Graf
Photography

exploring nature’s infinite connections

Notes from the Woods

seeing · environment · exploration · photography

Complimentary colors

Written by Mark

Born and raised in Detroit, c. 323 ppm CO2, Mark Graf is a Michigan photographer, naturalist, and diver whose muse is summoned by exploring the endless connections in nature; land, sea, and sky.

Creativity and Philosophy

10 Comments(s)

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Complimentary Colors

Complimentary Colors

This is one from the archives – a leaf photographed by the side of river at Bridal Veil falls in Tinker’s Creek Gorge in Ohio.    This is a pretty cool area to work in because the shale creates all sorts of interesting lines, shapes, and surfaces.    The bigger bonus was having some blue sky reflecting in the water to act as a complimentary color to this leaf.

Complimentary colors to me are a bonus find in nature.   They create a special dynamic relationship in an image.   My eyes wander back and forth between the leaf and the blue reflecting water – almost as if there was an attracting and opposing force between the two like magnets.   The lines of the shale help contribute to that dynamic.

I plead guilty to not being very systematic about how I tag my posts – haphazard would be a a more fitting term.   I am trying to do better! 🙂   I have now created a post tag called “artist favorites.”   This tag will link you to some of my favorite posted images over the last year.  Eventually I will spend time to go back further and tag those.  I encourage you to check it out and see if you missed something.

graf nature photo divider

this post is tagged with these subjects, you are invited to explore and wander …

artist favorites | complimentary colors | pictures of leaves
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10 Comments

  1. Mark
    Mark on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 11:33 AM

    Thanks a lot folks. I am glad you like it.

  2. edvatza
    edvatza on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 7:11 AM

    Beautiful colors. Beautiful composition. Beautiful image. Great work, Mark!

  3. Anita Jesse
    Anita Jesse on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 6:09 PM

    That color combination is irresistible.

  4. Lana
    Lana on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 11:29 PM

    I agree completely about complimentary colors, which is why my shot of a golden orb weaver (sunset-orange spider against blue sky,) is one of my personal faves.
    I also hear you on labels/tags. Hindsight is SOOOO 20/20!

  5. Tomas Turecek
    Tomas Turecek on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 4:20 PM

    Amazing, Mark! Wonderful saturated colours, excellent motif, composition and dynamincs in the image.

  6. Andy
    Andy on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 8:54 AM

    Mark: Nice! This is the kind of image that I love. I have a number of similar images in my own archives. I have been reading Joe McNally’s “The Moment It Clicks” lately. Lots of “war stories,” but some gems of wisdom, too. He remarks that one of his editors always said to him something like don’t overlook the small photos. I think maybe this is an example of what he means.

    And, ain’t Mother Nature an amazing set maker??

  7. Richard Wong
    Richard Wong on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 1:13 AM

    This is a fascinating looking image Mark. The design and the quality of the light are really great.

  8. Jack Johnson
    Jack Johnson on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 6:44 PM

    Wow – great composition & brilliant colors, Mark!

    – Jack

  9. Aswirly
    Aswirly on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 4:11 PM

    Pretty pretty!

  10. Roberta
    Roberta on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:17 AM

    Terrific image. Love the colors!