Being familiar with the “Color Wheel” theory is essential in understanding digital photo coloring techniques to help us produce great photographs with natural color. According to Color Wheel theory, there are two types of colors; Harmonious or Soft colors and Contrast or opposite color. Harmonious (Soft) colors are contiguous each other in the color wheel; and if they are used together will create wonderful photographs with quiet atmosphere. While opposite or contrast colors in the color wheel theory will collide each other. They do not match each other but at the same time they can create a wonderful contrast color; it can evoke a strong impression to the photographs. When you become familiar with the harmonious and opposite colors, you will find lots of ways to explore the photo subject.

Color wheel

In reference to color wheel, you can find that blue and orange are in the opposite direction and collide each other and the fact is that both color combination rarely exist in the nature. But on the other hand, the blue and yellow that are also opposite each other in the color wheel, can be found abundantly in the nature. For example the cockatoo with yellow and light blue wing. But not all contrast (opposite colors) can produce a good photograph. For example color combination of opposite red and green colors when used together will evoke an inconvenience view. Have a look at the cart below, a combination of green and red makes it inconvenience to the eyes. There is another factor on this opposite / contrast theory; the contrast is not just produced by the contrast colors but also the contrast brightness. It is therefore blue and yellow combination is very contrast because both colors have different level of brightness not just color contrast.

The other way to create a contrast is playing with different width of color area. Two opposite colors that occupy the same width area within the frame will not have significant contrast, and the result will not be satisfactory. But if one color is predominantly occupying the frame while one small area is occupied by other opposite color; you will get a strong contrast photo. Look at the bird in this photo, the red beak occupies only a small area of predominantly green area. The result is a wonderful contrast color. Both colors do not need to have the same width area; the small subject actually can have a better accentuation. Contrast colors do not need to have the same brightness, or the same width area. More practice needs to be done by finding objects with opposite colors and arranged their positions to get an elegant composition balance. Blue and yellow combination draws attention as in the first bird photo above; a green red combination needs to be tried for the experiment even though green and red combination as explained above collide each other. Any kinds of green plants combined with small red or orange flower can be arranged for an elegant combination as a simple example below. This small red flower is very contrast among green leaves and its position on one of the points of power according to rules of thirds becomes point of interest. See also point of interest. Practicing some experiments with various contrast or harmonious color combination is worth to try to sharpen the skill about color combination and composition. An experiment with nostalgia color is worth to try. Nostalgia picture style can be used if you want to evoke a nostalgia atmosphere in the photograph. But usually this nostalgia picture style is not available as default selection. A certain update from the manufacturer can be downloaded from their web site. This model was captured by Canon D30 DSLR camera by selecting ‘nostalgia’ picture style. An antique green color with tungsten white balance was used and combined with the sweet Borneo girl evokes a nostalgia mood.

Suggested readings:

• Lighting photography – the basic
• Photography flashing technique – need to know
• Photography exposure technique
• The lens filter – the urgency