Silkstone-120706_0097-349-1120Hot and Cold

Pepper on Ice

The use of certain colors in photographs helps to convey feelings to the viewer. One of the best cases is the use of blue and orange, complementary colors on the color wheel.  Blue tends to evoke a sense that an object is cool or cold while orange gives the sense that something is warm or even hot.  When I process photos I think of objects in the image as cool, warm or neutral.  I tend to add a little blue to "cool" objects such as water, shadows, ice, and sky.  I then add a little orange to "warm" parts of the photograph such areas around the sun and places where light is falling.  I use the term "add" loosely, as it usually is just intensifying the color that is already there by adjusting the hue or saturation sliders in Lightroom.  This doesn't work with every photograph but when done right it can add a nice "punch" to a photograph and make it stand out. 

Cold snow and warm sunlit clouds

A little blue tint to the snow and shadows along with the orange clouds really adds some color contrast that would otherwise be dull and flat.  

Cool moutains and shadows and a warm sunrise gives the sense that the day starts off cool and warms up.

BLUE Ridge Mountains?  PURPLE mountain majesties? Yep.  

Silkstone-140328_0197The Boneyard at Botany Bay, Mar. 28, 2014.

Cool water and clouds with warm sunlight give this photograph some much needed tension

Next time when you're out photographing ask yourself if the scene before you would be better if you used blue and orange to represent cool and warm areas of the photograph.  If so, I think you will find that it spices the photograph up just a notch.  Enjoy.

EXPLORE | COMPOSE | CAPTURE | PUBLISH

bigstock-Mentor-Word-Cloud-44151907

Three more awesome photographers to visit!

Johnny Carroll - http://www.piedmontphotoclub.com/johnny-carroll-gallery/ - One of the first persons to take me under their wing and teach me a ton about photography.  Not only is he a great photographer but also a great friend who I enjoy shooting with on a regular basis.  If you ever get a chance to shoot with him do so, the stories, humor and knowledge are worth the time even if you don't get a good shot.    

Jennifer King - http://www.jenniferkingphoto.com/ - One of the few landscape artists that I can truly say that I am still striving to elevate my photography to match.  It was not only her eye for powerful landscape photography but her enthusiasm and approachability that led me to ask if I could work part time for her.  Luckily for me, she agreed.  In the last year and a half I have learned so much from both a photography and business standpoint just by observing her work.  If you are ever interested in taking a photography workshop, I can't recommend Jennifer enough.  

Randy Wilson - http://www.rhwilsonphoto.com/​ - The best architecture photographer that I know, Randy also possesses a great eye for landscape photography.  Randy enjoys processing photos as much as I do, so whenever I get stuck with Photoshop I know who to call.  Just an overall great guy, great photographer and great person to shoot with.  

Go out and find some new inspiration.  

EXPLORE | COMPOSE | CAPTURE | PUBLISH

bigstock-Mentor-Word-Cloud-44151907 One of the first things that you learn when you start out in photography is that you cannot exist in a vacuum.  Whether you consider yourself self-taught, mentored, or studied photography at a University or photography school there are other photographers that helped shape the way you express your vision.  I consider myself lucky in that I was able to associate with some great local photographers that shaped the way that I approached photography both from a technical stand point and also from an artistic stand point (I wrote an earlier blog on what I think really helps to develop a photographer and you can find that clicking here).  In order to "pay it forward" I am going to start a regular series of "Photographer Spotlights" and provide links to three or four photographers (in no particular order) that have had an impact on my photography one way or the other.  Some I know personally.  Some I don't.  Either way I have learned a great deal from them, whether by studying their images, watching their videos or simply talking to them and asking questions.  What I ask of you is to simply click on their website and check them out.  Some may not be for you.  However, if one does strike a chord with you I ask that you reach out to them and ask them one question about photography that you would like you know.  I cannot guarantee that they will answer your questions but what do you have to loose.  Nothing!  So with that.......

Chris Almerini - http://www.chrisalmerini.com/ and http://casportsphotos.com/about.html.  Chris is a local landscape and wildlife photographer whose brain I try to pick on a regular basis.  Why?  Because he knows everyone and every place to photograph.  He is literally a walking encyclopedia of knowledge of where to photograph at what time and who is who in photography.  Not to mention he takes some great photographs.  He also has ventured into high school sports photography to supplement his income - a great business move on his part, a skill I am still trying to figure out.  

Franklyn Millman - https://franklyn.smugmug.com/.  Franklyn is one of the best, if not the best, printers around.   His travel and landscape photography is superb.  He is one of a few persons that I consider my mentor and I know that if I ask him for help or a question that he will answer it without reservation.  His work can be found in the Greensboro airport (GSO), the medical office where he works and other venues.  

Jimmy McIntyre - http://www.throughstrangelenses.com/  and  http://www.shutterevolve.com/​.  I do not know him personally but his images are some of the best travel/landscape images I have seen.  They are the ones that I inspire to someday create on my own.  He focuses on HDR using Photoshop to digitally blend 2 or more images and his tutorials have helped me improve my post processing skills.  If his work inspires you, sign up for his weekly email and you won't be disappointed.  If you enjoy processing your images like I do then he has a lot to offer including a new PS plugin.

Go out and find some new inspiration.  

EXPLORE | COMPOSE | CAPTURE | PUBLISH