Looking for Complementary Colors in Nature Photography - Visualize the Potential

 The other day I was watching one of those Create programs that featured a landscape painter. In this particular episode, the painter was in Venice and spoke at length about some of the old masters whose paintings effectively used what is called Complementary Colors. 

The concept of Complementary Colors is rather simple and involves two colors that fall on opposite ends of a color scale. Yellow and purple, Red and Green, are two common ones but the combinations range across the entire spectrum of colors and they do not necessarily require them to be directly opposite of each other, just within the color range being used, like shades of yellow and blue, or shades of orange and green.

After watching this informative program, I began to wonder how this concept applies to photography. As I browsed through a few recent photos I started to notice a common thread between many of them. It was obvious that complementary colors were a major part of the appeal to the images. I did not realize it at the time the photos were taken, but my eye naturally seemed to navigate toward the appealing nature of this concept.

Digging deeper into the phenomena, more and more images began to materialize with the prevailing theme of complementary colors. Some were bold and bright, others more subtle. For some, one major color dominated with only a hint of its opposite being there, while with others the distribution of the color was more evenly divided.In some instances a progressive layering of color flowed across the image shifting from one extreme to another, but fully encompassing the complementary elements.  In some cases, there were subtle variation like deep browns taking their place within the color realm of red while its opposite complementary color varied in various shades of green and pale yellow. 

It became apparent that nature is filled with complimentary colors and our eyes are naturally drawn to those combinations. What this revelation accomplishes is to open your mindset boldly enough to generate a desire to actively seek out these kinds of combinations while photographing nature.

Many times when I am out attempting to capture a unique image, I find myself struggling to see the moment. When this happens, and it does happen a lot, I slow down and simply ask myself, "What is it I'm seeing that is catching my eye...what is drawing me to itself?" 

Before long, I begin to notice small subtle compositions and more often than not, there is an element of complementary color to it.

The Moon Rise photo taken at the National Corvette Museum is an example of very bold color variations that not so subtly adhere to the complementary color theme. Within it you see the bold, redish-orange glow and reflection of the SkyDome and even the moon's glow, which are set against the bluish, purple backdrop of a dusky sky.

Although this not a nature photograph per se, it is a strong example of how the natural blend of complementary colors projects a powerful influence on our ability to recognize and see such things within our world.

A more subtle use of complementary colors can be seen in the image of yellow blooms set against a shadowy, bluish backdrop. Taken around the perimeter of a pond on an overcast day, the soft color variation blends well to create a mystique that fully uses the influence complementary colors has on our senses. 

An even more subtle use of this influence can be found in the image of a Ring-Billed Gull backlit against the shadowy bluff in the background. The shadowy bluff provides the contrasting bluish purple tone, and the gull's natural buff and white tonal shades provides a soft yellowish glowing complement to the background shade.

 There is even a bluish gray tonal value across the length of the wings. The combinations are very subtle, but they do exist and offers an interesting blend of contrasty backlight.

Even the banner page on this blog is filled with eye popping complementary colors.

Complementary colors in nature are nature's attempt at creating beautiful combinations of light.

 Many times, as photographers we are naturally drawn toward those combinations, but just as many times we may not even realize why we are attracted to such lighting effects. When we consciously make an effort to recognize how powerful and even how subtle these combinations are, you may find yourself taking another step toward being able to visualize the potential even before you ever snap the photo.