Spring flower contrast
By Kristel Schneider

Colour Contrast in Photography

Flowers are one of  photographer’s favourite subjects. They have great colours and beautiful details. What I like about Flower Photography is to capture a nice colour contrast. Colour contrast is used less frequently because many people do not think about it.

This is a pity because an image with a good colour contrast can look so much more interesting. So it is not only the light we have to look for in Photography.

Since most nature photographers work in colour it is important to understand how colour contrast works.  My first introduction to this subjects was during on of my painting classes, a real eye-opener by playing with primary colours (Red, Yellow and Blue) to get -the best- contrast.

When later on I started to get interested in Photography I read a book by Tony Sweet, Fine Art Flower Photography.  In this book you can see what the effects are by using
-the right- colours together in your composition. Looking for the right colour in the background or in the foreground then becomes a primary goal.  Over the years I have experimented different colour contrasts and saw the difference in my work.

The colour wheel helps you look for a  good colour contrast in your image.

Click on this interactive colour experience to get a basic understanding how colours work.