A Study of Color in Photography

"every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.”- Oscar Wilde

I believe that photographs are important, it can stand the test of time better than our own memories it can serve as a historical document our proof of existence. Pictures should be composed with some fore thought, to capture the precious moment and emotion in our lives.
Color has the power of suggestion use it to grab your viewers attention and evoke a certain mood or feeling in your photo. Understanding basic color theory will help you portray an event to your preference.  
Primary colors: are hues of red, yellow and blue Secondary colors: are made by mixing primary colors
Harmonious & Contrasting Colors
Harmonious colors- are colors that lie close to each other in the color wheel it can have a calming, relaxing effect.
Contrasting colors- colors that lie opposite of the color wheel produces bold dramatic images makes details stand out 
Receding and Advancing colors
Warm colors(Advance) such as red yellow and orange stand out in the picture it draws focusCool Colors(Recede) blue green are better for background colors because they remind us open spaces 
Color Symbolism: color has an emotional value these are its representations
Red: reminds us of blood, passion, danger, love, heat, rageBlue: tranquil,serene self-asured, regal, authoritative, stable, fresh, freedom, wide open spaces, mysteriousGreen:  health, luck, vigor, envy Yellow:happiness, optimism, warmth and richnessBlack: mystery, power, emptiness, darkness evil, death, anger, remorse, mourning, sadnessWhite: purity, simplicity, clean, space, innocence, sterility Gray: security, reliability, maturity, intelligence, dignity, modesty, depressingOrange: energy, comfort, balance, enthusiasm Pink: femininity, tenderness, softness, caring Brown: rough, rugged, stability

Faded Pink Yellow and purple-  evoke the best memories of summertime
Black and white-  gives gravity and depth to portraits enhances details in textures

heavy fade 
Sepia 
Instant + Cool- suited for food, fashion and everyday life 

Creamy + warm - Still life 

Subtle Fade- Desaturated colors are ideal for urban environments and portraits 

Underexposed- Exaggerated browns and greens make this preferable with nature, still life and expansive environments.

Overexposed- colors with strong creamy mid tones perfect for portraits indoor

Color tips 

1. use bold colors 
2. use subtle colors pastel 
3. use 1 color against a neutral colored background 
4. let 1 color dominate 

end notes: have you notice some movies with color grading of teal and orange? there is a purpose behind the awful color combination   http://theabyssgazes.blogspot.com/2010/03/teal-and-orange-hollywood-please-stop.html