We often take the colour in the scenes we are photographing for granted. However, when it comes to shooting with a digital camera, there are several things you can do to ensure that the colour richness and interest that has attracted you to a scene in the first place is captured in all its glory, whether you’re shooting in JPEG or raw.
By using certain simple accessories such as a circular polarising filter, a flashgun, or just making sure that the light direction on your subject is perfect for the picture you want to capture, you can improve our results with very little effort.
All these tips will stand you in good stead when you venture out with your camera, and are worth keeping in mind next time you want your colours to sing!
TOP TIP
Time of day matters The sun is more directional when low, so colours will be more intense than when it’s higher and is spread out. Shoot early or late for stronger colours.
1 USE A POLARISING FILTER
AND ROTATE IT FOR BETTER COLOUR
To intensify colours in a scene, use a circular polarising filter. When rotated, a polariser can reduce glare, boost blue skies and increase the overall colour saturation of foliage. For maximum effect, the camera should be pointing at a subject that is at a right angle to the sun. You can see the effect as it occurs through the viewfinder or the LCD screen when using Live View.
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