The Colour Wheel
Use the Colour Wheel to determine which colours look best when used together and also to ensure you are shooting the full range of hues available.
The world is full of amazing colours, from the luscious greens of woodland foliage to luminous materials in modern architecture, and from carpets of bluebells to eyecatching liveries on planes, trains and sports cars. Regardless of whether they occur in nature or are the product of human activity and preference, colours have the power to inspire the imagination and stimulate an emotional response in the viewer of a photograph.
When only black and white film existed, photographers had to rely on coloured filters to introduce some level of contrast control. Once colour films hit the market, they unleashed a wave of creative opportunities and subsequent challenges which have shaped colour science in the digital age.
Colours can be used to direct the viewer on a journey around an image, or if captured incorrectly, prevent your audience from seeing your intended subject. Bold hues can transport people into a scene, with the feeling they could reach out and touch elements of the shot or, where colours appear unnatural, prevent a connection.
