noma
Four strategies to achieve a harmonious look in your images using analogous colors and two palettes to keep developing your style! With @paulsmithimages / There are multiple ways to create a sense of cohesion using color in your images. One option is to use colors next to each other on the color wheel. In nature, colors often blend smoothly into one another, and analogous color schemes mimic this natural progression, making the photographs look more realistic and serene.
1) To make the most of such colors, emphasize natural gradients. In ocean photography, you could focus on the transition from shallow to deep water. Taking as an example the colors in the first image, you could use the lighter analogous colors in the palette (AAB3BA and 87939D) for the shallower areas and the darker tones (1B1E29 and 2D3648) for the deeper parts. Similarly, you could highlight the transition from the sky to the ocean by including both in the frame, emphasizing the smooth gradient from light to dark blues and grays.
2) Another strategy is to highlight the atmospheric conditions. Pictures 6 and 7 are good examples. The lighting passing through the clouds reflects on the water, creating another natural transition in the frame.
3) Playing with light and shadow can also help create depth and dimension. Use the lighter colors to highlight the crests of waves and the darker ones for the deeper waters. In addition, shooting during golden or blue hours, when the natural lights cast a soft, diffused glow, will help you enhance the analogous color scheme in your images.
4) During post-processing, you can adjust the color balance to emphasize the analogous color scheme. Enhance the blues and grays and keep the other colors subdued to maintain a cohesive look. You could also apply gradient filters to blend the colors smoothly across the image, reinforcing the natural transitions and unity of the palette.
Below, you can find two color palettes that use analogous colors so you can keep developing your editing style!
Picture one: AAB3BA, 1B1E29, 2D3648, 87939D, and 4D606B.
Picture two: 03070B, 0C1B1F, 1A333A, 527479, and 8EABB0.
@nomadict: Which color palette do you prefer? 🎨