background;ifforinstancethelightfromthekeylightwas
tofallontothebackdrop,theeffectwouldbetowashout
the vibrancy of the gel.
Whenusinggelsyouneedtoconsiderthemoodoftheshot
you wish to achieve, and apply simple colour rules:
When one sees the residuum of greatness before
one’s camera, one must recognize it in a flash.
There is a brief moment when all that there is in a
man’s mind and soul and spirit may be reflected
through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the
moment to record. This is the elusive ‘moment of
truth’.- Yousuf Karsh
- Tonesfromthebluerendofthespectrumarecoldand
clinical, and will naturally recede from the viewer. - Red/orange tones are warm and passionate, and will
advance towards the viewer. - Thesecolourtonescanbeverypowerfulwhenusedin
conjunctionwitheachother.Forexample,givingawarm
skintoneto asubject shotona bluebackgroundwill
produce a wonderful sense of depth in the portrait. - Greenertonesarenotgenerallyusedatallinportraiture,
astheydonothaveaflatteringeffectwhenusedagainst
skin tones.