6/7 images
Purpose
To identify how to use colour relationships for physical and emotional impact
Technical learning
The key types of colour relationship are:
Complementary
- What is it? Combining 2 colours opposite each other on the colour wheel. (e.g. G/R, B/O, Y/V). This also combines warm (advancing) and cool (receding) colours
- Impact? High-contrast but also harmonious, especially if brightness is balanced (Scale: Y = 9, O= 8, R = 6, G = 6, B = 4, Violet = 3)
Monochromatic
- What is it? Using different shades of the same colour
- Impact? Clean and elegant. Soothing, easy on the eyes, especially in blue or green.
- What is it? Colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. Oten 1 colour is dominant while others enrich the scheme.
- Impact? Similar to monochromatic, with greater nuances. Consider either staying within warm and cool range, or crossing over.
Split Complementary
- What is it? 1 colour contrasted with the 2 colours adjacent to its complementary (e.g. R/ B & Y, O/ V & G)
- Impact? High contrast, with less tension from using complementary colours
Triadic
- What is it? Use of colours equally spaced around the colour wheel (e.g B/R, B/Y, Y/R, Y/G, Y/V)
- Impact? Contrast, yet harmonious, balanced and rich in colour
Exercise instructions
Part 1
- Shoot 1 image for each combination of primary and secondary colours
- Follow the ratios that balance their relative brightness
Part 2
- Prodcue 3 or 4 images with colour combinations (2 or more) that you like
- Be aware of balance/ imbalance and consider its effect
Images and review
1. Complementary pairs
Green/ Red
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| Sex Shop Window Colour complements appear in all walks of life! |
Orange/ Blue
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| Building worker crosses Blackfriars Bridge, London Orange fatigues contrast with the blue of the sky |
Yellow/ Violet
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| Flowers in a supermarket Violet (reddish) petals, red centres Combination is rarer than other 2 complementary pairs |
2. Appealing pairs
1. Blue, Red and White
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| London Eye at twilight as seen from Waterloo Bridge Strong circle of blue, red and white (the union flag) |
2. Warm and Cool colours in shapes
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| Fencing outside school in London Mixes warm colours (red and yellow mainly) with cool ones (shades of blue, a dash of green), as well as squares, circles and rectangles |
3. Analogous - blues and violets at night
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| National Theatre at nightime The camera sees colour more vividly at night than the eye. Lighting at night projects colour onto light brown concrete wall that look so uninspiring during the day |
4. Analogous - red, orange and yellow
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| Canoes for hire, Lyme Regis Red, orange and to a lesser extent yellow Balance comes from more red than orange and more orange than yellow. Blue sky background isolates boats: a cool colour vs. warm ones |
