TECHNIQUES
MASTERCLASS SERIES
Hone your shooting and editing skills to capture a fuller range of colours in complex lighting
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.
The main difficulties arise from both the shortfalls in a camera’s ability to render natural colours and the type of devices on which images are viewed. Phone screens, laptop screens, TVs and multiple print media all require different image work and it is essential you know how to balance colour in any location. Let’s take a look at the main colour conditions a photographer may encounter. We’ll discover the simple mistakes you can make without realising and how these could hold you back from capturing colour as you see it. © Francesco Riccardo Iacomino / 500Px Plus via Getty Images
Capture low-kelvin colours
Work with reds, oranges and yellows to capture better shots of sunsets, landscapes and interiors
Back in Issue 266 of the magazine, we explored how best to capture golden hour landscapes, with pro photographer Ross Hoddinott explaining the various pros and cons of shooting at sunrise and sunset. But even experienced landscape photographers can fall under the spell of dawn and dusk and make the false assumption that it is hard to make a bad photograph at these times.
One of the biggest challenges of capturing any strong colour is the fallibility of automatic white balance systems.
