Color theory is the collection of rules and guidelines that photographers and other artists use to create appealing color schemes. To pick the best color combinations, designers use a color wheel and refer to extensive collected knowledge about human optical ability, psychology, culture and more. Aristotle developed the first known theory of color believing it was sent by God from heaven through celestial rays of light. He suggested that all colors came from white and black (lightness and darkness) and related them to the four elements – water, air, earth, and fire. Aristotle’s beliefs on color were widely held for over 2000 years until being replaced by those of Newton. In the 1660s, English physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton began a series of experiments with sunlight and prisms. He discovered that clear white light was composed of seven visible colors. When this line of colors was aligned to connect the ends, the first color wheel was made. |
- red, blue and yellow
So why exactly is color important? There are two main reasons. Color can help tell us stories (visually) and it can be used to communicate on an emotional level. Color can be used as a primary factor responsible for making the photo feel exciting, lively, mysterious, melancholic or a little sombre. You can make something as simple as clothes on a line against a wall look dramatic or exciting, just because of color. |
ASSIGNMENT
Take one photograph for each of the following color combinations, or you may use a photograph that you have taken in the past. Post photographs labeled with the appropriate color theory to a new gallery on Weebly.
1. One Dominant Color
Pick one color to be the main subject of your photograph. Color needs to be the subject. This means the viewer will see the color first, as the subject. Any other subjects in the photograph will be less important.
2. Primary Colors
Your photograph should contain RED, BLUE and YELLOW. Any other colors should be very minimal.
3. Secondary Colors
Your photograph should contain ORANGE, PURPLE & GREEN. Any other colors should be a minimal part of the photograph.
4. Complementary Colors
Your photograph should contain one of the complimentary color schemes. RED & GREEN or ORANGE & BLUE or YELLOW & PURPLE.
5. WARM COLORS
Your photograph should contain warm colors only. Warm colors are REDS, ORANGES, YELLOWS, MAGENTAS, and YELLOW-GREENS.
6. COOL COLORS
Your photograph should contain cool colors only. Cool colors are BLUES, GREENS, VIOLETS and GREEN-YELLOWS.
7. Analogous Colors
This photograph might look like it would be difficult to take, but it is a very common color scheme. This photograph contains contain 3-5 COLORS that are NEXT to each other on THE COLOR WHEEL.