Part 3 - Capturing Vibrant Colors

...continued from Capturing Vibrant Colors - Part 2...

The "Golden hours" are the moments right after sunrise and before sunset, when warm sunlight paints the landscape in rich magenta or gold tones. When the sun is low in the sky, soft, filtered sunlight makes it easier to get your exposure right in-camera - so capturing vibrant color is easier as well. Jay captured the golden light in this image of a young alligator just as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Dynamic weather conditions can serve to further enhance brilliant light during the golden hour. Stunning color from storm clouds may also provide reflections in water and on the ground. The warm light in the photo below comes from passing storm clouds - notice the fantastic light on the distant mountains.
After you have captured a photo, you'll need to process your photo. Be careful to choose the best possible white balance so that your colors are accurately portrayed and looking their best. Take a look at the two images below. Varina's shot from Yellowstone looks odd when it is processed using default white balance settings. The image has an unnatural blueish cast both on the ground and in the sky.
When the same photograph is processed using a "daylight" white balance (5500 K), the blue cast disappears. The colors in the photo look clean and natural, and the photograph seems much more inviting.
Tips for Capturing Vibrant Colors

• Shoot during the "Golden Hours"
  
• Look for dynamic weather conditions
• Choose the appropriate white balance when processing (or in-camera if you are not yet using processing software)
  

Part 2: Capturing Vibrant Colors

...continued from Capturing Vibrant Colors - Part 1...

When you want to capture vibrant colors, consider the season and the location. Shooting outdoors in the Northeast in the middle of winter might produce a relatively colorless image - overcast skies and leafless trees leave the landscape barren. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to shoot! Far from it! An opening in the clouds near the horizon might let the sun peak through, so be ready for pretty sunsets even in the dead of winter! This shot from Lake Erie's shore shows a vibrant sky and soft, reflected color on the ice in the foreground.
When the landscape seems lifeless, look for elements that stand out. A single bright leaf left over from Autumn's glory days adds a touch of warmth to this chilly shot. If you are in the mood for color, look for bright berries, frosted leaves, and interesting skies this time of year.
Autumn is, of course, the most colorful time of year. Jay took this shot in Colorado's beautiful Snowmass Wilderness when fall colors were at their peak. He used reflections on the lake to fill the frame with reflected color from the trees and clouds.
Knowledge of a location is also useful when you are looking for brilliant color. We scout as much as possible when we're traveling, so that we can get to know the geology and topography of a region. We came upon this location while hiking in the Paria River. Jay composed a brilliantly colored photograph with striped canyon walls and cracked mud in the foreground.
Paria Canyon is equally beautiful in the winter, when the clean, white ice contrasts beautifully with the colorful canyon walls. Notice that the color varies with the direction of light, moisture, and location within the canyon.
continued on Part 3: Capturing Vibrant Colors

Tips for Capturing Vibrant Colors

• Look for brightly colored elements that stand out against barren landscapes
  
• Consider the season - and return at different time of the year
  
• Look for unique geology

Part 1: Capturing Vibrant Colors

It is a common misconception that the vibrant colors you see in a photograph are captured using a special film (like Velvia), or are the result of special processing techniques. While it is true that film choice and post-processing can effect the colors, the art of capturing vibrant colors starts in the field. In this two-part article, we will explore how to create images with vibrant colors.

The circular polarizer is a very commonly-used filter for enhancing colors in a photograph. Circular polarizers cut through glare created by scattered light, and bring out the rich and vibrant colors in an image. This filter is particularly effective when you want to bring out the colors on a wet surface - like the beach in the photo below. Jay used a circular polarizer to reduce the sun's glare on the water, and to bring out the stunning colors at Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida.

Another factor to consider when shooting intense colors is exposure. An over or underexposed image will show dull colors and low contrast. The color in a properly exposed image will be rich and vibrant. Because landscape photographers deal with uneven lighting over large areas, they often end up with images that are overexposed in some areas and perfectly exposed in others. Varina's photograph (below) shows over exposure in the sky - and the resulting low contrast and dull colors.
In order to fix the problem, she used a Graduated Neutral Density (GND) filter to reduce the brightness of the sky. (We often use our iHDR technique to accomplish the same purpose.) The exposure is now balanced between the sky and the ground, and the rich, vibrant colors in the sky have returned.
Another simple but effective way to enhance colors in a photograph is to use reflections. Reflected light - like you see in Jay's photo below - can fill the image with colors. The reflected colors become an important compositional element... and they are especially appealing next to the colors in the sky.

continued on Part 2: Capturing Vibrant Colors

Tips for Capturing Vibrant Colors

• Select the proper exposure
• Use reflections to add color to your composition
• Use a circular polarizer to cut through glare and enhance colors

Why I Love Dragon Flies...

This little guy was sitting on our house when I drove in this morning - and he flew over to the garden as I got out my camera. He waited patiently while I went inside to get a sheet of tissue paper to soften the harsh light. I was able to get nice and close and take my time with him. He didn't fly away until I'd spent a good ten minutes fine-tuning my shot.

Most tiny creatures aren't too interested in sitting still while you dig out your camera, make adjustments, and stick a fat macro lens into their living space. But dragon flies are fantastic. He's beautiful, isn't he?
So - what's your opinion? Do you prefer the color version or the black and white? Click on the photo for a larger view.

-Varina