Colour - Exercise One

Controlling the strength of a colour.


This exercise will explore the effect that varying camera exposures have upon the perceived "strength" of a colour. The subject chosen is a bright red dress, as seen below. It is lit by a single 500W tungsten fresnel lamp, as the images were recorded on a very dull January day. A Canon EOS 60D camera was used, with varying degrees of exposure compensation dialed in, as indicated below each image.

Subject of this exercise

Minus 3

Minus 2

Minus 1

"Standard" exposure

Plus 1

plus 2

Plus 3

The final image in this series presents a composite of the above items. This makes it easier to compare how different exposures influence the rendering of a colour.

The "straight" image is seen in the centre. The images subject to relative over-exposure are seen in the upper half, and vary from a brighter red, through pink, to the final (+3) exposure, where the sheen of the fabric almost overpowers the true colour of the fabric.


Under exposure perhaps has a less dramatic effect, with a deeper saturation resulting in an ultimate rendering that, while dark, is still undoubtedly red.