When I first began practicing pet photography, specifically, back in early 2011, I was not concerned with color schemes. I paid more attention to the colors of the dog or cat I was working with, and not so much what was around them. That's not to say there weren't elements of color in my photography. Below is one of the very first shelter photos I took of a dog in need of a home.
Colorful? Sure. Complementary? Not really.
I remember it being very green and sunny. It would have been better if the reddish fence were not there, and/or the bow was missing. But, you learn by doing, and you make mental notes in that vast notebook in your brain that say things like: "Next time, skip the bow."
This week our task was to look back at some of our work and determine how we use color. The photo above is the only image from the "way back" that I will use. The images below are much more recent.
I remember it being very green and sunny. It would have been better if the reddish fence were not there, and/or the bow was missing. But, you learn by doing, and you make mental notes in that vast notebook in your brain that say things like: "Next time, skip the bow."
This week our task was to look back at some of our work and determine how we use color. The photo above is the only image from the "way back" that I will use. The images below are much more recent.
When you look at a color wheel, the colors directly across from each other on the wheel are considered complementary. Using complementary colors lends itself to using good color contrast.
On the one side of the wheel you see warm colors (yellow, orange, red). On the other side are cool colors ( purple, blue, green). If I pick a bright red, then look directly across from it, I will see a bright green. These two colors would be complementary. So if I am shooting in green grass, using red to complement that in some way would work.
On the one side of the wheel you see warm colors (yellow, orange, red). On the other side are cool colors ( purple, blue, green). If I pick a bright red, then look directly across from it, I will see a bright green. These two colors would be complementary. So if I am shooting in green grass, using red to complement that in some way would work.
I photograph my own dogs on a regular basis. Most of my dogs have orange, brown and white fur. Danny is black and white, Piper is mostly white, and then there is Billie, who runs the gambit between black, blue and gray depending on how the light hits her coat.
Not so very long ago, when we were talking about the Zone System, I took our dog Moe to the park to model for me. Moe is often selected because he is calm, quiet, and stays where and when you tell him to stay. The photo below is one where I sought to use a color scheme that would allow me to showcase Moe.
It was a wintery day. The grass is not a lush green. The colors of the playground equipment are vivid and bright. Moe was actually pretty reluctant to leave this newfound hidey hole. Doesn't he look comfortable?
Not so very long ago, when we were talking about the Zone System, I took our dog Moe to the park to model for me. Moe is often selected because he is calm, quiet, and stays where and when you tell him to stay. The photo below is one where I sought to use a color scheme that would allow me to showcase Moe.
It was a wintery day. The grass is not a lush green. The colors of the playground equipment are vivid and bright. Moe was actually pretty reluctant to leave this newfound hidey hole. Doesn't he look comfortable?
Because only certain elements of this photo are vivid, instead of the whole photo leaping at you in bright, uncomplementary colors, it is pleasing to the eye and helps to focus the eye on Moe. In the last year I have really started to pay attention to colors and how they affect my work.
And finally, for this week, a photo of our cat Matty, surrounded by mish-mosh. Mish-mosh is what I affectionately call the "stuff" that appears in the backgrounds of my photos that is unrecognizable, but sometimes colorful. The amount of mish-mosh is directly proportionate to how much time I've had during a given week to do mish-mosh intervention work.
And finally, for this week, a photo of our cat Matty, surrounded by mish-mosh. Mish-mosh is what I affectionately call the "stuff" that appears in the backgrounds of my photos that is unrecognizable, but sometimes colorful. The amount of mish-mosh is directly proportionate to how much time I've had during a given week to do mish-mosh intervention work.
You have to admit red mish-mosh certainly adds to a photo!
To see more colorful contrast work, you know what to do...start here with Becky Willuweit of Future Framed Photography in South Dakota, then work your way around the blog circle until you are right back where you started. Happy Friday!
To see more colorful contrast work, you know what to do...start here with Becky Willuweit of Future Framed Photography in South Dakota, then work your way around the blog circle until you are right back where you started. Happy Friday!
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