““Red and green should never Red and green should never be seen, except with yellow be seen, except with yellow

in between”in between”

ColourColourTheory & CreativityTheory & Creativity

The Importance of The Importance of ColourColour

• The expression of The expression of colourcolour is what photography is what photography seeks to capture. seeks to capture.

• As a photographer this is fundamental to what you As a photographer this is fundamental to what you do, so understanding how it works from a scientific, do, so understanding how it works from a scientific, theoretical, publishing and creative point of view is theoretical, publishing and creative point of view is important.important.

The Science Bit…The Science Bit…

The human eye is made up of RODS and CONES.The human eye is made up of RODS and CONES.

CONES identify COLOUR (RGB)CONES identify COLOUR (RGB)

RODS identify INTENSITYRODS identify INTENSITY

Varying intensities of each colour combine to make Varying intensities of each colour combine to make

the…the… SPECTRUM OF COLOUR

RGBRGB(Primary)(Primary)

CMYKCMYK(Secondary)(Secondary)

• A mix of TWO primary A mix of TWO primary colours.colours.

• CYAM, MAGENTA, YELLOWCYAM, MAGENTA, YELLOW

• Can include others such as Can include others such as BROWN which is a dark BROWN which is a dark YELLOW (still a mix of Red & YELLOW (still a mix of Red & Green).Green).

TERTIARYTERTIARY• A mix of all A mix of all

THREE primary THREE primary colours.colours.

• Or a mix of TWO Or a mix of TWO secondary secondary colours.colours.

The Technical Bit…The Technical Bit…WHITE BALANCE WHITE BALANCE

determines how your determines how your

camera defines colour.camera defines colour.

Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Auto, Cloudy, Daylight,

Flash, Fluorescent, Flash, Fluorescent,

Shade, Tungsten & Shade, Tungsten &

CustomCustom

One white wall & natural One white wall & natural light…light…

1/125 sec / f4.8 / ISO8001/125 sec / f4.8 / ISO800

The Use of Colour in The Use of Colour in Art…Art…

Historically, specific colours have held different meanings.Historically, specific colours have held different meanings.

Red is power and aggression.Red is power and aggression.

Brighter colours (yellow, orange) represent warmth.Brighter colours (yellow, orange) represent warmth.

Cool colours (blue, green).Cool colours (blue, green).

Black represents the dark side.Black represents the dark side.

When someone is angry they "see red”.When someone is angry they "see red”.

When someone is afraid or "chicken" they are called When someone is afraid or "chicken" they are called

"yellow”."yellow”.

Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate.war, violence, all things intense and passionate.

Joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures).

Task…Task…In pairs, describe your image using the type of In pairs, describe your image using the type of words we have just looked at (see handout)words we have just looked at (see handout)

Eg. “a Eg. “a stormystormy scene has been created by scene has been created by contrasting contrasting deepdeep, dark tones of , dark tones of greygrey, , blueblue and and violetviolet with with lighter blueslighter blues in the background” in the background”

Use lots of description words… (see handout)Use lots of description words… (see handout)

Carravagio – Judith Carravagio – Judith Beheading HolofernesBeheading Holofernes

Larry SultanLarry Sultan

Pep VentosaPep Ventosa

William EgglestonWilliam Eggleston

Nan GoldinNan Goldin

Monet – The StrollMonet – The Stroll