Treasure Hunt Color in Photography

Why not treasure hunt particular clusters of color ? The psychology of color in photography is all about how different hues trigger specific emotional responses and guide a viewer's eye through an image. Photographers use colour not just for realism, but as a tool to tell a story or set a specific mood. Below is a list of the positive effects that colours can have with certain emotions. I have also added some inspirational quotes for each colour.

"The Decisive Moment"

— Henri Cartier-Bresson

RED

• Energy • Warmth • Strength • Impulse • Dynamism.

• Activity. • Courage. • Excitement. • Love • Passion

• Dominance • Happiness

"When you laugh & cry with their laughter & tears, you will know you are on the right

track"

— Arthur Fellig

Yellow

• Cheer. • Hope. • Vitality. • Expansion. • Optimism.

• Philosophy. • Luminosity. • Enlightenment. • Communication

"One should really use the camera as though you'd be stricken blind"

— Dorothea Lange

ORANGE

• Energy. • Cheer • Activity

• Excitement. • Warmth. •Friendliness

"It's weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime trying to capture

moments that added together don't even amount to a couple of hours"

— James Keivom

BROWN

• Nature. • Durability. • Reliability

• Realism. • Warmth. • Comfort. • Cozy

"The camera can photograph thought"

— Dirk Bogarde

BLACK

• Power. • Sophistication. • Sexuality

• The Unknown • The End of a Cycle

"Photography is an art of observation, I've found it has little to do with the things you see

and everything to do with the way you see them"

— Elliott Erwitt

GREY

• Neutrality. • Intelligence. • Futurism • Modesty • Technology • Secure

• Liberalism. • Tranquility • Cold. • Retirement. • Indifference

"Photography is an illusion of reality with which we create our private world"

— Arnold Newman

WHITE

• Purity. • Cleanliness. • Truth. • Innocence. • Chastity

• Spirituality. • Sophistication. • Refinement. • Newness

• Blandness. • Sterility

"I need to be an objective observer to maintain my sense of composition"

— Werner Bischof

GREEN

• Nature. • Growth. • Fruitfulness. • Renewal. • Freshness • Tranquility.

• Hope. • Youth. • Health. • Peace. • Good Luck • Coolness

"I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure the same as life itself and felt

that their individual feelings were worth expressing"

— Henry Gallahan

BLUE

• Spirituality • Trust. • Truth • Cleanliness • Tranquility

• Contentment • Passivity • Understanding • Conservatism. • Security

• Technology • Masculinity • Coolness & Cold. • Melancholy

"Photography is the art of subtraction. Subtracting any elements you don't want, less is

more."

— Alfonso Calero

PURPLE

• Spirituality • Mysticism • Magic. • Faith. • Unconscious

• Dignity. • Mystery. • Creativity. • Awareness. • Inspiration

• Passion • Imagination. • Sensitivity. • Aristocracy & Royalty

Japanese Perspective: Pink cherry blossoms are the beauty of impermanence & a fleeting moment

IN SUMMARY

Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) are stimulating and advance toward the viewer, evoking emotions like passion and joy. Cool colors (blue, green, purple) create a calming effect, receding into the background to provide depth.