Simply Beautiful Photos: Palette

Swan, Wyoming (Photograph by James P. Blair)

This serene image by photographer James Blair succeeds all the more because of its cool blue palette. Every inch of the image says winter, peace, silence. Colors can imbue a photograph with a strong sense of mood. —Annie Griffiths

Photo Tip: Blues tend to be cool colors, especially the blues that drift toward purple. When they dominate a scene, we feel a shiver—an emotional response to the color. One blast of yellow or red in a mostly blue scene will warm it up and change our reaction. Remember to use color creatively in an image to leave an overall impression on the viewer.

Cormorant (Photograph by Josh Exell)

Silhouettes against a colorful sky or background can make wonderful pictures. The trick is often to underexpose the brighter area of a photograph. The dark area and shadows don’t change in this beautiful shot by Josh Exell, but the orange is a richer orange because of the deeper exposure. —Annie Griffiths
Photo Tip: Most of us know that sunsets can provide dramatic colors in the sky. But many people don’t realize that if they keep shooting after the brightest color seems to fade to the naked eye, a richer hue of the color may appear on film or flash card.

New York City Skyline (Photograph by Jim Richardson)

At times, the overall color of a scene can be so different from the way we normally see it that we hardly recognize the place. Seeing lush, green Central Park in a pink fog changes it completely in Jim Richardson’s stunning view, shot from a hotel window. —Annie Griffiths

Photo Tip: Bad weather makes great pictures. It can also make the familiar completely new. So head out in that snowstorm and find ways to shoot in the rain. Celebrate fog and sandstorm and lightning. New pictures await under these conditions.

Lightning, Nebraska (Photograph by Jim Richardson)

Colors are often associated with certain emotions. The eerie green of the porch against the oddly purple sky gives a spooky feeling to the whole image. Photographer Jim Richardson has wisely worked with the halogen lighting that photographers usually avoid. —Annie Griffiths

Photo Tip: Remember that artificial lighting comes in a variety of colors. Tungsten is yellow, flash is blue, and fluorescent varies. These colors can make or break a photograph, so use them thoughtfully.

Imperial Palace Garden, Japan (Photograph by Justin Guariglia)

The symmetry of this lovely photograph by Justin Guariglia is interrupted and made memorable by the red umbrella and its reflection in the pond. The strength of the red in this scene balances the dominant deep greens and cool colors and is quietly echoed by a gray umbrella in the upper left corner. —Annie Griffiths

Photo Tip: In an image with a simple palette, a splash of color can add interest to the scene. But the placement of that color in the scene must be composed thoughtfully so that it adds to the balance of the overall photograph.