CONTRAST
Contrast is anything that is strikingly different in a very obvious way. It is any difference that gives added emphasis to the subject. It is a powerful photographic tool that helps us draw the viewer's eye towards that subject.
Focus Contrast (DoF)
Shallow Depth of Field is often used to blur a distracting background. Using a shallow depth of Field for product and food can push the viewer’s eye towards the main point of interest within an image
Tonal Contrast ( Light)
The differences of tone within an image.
This is the type of contrast we all know about. It refers to the difference in tones from the lightest (white) through the greys to the darkest (black). Many assume it’s used only in black-and-white photography but it also applies to colour images adding tonal range within the same colour.
Chromatic Contrast (Colour)
The differences in colours that contribute to a visual effect within the image.
We often see this used to great effect when a subject is placed on a background with a contrasting colour from the opposite side of the colour wheel. Having a subject of a strikingly different colour than that of the background we immediately draw attention to the subject. We achieve the same effect using warm and cool hues. Using the warm yellowish light from street lamps and illuminated buildings against a cool blue bluish lit sky will offer colour contrast.
Mismatching our cameras white balance setting to the colour temperature of the light source then correcting the white balance of our subject using corrective gels is one way to achieve this effect. A photographer will create very blue background using the cameras Tungsten White balance setting and light the subject using a CTO (colour temperature orange) correction gel to correct skin tones making great use of Chromatic contrast
Environment contrast
We see many Photographs with both elements that depict and emphasise the difference in terms of size, shape or pattern: Large vs. small, textured vs. smooth, patterned vs. plain and will allowing a photograph more interest.
Social Contrast
In photography contrast can reflect the differences the meaning of the subject offers: Old vs. Young, Rich vs. Poor, the Strong vs. the Weak, and many more that can be used to help tell the photographic story.
This rule is often used in photojournalism. Whilst images depicting poverty draw us in without showing a social comparison we do not realise that we the viewer are the comparison.
The Holiday snap
Why do our holiday snaps mean so much to us?
As well as holding memories that play on our personal emotions, they depict many types of contrast and this is why they offer us so much impact?
A simple beach photograph will offer the viewer: Environment, Tone, Colour, Depth of field and Social contrast. It will depict with varying amounts of space, the separation of the three distinct areas: the dry yellow sand, the wet blue/green sea and a sky that can range from pale blue to deep orange. It will also offer us a Social contrast. We all yearn to go on holiday. Our holidays are in contrast to our usual daily lives and this immediately offers us social contrast.