Get to grips with colour theory

There's a kaleidoscope of colour out there just waiting to be captured, join us as Rod Lawton shares everything you need to know...

Colour is obviously a key component in photography, but it’s also a remarkably complex and subtle subject. We’re all attracted by colour, but in very different ways at very different times. Colour can produce an emotional response, such as the warm colours of an autumnal scene or the bright blue skies of summer. It can also create a strong graphical effect with colour contrasts and harmonies.

We all react to colour when we take photographs without necessarily realising it, but it can be useful to think about how colour works and how we can make the most of it when we’re out taking pictures. For example, more is not always better! A scene packed with every colour under the sun, such as an open air market, for example, will not necessarily make a good photograph, and simply turning the colour up to maximum either with your Canon EOS camera’s Picture Styles or later in software, will make the colours stronger but won’t necessarily make them better. Colours like to fight for attention, and if you increase the saturation, you’re just increasing the conflict.

It pays to be selective with colour, so think about what’s attracting you to a scene, how colour is involved and how to make sure that comes across. This can help you decide on the best composition, or what to include and what to leave out, and the best camera settings, particularly white balance which has the effect of making your scenes appear more warm or cool.

Lighting can also have an effect on colour. Soft, indirect lighting can often make colours seem richer and stronger, while harsh sunlight and shadows can take away some of their impact.