One of the most compelling and visually impressive aspects of any prize photograph is an attention to colour - vibrant and rich colours can catapult an otherwise mediocre piece into top notch material. The colour study is a somewhat abstract approach to photography that focusses solely on the colours involved in the field of view. What this means in practical terms is that a colour study is usually, but not always and in no way limited to, a close-up shot with very tight cropping that focusses on imparting a message, feeling, or sentiment by using colour, shape, and texture as the subjects.
Outdoor Seasonal and Indoor Decor
Mother Nature is a very generous soul when it comes to providing subjects for a complex and diverse colour story - a palette produced by nature is sure to be organic and often asymmetrical, unparalleled in scope or in shade by anything that can be synthetically produced or manmade. Look for intrepid and youthful greens and yellows during the spring and early summer, or the rich blues, purples, and amber skylines afforded to you during the hotter seasons of the year. Autumn brings with it plenty of opportunity to photograph orange, olive, and brown shades and Winter ushers in crisp whites, sooty blacks, and a monochromatic spectrum in between.
On the indoor front, decor and furnishings can be very helpful in determing a subject for a colour study. Looking at any fine housewares store - one might immediately notice the displays or merchandising taking place, often colour co-ordinated products balanced in order to compliment each other. A rich silk tapestry, shot from an aggressive angle, would be a prime example of how useful decor can be in capturing a rich palette of extremely vibrant hues in combinations that would be unnatural to find in the organic world.
Photoshop, Your New Best Friend
Adobe Photoshop or similar suites such as Corel Paint Shop Pro are excellent tools - many might deem them necessary - in order to tweak your photographs into pieces worthy of inclusion in a professional portfolio.
With Photoshop it is possible to change the light levels of any particular photograph to emphasize certain colourations; it is also possible to directly adjust the hue, vibrance, and contrast of the photograph. Further, the simplest tool is also one of the most useful - the cropping tool will allow you to focus your work more acutely on a section that evokes the sentiment you are looking for, the perfect subject.
After post-production is complete and your finished products are ready to join your other works in the portfolio you might be surprised by the positive reaction you might garner with a well done colour study - it is an attractive piece of art that is accessible and interesting for nearly any audience!
Other Articles Pertaining to Photography and Photo Shoots
Doing an Urban Shoot
Outdoor Photography & Woodland Shoots
Winter Photography
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