Color is all around us, in our entire landscape, from the rolling mountains to our laundry hamper. One of the hardest things to do as a photographer is to capture these colors and then reproduce them as vivid and beautiful as they appeared. When you flip through a magazine, bright colors jump out at you on nearly every page, while the photos in your family album have flat tones and little vibrance in comparison. In photography, the way film captures color is in a completely different way then modern digital cameras do, but I would like to discuss both of these topics. This week, I will talk about how you can get great color using a manual film camera and next week I will go over the digital side of color photography.
Making the Most of Color Film
We've all seen the stunning color photographs of professionals from magazines to coffee table books, but what is their secret to achieving such color in their photographs? Some think that the film type they use is a major player. While this is true, to an extent, for the most part what differs a professional photographer and their understanding of color to a beginner or an ameture, is their in-depth understanding of color theory. Also, knowing how films react to different types of light (bright sun, clouds, reflecting light from snow) and how it will effect their ending result before even pressing the shutter.
So what's the best film to use? Well, the answer depends on what you are planning on photographing. For the best results for skin tones, use a color negative film like Kodak Gold, Portra NC or Fuji Reala. For general purpose or for landscapes, Kodak Ultra Color would be a good choice to bring out vivid colors. But, to get the best colors, high quality slide film will never disappoint. Fuji Velvia and Kodak E100 VS are both great choices for color slide film. The only way to find the best film for you is to try different kinds and experiment, this way you will find the quality you want at the price you are ready to pay.
The photo on the left has the flat, even tones I desired for accurate skin color in this portrait (shot with Kodak 160NC). On the right, we notice the brighter, more vivid colors Kodak E100 VS film has, which I wanted to bring attention to the red sand found on Prince Edward Island in contrast to the small flower and its green leaves.
Complementary Colors
I could rample on for days about color theory and how it affects photography, but I won't. An important key point that will help you understand color and can be applied in your photography is the use of complemetary colors. Color "opposites," or complements, can bring out vibrant color and help accentuate a subject from its background. A red tricycle on a green lawn, a yellow bus against a blue sky, or dark skinned person against a light background are all examples of how to use complementary colors in photography. The photo example above, of the green leaves of the flower against the rust colored sand, shows how complementary colors can accentuate certrain parts of a photograph. The flower in a bed of white sand would not be as interesting.
Next time you are out shooting, try thinking in color and use it to your advantage! I would love to see your examples, or your results from trying this technique, please post them! I will be happy to leave comments and answer any questions your may have.
Now get out there and shoot!
Catherine Bligh, http://www.cblighphotography.com
All images ©2006, Catherine Bligh, Photography and may not be used for any purpose or on any other website without permission.