Travel & Photography Magazine
An analogous color palette with cool blue-green tones and a muted warm terracotta accent to keep developing your editing style! With @hipster / “Color is a huge part of how I tell stories through my photos. I always want the colors in my images to pop in a way that feels intentional and full of life. I think a lot about color theory when I edit—how complementary tones can create balance, or how using warm vs. cool colors can shift the entire mood of a shot.
I follow a specific workflow every time I edit to keep my style consistent. I start with global color calibration in Lightroom to set the overall tone, then move into curves to dial in contrast and mood. After that, I fine-tune exposure, white balance, and other basics. But I always leave color grading and masking for the end. That is where I shape the image and bring out the feeling I want it to have.
To show you this in detail, we can use image one as an example:
To create a harmonious base, I used analogous colors, i.e., colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. For image one, I primarily used hues within the blue-green spectrum, which are often associated with tranquility, stability, and introspection.
The following were my dominant colors:
046569 – A deep teal with a slightly muted tone.
04474c – An even darker, richer teal-green.
05898a – A brighter turquoise-teal, adding vibrance and contrast.
04262b – Almost black with blue-green undertones.
Teal, by the way, is a deep blue-green color that blends the calming effects of blue with the refreshing qualities of green. According to research, it is considered revitalizing and rejuvenating, symbolizing clear communication and thoughtful clarity. Teal pairs well with bright white and coral, and complements cream, navy, brown, and pink tones.
Thus, I chose a muted peachy-orange (cd9277) for the conical hat as a complementary contrast to the teal range. While it is not a direct opposite on the color wheel, it works as a split-complementary color, adding warmth and attention to my subject without clashing.” You can read the original article with @hipster by visiting the link in our bio!