Colour Portfolios
Submitted for PHOT-2006-002
Concepts and Process (Winter 2021)
Hello there viewer, my name is Caitlyn Gui, and as of writing this, I’m a Year 2 Graphic Design student nearing the end of a winter’s semester.
Why do I choose to focus on colour photography out of all the other techniques, like macros, scenery, or portraits? One of the main reasons being colour photography can combine techniques into one project. It’s very open-ended and has few limitations. It also allows the photographer to discover unusual objects and locations and expanding their ‘palette’.
Lush Greens - Greens are not common in a city with lots of buildings. Bits of greens would be scattered around streets and introduce saturation in the environment.
Colour photography is my comfort, it contains some of my most successful projects and results. Colours can express and reinforce emotional values and narrative. They can also create impactful visual effects. This technique encouraged me when I was starting to grasp photographs to look for ‘unusuals’ and avoid the ‘obvious’ and ‘popular concepts'. I started my journey to create my palette with bright reds, fluorescent blues, and warm yellows. They represent me well, and the excitement as a beginner colour photographer. It also established my photography identity, I wanted to create recognizable colours.
Soothing Whites - White is not exactly a colour, but it's able to provide calming energy.
Rust Blacks - Combination of blacks, oranges, and hints of white created high-contrasts. Resulting in textured images with mystery.
Mandarin Oranges - It's very bright reminds me of fall. Leaves crunching under your boots and breezes brushing against your hair.
Bronzes & Browns - When I think of browns, there are very specific smells. They are not strong scents, only small hints.
I turned to rust black, smooth whites, and bronze browns, these colours are more mature and muted. Expanding my palette also means new subjects and editing techniques, and fighting my instincts of creating saturated colours. Colours often reflect my emotions and influence from my environment. Creating these dark colours does have to do with my drained and unmotivated state, but it also means maturity and finding tranquillity. Turning away from my instincts and discovering new ‘unusuals’ started the gear and process of my palette. After finding relief and comfort, I can revisit previous colours, refine, I can continue my colour journey for more discoveries.
Above: Bring Pinks and Purples - I grew up associating these colours with 'femininity', but now I see these saturated shades suggest vitality and playfulness.
Left: Crimson Reds - Red suggests a wide range of emotions, but it always reminds me of festive feels.
Left Bottom: Misty Blues - This specific shade of blue gives me similar energy as Soothing Whites, but with hints of sophistication, like a sapphire.