Hungary for some fun

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Do you have a city that you love so much it actually is difficult to visit because you know you'll have to leave? Yeah, that's Budapest to me. I've been lucky enough to visit Budapest many times, always staying with my close friends who grew up there. This time was a little different, though. With only one week in BP, I took it as my job to show the city to my husband through my eyes. But naturally mother nature had different plans for us. 'The Beast from the East' (as it was so lovingly deemed by European news outlets) blanketed the continent with arctic air and one and off again snow. We managed maybe a total of 3 hours of true sunlight and blue skies - and one killer sunset, of which I did my best to take advantage.  But, mostly the grey haze of winter won out. 

Buda castle tram
Margit buda castle tram budapest
Fisherman's Bastion Budapest
Fishermans Bastion stairs Budapest
Fisherman's Bastion Budapest
Buda Castle steps Budapest
Pest from Buda Budapest
Buda from Pest Budapest
Budapest Parliament details
Sunset over Buda castle Budapest

Color Theory for Photographers : An Introduction

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As photographers, we have a lot of tools available to us: compositional rules, lighting knowledge, the exposure triangle, and so on. Color is just another one of those tools. While it can be an intimidating element to a photographer, color can help solidify a voice. Knowing and understanding color theory - the way painters, designers, and artists of all trades do - a photographer can utilize color to their benefit.

You may already be aware of the concept of additive and subtractive color (RGB vs. RYB), which is something we will touch upon in the next post in this series. For the sake of this article, we will be talking in generics about color theory and are focusing on Red Yellow Blue (RYB).  

orders of colors

This may cause some flashbacks to elementary school art class, but let's start at the beginning: The orders of colors. There are three orders: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary colors. When working in RYB color, the primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. That is to say, they are the three pure colors from which all other colors are derived.  If we take two primary colors and add combine them equally, we get a secondary color. Finally, a tertiary color is one which is a combination of a primary and secondary color. Below you will see a graphic which depicts these three orders using an RYB color wheel. 

Figure 1: RYB color wheel

Figure 1: RYB color wheel

 

 

  • Primary Colors
    • Red, yellow, and blue are what we call "pure colors." They are not created by the combining of other colors. 
  • Secondary Colors
    • A 50/50 combination of any two primary colors. Example: Red + Yellow = Orange.
  • Tertiary Colors
    • A 25/75 or 75/25 combination of a primary color and secondary color. Example: Blue + Green = Tourquise.

 

Now, how do the orders of colors help a photographer? Well, by knowing the three orders, we can make decisions about which colors we want to show in frame. As this article continues we will explore how to effectively make those decisions to achieve the final look you are aiming for, but before then, lets look at some examples of the three orders in actual photographs.

Figure 1a: Note the primary colors do not distract the eye from the subject. By using strong primary reds and blues, the subject is clear to the viewer. 

Figure 1a: Note the primary colors do not distract the eye from the subject. By using strong primary reds and blues, the subject is clear to the viewer. 

Figure 1b: Strong secondary colors often add interest and can easily become a subject on their own. 

Figure 1b: Strong secondary colors often add interest and can easily become a subject on their own. 

Figure 1c: Tertiary colors are often used to create visual interest and make for other-worldly vibes.

Figure 1c: Tertiary colors are often used to create visual interest and make for other-worldly vibes.

The Three Variables of Color

Now that we've been introduced to the orders of the colors, let's look at their variables. Those who have post processed images in Adobe Lightroom, Apple Photos, Capture One, or any other RAW editor may be familiar with what is commonly known as the 'HSL sliders.' HSL meaning: Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity. Let's start with hue.

 

Figure 2a: Hue slider (Lightroom Classic CC)

Figure 2a: Hue slider (Lightroom Classic CC)

Hue

Hue simply is the shade or name of the color. In our editing programs, this slider allows us to completely change a color.

Watch what happens when I take this photo of an orange sunset and move the orange hue slider left and right. 

 
Figure 2b: Saturation slider (Lightroom Classic CC)

Figure 2b: Saturation slider (Lightroom Classic CC)

Saturation

Saturation is the amount of color, or its intensity. This is how we end up with those selective color photos we all... er... love so much, but it can also be used to isolate the strength of one color over the others. 

The photo in figure 2b consists of mainly 3 colors: blue, yellow, and orange. Watch what happens when I move each color's individual saturation slider. 

 

 

 
Figure 2c: Luminance slider (Lightroom Classic CC)

Figure 2c: Luminance slider (Lightroom Classic CC)

Luminance

Luminance is the brightness of the color. This helps us bring out bright color, recover skin tones, and many other techniques.

In figure 2c you can see how the blues react to the luminance slider. 

color schemes

When you decorate a house, you choose the color of the walls to go with the furniture, wall hangings, curtains, and so on. You're essentially creating a color scheme. We do the same thing when we set up a shot. When being intentional with the color in your images, scheme absolutely comes into play. Three of the most popular color schemes are complimentary, analogous, and monochrome. To look at each individually, it will help to revisit our RYB color wheel. 

Figure 3: Complementary color wheel

Figure 3: Complementary color wheel

 

Complementary colors

Simply put, complementary colors are the ones which sit completely opposite one another on the color wheel, and they, ahem - complement one another. For example, red and green may make you think of Christmas, or light blue and orange may make you think of the Mets (oh, only me?) But there's a reason these combinations create such strong emotions in us - they just look good together. 

Below you will see a few images which utilize complementary colors. Note how our attention is not being fought for by strong colors, but rather the colors create balance. 

Figure 3a: Tones of blues and yellows complement each other.

Figure 3a: Tones of blues and yellows complement each other.

Figure 3b: Greens are reds are complementary. 

Figure 3b: Greens are reds are complementary. 

Figure 3c: Darker shades of blue complement oranges.

Figure 3c: Darker shades of blue complement oranges.

 
Figure 4: Analogous color wheel

Figure 4: Analogous color wheel

 

Analogous colors: 

Colors which sit next to each other on the color wheel and share similar colors are known as analogous colors. They will have one dominant color in common, most often a primary color, but can also be a secondary or tertiary. Analogous colors are often found in nature - think those rich oranges and yellows in a New England autumn.

Landscape photographers can really benefit from knowingly utilizing analogous colors, of course, but they also lend themselves to other aspects of photography, such as  beautifully bokeh'd backgrounds of a portrait. By having similar colors in the background, the subject remains the focus. 

Below you will see some examples of analogous colors. 

Figure 4a: Varying shades of blue and green are analogous.

Figure 4a: Varying shades of blue and green are analogous.

Figure 4b: Browns and oranges sit next to each other on the color wheel.

Figure 4b: Browns and oranges sit next to each other on the color wheel.

Figure 4c: Analogous shades of blues and purples. 

Figure 4c: Analogous shades of blues and purples. 

 
Figure 5: Monochrome color wheel

Figure 5: Monochrome color wheel

 

Monochrome colors:

While you may be familiar with monochrome referring to black and white, it actually refers to anything which uses solely one color value. Those images you see where there is overwhelmingly one color present are monochrome, for all intents and purposes. We see this technique often in those hazy sunrise/set shots, but it is also a very impactful technique for street shots. 

Below we see three example images using monochrome colors. 

 

Figure 5a: Shades of greens.

Figure 5a: Shades of greens.

Figure 5b: Shades of orange.

Figure 5b: Shades of orange.

Figure 5c: Shades of pink. 

Figure 5c: Shades of pink. 

let's see this in practice

So now we know the orders and variables, as well as three popular schemes of color, but how do those tools aide us in our photography? When we combine the three aspects we discussed above, we can deliberately look for or create scenes that further our intended story.

Note Figure 6a below. When I first approached this scene, I saw two things, interesting lines and complementary colors. With a little patience and a whole lot of luck, the jogger ran into the scene wearing one of the two complementary colors. Had this color story not been introduced, the image would have had much less impact. In this instance, the color creates the story.

Figure 6b utilizes monochrome in secondary colors. With a stark gradient from dark to light oranges, the image projects a warm summer's sunset - which is exactly what I was hoping to acheive as it was well over 105F (42C) - and trying to capture that in a photo was an important part of the story of my time in that city.  

Finally, in Figure 6c we see analogous tertiary colors. While the color is not so much the subject as it is in the other two, it is still crucial to set the mood for the shot. The various levels of greens and blues in the ocean water enhances the relaxed atmosphere I was intending to create with this image. 

 

Figure 6a: Complementary secondary colors. 

Figure 6a: Complementary secondary colors. 

Figure 6b: Monochrome secondary colors. 

Figure 6b: Monochrome secondary colors. 

Figure 6c: Analogous tertiary colors.

Figure 6c: Analogous tertiary colors.

With great power comes great responsibility. or something.

To recap, we went over are three orders of colors (primary, secondary, and tertiary), three variables of color (hue, saturation, and luminance), and three popular color schemes (complementary, analogous, and monochrome). When you have a good grasp of these basic aspects of color theory, you're off to a good start  and can work to manipulate a scene to create the desired ambiance or ~vibe~ in your shots. 

In the coming posts we will delve deeper into color theory, approaching more advanced themes. We will also go over the mechanics of camera sensors and how they render color. In the meanwhile, please leave a comment with any questions or comments you may have. If there is something you would like to see addressed in the coming posts, please let me know! 

Disclaimer: It is important to note that while RYB color is one with which we are all familiar, it is not the standard anymore. In fact, your photography software does not utilize RYB color by default. It uses a different, four color, subtractive color model known as "CMYK" (cyan, magenta, yellow, and key black). This post did not go in to that as I wanted to keep it as simple as possible to make sure the focus is on orders, variables, and schemes. In the following post we will talk about the different color models, focusing on CMYK. (Relevant xkcd is relevant).

In the meanwhile, an excellent resource for the choosing colors is Adobe's color wheel. Here you can chose a color wheel and scheme and be given applicable pairings of colors. If not for nothing, it's a fun and pretty to look at - try it out! 

L'viv: Winter Fashion

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Winter in Ukraine may come with connotations of grey and desolation, but in L'viv the streets are as lively and bright in the dead of winter as they are in the summer. That vibrance is perfectly in balance with the shining personlity of yesterday's model. As she showed me around her university, the smile never waned, which is surprising considering she's years in to an intensive degree in Law.

Location: Ivan Franko National University of Lviv

Model: Anastasia (@anastasiiaberezhniuk)

Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait
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Lviv portrait
Lviv portrait

Lviv : Coffee, Chocolate, and Chewbacca.

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Lviv, Ukraine carries itself as a sleepy Eastern European town - with pastel buildings, charming chocolate shops, and small windy alleyways. But, sleepy it is not. Lviv is bright, colourful, and full of vibrance. 

What is truly wonderful about life as a travelling photographer is the opportunity to work with people truly passionate about the city I am visiting. Liliana grew up in Lviv, and is proud of the fact. "I love it in Lviv. I would never want to live anywhere else." And why would she? Lviv is full of chocolate shops and unique cafes. That passion for ones hometown can be rare in this part of the world - it is so refreshing to meet someone who is truly happy in their home. Come along and see Lviv from her eyes. Also, Chewbacca.

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Bonus outtakes, because how could I not share these?

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Family Vacation : Paris Edition

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Family vacations are a whirlwind - especially in a completely foreign environment with only a week to explore. The Catanzaritis made the most out of their time in Paris, packing in about as much of the sights as possible - and then some. A bateau ride, museums, prix fixe dinners, and even Versailles - have a look into their very first trip abroad.

Poetry by Giuseppe Catanzariti.

Catanzariti Selfie

An idle curiosity is born from

The prose of quotidian living

Piquing the mind at first

And then ever swelling

A nascent snowball cascading down a

Precipitous mountainside

Its momentum ever growing

Until it is time to go

Catanzariti bateau
Catanzariti
Catanzariti bateau
Catanzariti bateau
Catanzariti Louvre
Catanzariti Louvre
Catanzariti Louvre
Catanzariti Louvre
Catanzariti Louvre
Catanzariti Tuilleries
Catanzariti Tullieries
Catanzariti Luxembourg
Catanzariti Opera
Catanzariti Opera
Catanzariti Sight Seeing
Catanzariti Genia
Catanzariti Crepe
Catanzariti Crepe
Catanzariti Latin Quartier

Human creation in all its splendor

And in all its handwrought glory

Enters the soul through the eyes

Before taking up a permanent

And warm residence in the heart

Where it is nurtured forever

Catanzariti Sainte Chappelle
Catanzariti Sainte Chappelle
Catanzariti Saint Chappelle
Catanzariti Saint Chappelle
Catanzariti Saint Chappelle
Catanzariti Saint Chappelle
Catanzariti Saint Chappelle
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay
Catanzariti Orsay

Mementos for those who

Couldn’t come along

And for the itinerant patrons too

Simple physical keepsakes

To stimulate happy recollections

Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping
Catanzariti Shopping

Palatial monuments to the

Grandeur of revered leaders

Of finished states stand today

Despite the vicissitudes of time

So that every man might learn

That every man is born a king

Catanzariti Versailles
Catanzariti Versailles
Catanzariti Versailles
Catanzariti Versailles
Catanzariti Versailles
Catanzariti Versailles
Catanzariti Versailles
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Catanzariti Versailles

Merrymaking is mortal

But memories are eternal

Never dying but ever growing

The towers and the churches

Beheld and felt firsthand

Are but earthly monuments

While experiences are cosmic

There can be no going back

Not as the same person

Left behind back home

As home has become nothing

More than a slippery notion

In our newfound selves

Catanzariti Leaving
Catanzariti Eiffel
Catanzariti Eiffel
Catanzariti Eiffel
Catanzariti Eiffel
Catanzariti Arc de Triompf
Catanzariti Notre Dame
Catanzariti Notre Dame

31 hours in Amsterdam and all I got were these 'dam puns

Take an overnight bus to Amsterdam from Paris for the day, they said. It'll be fun, they said. Well, yeah, it was fun. It was also a complete blur - and not entirely for the reasons I'm sure everyone here is now assuming. With just about 3 hours of sleep thanks to some of the least conscientious fellow bus-riders, we arrived in Amsterdam at the unholy time of 6AM on Sunday morning - so early, in fact, that there was no train to take us from the random Eurolines station to the city center for another 30 minutes. So it goes.

Upon arriving at the central station, we found ourselves on eerily quiet streets of the concentric canals. Having been in Amsterdam many times before, my biggest take away has always been how crowded the center is, so now being the only people on most streets was a pretty surreal experience. The deep haze seemed to exist solely to drive this point home.

The remainder of the day was spent in a sleepless stupor doing our best to make the most of the 6 hours we had before checking in to our hotel. Visited all the hot spots, naturally, and I may or may not have squealed when I discovered there was now a Primark in the city center. I also may or may not have had a bucket of water thrown on my from a high-up window - and no, I was nowhere near the Red Light district at the time.

Overall, our 31 hours in Amsterdam were well spent, if not only because of the three servings of cone frites I endulged in - and after the sweltering summer spent in Macedonia and Crete, the haze and cool air was more than welcomed.

amsterdam canals
Oude Kerk, Amsterdam
Oude Kerk, Amsterdam
Oude Kerk, Amsterdam
Amsterdam shadows
amsterdam bikes
Amsterdam bikes
Amsterdam street market
amsterdam streets
amsterdam streets
amsterdam streets
amsterdam streets
amsterdam pomme frites
amsterdam homes
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Amsterdam Museumplein
@selfiesacrosseurope at Amsterdam Museumplein
Amsterdam shop Mineralen Fossielen
amsterdam canals

back to bulgaria : sofia edition

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Spending only a week in Sofia, I don't feel properly equipped to make a fair judgement on the city. But, it overall left a positive impression. With gorgeous Central-European inspired intertwined with Soviet and Byzintine archetectures, walking the city streets was a constant pleasant surprise. All pleasant until you happen upon a statue with eyeballs, that is.

The standout building is of course the famous Alexander Nevsky Cathedral which dominates the roundabout upon which it sits. Our Airbnb was literally on the corner, so we were lucky enough to get glimpses of it every day even doing mundane tasks like running to the grocery store. 

But for me, the best bit was a table in an outdoor market chock-full of vintage analog cameras, from which I walked away with a ФЭД-2 (FED-2) Soviet Leica clone. I've already run a roll through it, and can't wait to get it developed. Stay tuned!

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Window painter - Sofia
Sofia Camera Table
analog heaven - Sofia
FED-2 Soviet Leica Clone
yikes
Chupa Chups - Sofia
Kubrick in Sofia
High noon - Sofia
National Assembly Bulgaria
National Assembly Bulgaria
Sofia Cathedral
Sunset in Sofia
Alexander Nevsky Sunset