How do I choose pleasing color combinations for still life photography?
Asked 8/31/2015
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2 answers
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I’m arranging a still life with bottles of different colors and want the color combinations to look attractive. For example, would a blue bottle work better next to yellow or red? Is there a general guide or theory for choosing colors that go well together in a still life setup?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
3
I'm not a still photographer.
However, I think those following links provide really good explanations about what is color theory in general and how to use it :
- A video introducing the color theory : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP0OyqECAS4 (website : http://theartofphotography.tv/episodes/color-theory/)
- A good article with examples : http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2013/11/26/street-photography-composition-lesson-12-color-theory/
Both links explain what is the color wheel and from that take you to complementary colors, analogous colors,...
With no real experience in still photography, I imagine it to be close to website color design. Once you know how a color wheel works and how to use it, my two favorite websites are :
If you want a good book, have a look at http://www.amazon.com/The-Photograph-Composition-Color-Design/dp/1937538060. I got it 2 weeks ago, have only read about 20 pages but it's already a very helpful help... even if it is hard to read at first for non native English speaker. This other one (http://www.amazon.com/Interaction-Color-Revised-Expanded-Edition/dp/0300115954) seems to be a classic, but not yet on my bookshelf (maybe I should have bought it first).
Originally by user26456. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user26456
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A good starting point is basic color theory. For still life photography, many photographers and designers use the color wheel to choose combinations intentionally rather than by guesswork.
Common approaches include:
- complementary colors: opposites on the color wheel, for strong contrast and visual impact
- analogous colors: neighbors on the wheel, for a more harmonious, subtle look
- triadic schemes: evenly spaced colors, for a balanced but lively palette
So a blue bottle next to yellow or red can both work, depending on the effect you want. If you want more contrast, look at complementary relationships; if you want a smoother, more unified feel, use analogous colors.
This isn’t unique to still life photography—design and art resources on color theory are very relevant. Learning how the color wheel works will help you choose arrangements that feel deliberate and pleasing.
Helpful tools include online color wheel and palette generators, such as Adobe Color, which let you explore complementary, analogous, and other schemes visually before you set up the shot.
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