Pascal Baetens. Nude Photography. The Art and The Craft. 2007

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42 defining styles & approaches

working in color

the way that you use color in an image has a strong impact

on its mood and atmosphere. We tend to think of colors as

warm or cold, bright or subtle, dark or light, and so on—but

the perception of color is not absolute since it changes

according to the surrounding colors. generally, strong

colors work best with other strong colors—think of a tanned

model against a blue sky and turquoise sea—while a soft

pastel palette works well if you want to create a fragile,

romantic atmosphere. When composing a color shot,

remember that anything that contrasts strongly with other

colors in the scene will immediately draw the eye—so

unless it is an important element, try to avoid it.

Color harmony

soft blue-grays and shades of orange

and pink are repeated and reflected

throughout this image. the pastel

tones are in harmony with the stillness

of the pose, the natural look of the

model, and the dreamy expression

in her eyes.

1 the slates of the roof pick up

a reflection of the brickwork, creating

a subtle combination of peach and

gray tones, which is also just visible

on the model’s upper arm.

2 the mortar between the bricks

corresponds to the colors of the

roof and the window frame.

3 the deeper rose-pink of the nipple,

and also the model’s lips, matches

the darker tones in the bricks.

4 softer shades of blue-gray are

reflected on the body, while darker

shadows are repeated in the unlit

parts of the window frame.