warm tinge and naturally favors an image which wants to project a happy, cozy feeling. This image below is a candid portrait from a party. I didn’t edit color or white balance. The picture is glowing in the diffused and warm afternoon light coming through large glass windows. It makes one wonder if it was taken at a professional studio.
The light during the middle of the day especially in shade or when it is overcast is bluish. This light is not particularly suitable for a happy mood picture. However it goes well with this shot of Mammoth Springs at Yellowstone National Park – an inhospitable place.
In conclusion, I would like you to remember – that typically successful color photographs have only a few colors. A little goes a long way.
