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The appropriate use of color in photography adds a dynamic element to your images that is very pleasing to the eye. The correct use of it will allow you to create photographs to be proud of. Bold colors and bright composition in your photos result in images that sell. So use color to your advantage.

I have always used strong colors in my images to good effect, allowing the image to speak to the viewer. We think and feel in color, which makes it obvious that well utilized color draws the eye of the viewer. Here are some keys to understanding and using color more effectively in your photos.

1. Dominant color

At one stage I thought that filling the frame with lots of bold colors would make a dramatic image. Not so. Colors that clash cause confusion to the eye and result in a poor image. Too many clashing colors create multiple focal points, causing the eye to dart around the image not sure what to look at first or what to focus on. Rather, choose one dominant color that becomes the focal point of the image and draws the eye of the viewer to it immediately. The greater the intensity of the color, the more it’s going to dominate so be careful that your subject in an image has the dominant color, otherwise a secondary subject could overshadow it because it has a dominating color.

2. Color isolation

It’s very important to isolate colors when trying to create a dramatic image. Using a telephoto or zoom lens will allow you to isolate a particular part of a scene that has a striking color or combination of colors. Another technique is to use your feet and change the angle of view so that the color is isolated from its surroundings. Getting in closer helps and allows you to combine colors that are more interesting and work well together, e.g. contrasting or complementary colors.

3. Advancing colors

This was an interesting concept the first time I read about it. Colors at the warm end of the color spectrum stand out and demand more of our attention. They are said to be advancing colors. Take red for example, it is strong and bold and when viewed in an image tends to dominate through its boldness and rich color. You’ll notice how strong it is when you have a scene that has only a little red, like a postbox, and yet it still has a dominating effect on the overall image. Yellows and oranges have a similar effect although they aren’t as strong as red. So be aware of advancing colors so that they work for you and don’t upset an image. Another example would be a bridal scene where a red object is part of the image. It will take the attention off the bride so be aware of this.

4. Receding colors

This concept is opposite to advancing colors. They take a background role and are more like supporting actors in a film cast. They like the background and add to the scene creating beautiful images. This is why blues and greens, the more cooler colors, work so well as backgrounds. They recede into the distance and help other colors stand out. Large areas of blue sky do this together with rolling green hills. Use them effectively and you will have great photos

If you are prepared to take these techniques and incorporate them into your photography on a regular basis as you learn digital photography more effectively and the resulting images will improve dramatically. Happy shooting!

About the Author:
Wayne Turner has been teaching photography for 25 years. Passionate about photography, radio and video. He is a Radio CCFm producer and presenter in Cape Town.

HERE ARE SOME MORE GREAT EXAMPLE PHOTOS OF EXTREME COLOR. THESE ARE PHOTOS THAT REALLY MAKE THE COLOR STAND OUT. WOULD YOU BUY A PHOTO THAT HAD THIS KIND OF COLOR PRESENTATION?

One of the most challenging things with landscape photography is to capture images that stand out. Planning to get to a destination at the right time is the easy part, and usually requires minimal effort. So when you have arrived at your location, how do you go about capturing more diverse landscape photos?

Well, there are several ways to represent greater diversity in your landscape images. Read on to discover how to make your landscape photos more interesting.

1. Minimalist scene

The first thing to consider when you are out in nature doing landscape photography is to decide what you are going to capture.

You may decide to photograph the entire view of the beautiful scenery in front of you. However, while executing a wide-angle shot of everything in the scene is a great way to start, why not try simplifying a scene to make it stand out.

Take a moment to think about what is actually appealing about the landscape. Are there any interesting features on show? What elements help to make the landscape look stunning? Is there an attractive outbuilding or a tree, for example?

I find limiting the number of components in a scene helps to convey the spirit of a place more fluently. Try adopting a “less is more approach” and bring certain elements together, such as a visually enticing cloud formation or evocative mist floating over an alluring landscape. The natural light and components within a scene can play an important part in the overall composition and look of your final image.

2. Extract patterns

Have you ever felt your landscape images are overly complicated or lack impact?

Another great technique to capture more diverse landscape photos that depict a location in a better way is to draw out patterns or details within the environment.

One method to do this is to shoot with a long lens from afar and compress the perspective to reduce the sense of space. A long lens helps to focus on capturing a certain part of the landscape, bringing near and far objects closer together and emphasizing shapes and patterns more effectively. An example of this may be to capture an attractive building with a field.

3. Aerial views

When looking to capture diverse landscape photos, a great way to alter the perspective of your shots is to vary your viewpoint. Shooting from a high viewpoint provides a great way to capture scenes from an angle that people may not normally see. This can be a good strategy to photograph something new and develop some creative landscape photography.

Elevated views can help to flatten the perspective of your image as it eliminates distance indicators. You can reduce the amount of sky in your photos and concentrate on creating images with interesting shapes. You can achieve aerial views by walking up to a higher vantage point, or shooting from a plane or hot-air balloon, for example.

4. Shoot in overcast conditions

Don’t limit your landscape photography to sunny days or only wait for perfect light to appear, you can achieve diverse landscape photos in all weathers.

Capturing a scene in overcast conditions can lead to particularly striking results. The flat lighting will remove shadows and help to simplify a scene. Also, the reduced contrast will help to provide a simpler and more minimalist composition.

Overcast skies provide beautiful diffused light that can be really appealing for landscape photography.

5. Shoot fleeting light

Working with light can be a great way to capture remarkable images. With the right amount of light and cloud, you can convert a dull scene into a special scene, taking your photos to the next level.

For example, after a storm has passed, interesting light can transform a photo of the landscape into something incredible. This is especially so where the sun paints the land with magical pockets of light.

The precise combination of light, sky, and atmosphere can be blended to create an incomparable beauty within a frame.

Following a rain shower, keep a lookout for rainbows, as they provide an extraordinary addition to your pictures and help them to stand out. Remember to ensure your gear is kept dry during any rain too. That way, your camera will work well when capturing these great lighting moments after the rain has stopped.

Conclusion

In summary, you can capture more diverse landscape photos by applying a few important techniques. Go for a minimalist look by focussing on attractive elements within the landscape, and extract patterns by using a long lens to compress the perspective.

Shoot from above, shoot in overcast conditions, and capture momentary light and rainbows for more varied landscape images.

The post 5 Ways to Capture More Diverse Landscape Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.

HERE IS SOME MORE GREAT EXAMPLES OF LANDSCAPE PHOTOS USING THE ABOVE EXAMPLES: