Color is often overlooked in photography. The colors in a photo can greatly affect the impact or the emotional value of the user. Have you ever come across a photograph with funky color combination with loud backgrounds? Have you ever noticed that if the colors aren't complimentary they can give you an eye twisting headache?
Different colors invoke different emotional values and each value depends in which
part of the world you are in. Some colors have a positive effect and some can convey
some negative emotions. Here are Colors and their perceived emotional value for
your reference.
Red:
Positive: Sense of power, strength, action, passion, sexuality
Negative: Anger, forcefulness, impulsiveness, impatience, intimidation, conquest,
violence and revenge
Yellow:
Positive: Caution, brightness, intelligence, joy, organization, Spring time
Negative: Criticism, laziness, or cynicism
Blue:
Positive: Tranquility, love, acceptance, patience, understanding, cooperation,
comfort, loyalty and security
Negative: Fear, coldness, passivity and depression
Orange:
Positive: Steadfastness, courage, confidence, friendliness, and cheerfulness,
warmth, excitement and energy
Negative: Ignorance, inferiority, sluggishness and superiority
Purple:
Positive: Royalty, sophistication, religion
Negative: Bruised or foreboding
Green:
Positive: Money, health, food, nature, hope, growth, freshness, soothing, sharing,
and responsiveness
Negative: Envy, greed, constriction, guilt, jealousy and disorder
Black:
Positive: Dramatic, classy, committed, serious
Negative: Evil, death, ignorance, coldness
White:
Positive: Pure, fresh, easy, cleanliness or goodness
Negative: Blind, winter, cold, distant
A Photo should tell us a story and they should communicate what the photographer
wants to tell us. Logic and emotion play a big role in our understanding of a
photograph but eventually emotion will win over the logic. Most of the time, we are
purposefully trying to invoke a specific emotional response that will increase the
enjoyment of our photos. So if given a chance pick your colors carefully.
About the author: Anton Sheker is a photographer based
in Philippines. For more home and garden articles visit his site
online at http://www.photo.net.ph/blogalicious
Anton Sheker is founder and member of the World Photo Directory http://
http://www.worldphotodirectory.com
