What is it about color which attracts us? Our environment is far from monochromatic! The human eye can distinguish about a million hues. Some animals such as dogs and cats have greater visual acuity, but do not have nearly the visual spectrum distinguishability of people.
Color plays a critical role in daily life--it can sway our thinking, change action and cause reactions. Color can attract attention or change one's mood. It is one of the most effective means of creating impact in an image.
"Why do two colors, put next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? No--just as one can never learn how to paint Picasso."
(from the website: TrueCenterPublishing.org
While some photographers have mastered the use of Black and White photos, most prefer to fill frames with color. Color is a key component ; just as important as exposure and clarity.
Consider some of these colorful experiences.
I love visiting gardens and creating floral arrangements.Adult coloring books have become a lucrative business.
Tattoo artists use skin as their canvas, but inflict a certain amount of discomfort on the recipient. Yet, the wearers are proud of the creations.
Many kids' parties offer face painting to the attendees.
We associate so many common thoughts with color, even though it may vary from culture to culture. Brides wear white, the cowboys with the black hats are the "bad guys". Yellow signals caution while red may prevent us from danger such as with stop signs. So many firetrucks seem to use yellow. I have difficulty not imagining them as red, as was their shade so common during my childhood.
Color is visual, but even our language has so many phrases that refer to color--"Red as a beet," "Caught red handed." Blue is frequently applied in a similar manner: "feeling blue," "blue collar workers." I am sure you can think of similar shades and their associations. Color has influenced music. George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, continues it's popularity as does the Beatles' Yellow Submarine.
Sherwin and Williams have made millions because folks like to paint inside AND outside their dwellings to transform a house into a home.
As I prepared this blog, questions about color came to mind. I did a bit of research and am certain this topic will be revisited. I googled "color," then "color in photography", and stumbled upon the topic, "The Psychology of Photography". Having a background in psychology and a passion for photography, I wonder where I found time to work on this blog, so great was the literature available on these subjects. I found much of it intriguing! However, I know time is precious, and least I keep my readers too long, I will simply let these photos speak for themselves.
