To capture what we see. It is an innately difficult task, especially when nature or indeed the urban landscape provides those behind the lens with such a wide spectrum of color to play with. The first-ever color photograph was taken in 1861 by Thomas Sutton after the three-color method suggested by James Clerk Maxwell in 1855. The tartan ribbon, the subject of the photographer, was captured and aimed to use red, blue and green – just like how the eye perceived color through refracted light – to reveal the colors within the grays of monochromatic photography. Though the process was later elaborated upon, color and how it is captured (and enhanced) still inspires the artist. Colorful photographic compositions are one of the most important tools a photographer can use to create mood or feeling in their work. By understanding color and how they form your work, the artist can relate to the viewer – can you see what I see? Whether it is portraying the hues of a pretty ribbon or a striking vista, how color is combined, contrasted, complimented or even absent evokes a response from the viewer. This can be seen in the fantastic, dreamy works of Dasha Pears and in the colorful photo compositions of Li Hui on Artsper.
