Tangerine Tango Sky, Denali National Park, Alaska
For a few years now, I have been casually following Pantone’s Color of the Year. These colors are the trends Pantone’s color experts see in the markets of design, art, and fashion combined with an outlook of where the world and society are headed the upcoming year. Since nature doesn’t really follow the trends of the year, I always found it an interesting exercise if I could find images of mine that resembled the color that is being placed on a pedestal at the time.
The Color of the Year for 2012 is Tangerine Tango, Pantone #17-1463. It is a “spirited reddish-orange” to signify the desire for bold steps in moving forward. No doubt there is some relation to world economic times and the anxiousness to see things pick up. Times yearning for encouraging signs.
Read More
Turquoise beaches
Something I have made somewhat of a tradition is paying attention to Pantone’s color of the year for the past couple of years. I find it interesting to see what they will pick next, the explanations they offer behind it, and to see if I have any photographs that might make some good matches. From the business side of things, I can’t say it has drawn much of a business increase because of these colors, but I find it an interesting exploration of my photo archive by color if nothing else. I rediscover new images that I haven’t looked at in awhile, and perhaps even some common themes relating to color. For 2010, they announced recently that it will be Turquoise, or PANTONE® 15-5519.
(more…)
Pantone.® has recently announced their color of the year for 2009: Mimosa (Pantone 14-0848 TCX) I wrote about the 2008 color Blue Iris last December (link), and have sort of started a tradition in following it now. . And you are thinking – what influence does color of the year have?. . It seems to have quite a bit – from fashion designers to interior decorators – they are always looking for what’s “in”. . . Here is a link to an article about Blue Iris in the New York Times On the ColourLovers website, Blue Iris ended up being ranked #3,894 out of 1,605,487 at the time of this post. . This is a site where many interior designers experiment with color palettes – sharing and ranking them.
So now we move on to Mimosa for 2009, a yellow with a tinge of orange. For those interested, the technical RGB values are : R 238, G 192, B 80. . The color opposite of Mimosa is actually a blue very simiar to Blue Iris..hmmmm. – coincidence?. 
. . Given everything that has gone on in 2008 as far as the economy and the world, perhaps heading in the opposite direction isn’t such a bad idea. . A few quotes from Pantone’s executive director:
The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance, explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.®. Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation. – source Marketwatch
“I think it’s just the most wonderful symbolic color of the future,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It’s invariably connected to warmth, sunshine and cheer ” all the good things we’re in dire need of right now.” – source Yahoo News
I am also starting another new tradition in creating a special gallery dedicated to the color of the year. . I also played with a few new images in blending this color with them. . These leaf images in this post are the result.
As the year looks forward to hope, enlightenment, and inspiration – perhaps we just need reminders that these colors are already there and around us in nature – and sometimes it helps just to get lost in them for a little bit. . So I hope you enjoy this little gallery of about 44 images, perhaps view it while drinking a Mimosa. (orange juice and champagne). . . Goodbye Blue Iris – you are sooooo 2008!
p.s. Here is a cool link to explore on colors for your next stop..colorstrology!
Read More
I recently read a news release from Pantone that announced their pick for Color of the Year for 2008.. Blue Iris ( PANTONE.® 18-3943). Before I read this, I didn’t know there was such a thing, that colors can have their spot on the pedestal like Man or Woman of the Year, Sexiest Man/Woman Alive, Player of the Year, etc, etc. I suppose there is no better company to make such a pick – the Pantone ® name really is somewhat a synonym with ‘color standard.’
But it makes you think about what does that really mean, and as a photographer, do I care? According to Pantone, the color is the result of “Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, Blue Iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement.” Quite a description! As photographers, we are all aware of the emotional impact of color on viewers – so perhaps we can look at Blue Iris for the calming, reassuring aspects it has. Will George Bush start wearing Blue Iris shirts? Apparently the color of the year gets factored into fashion, home decorating and paint selections, and interior design. So it would seem likely if these industries create a certain focus on this particular color, it would be beneficial for photographers selling their work to look for possible benefits from images that may contain it.
So keep an eye out for Blue Iris everywhere next year – and say “adios Chili Pepper Red – you are sooooo 2007!”
http://t.co/1xjuh7fT - posted on 23 hours ago
Follow Me on…