Narrative Element: Colour

Narrative photography is a powerful form of visual storytelling that uses photographs to convey stories, emotions, and ideas. It goes beyond capturing a single moment in time and instead aims to construct or document a sequence of images that collectively tell a compelling narrative (story). Through careful composition, lighting, subject selection, and context, photographers can evoke powerful emotions, spark imagination, and shed light on diverse perspectives. 

Pro Edu (2023) "Ultimate Guide on How to Shoot Narrative Photography" URL

What story / feeling is conveyed through colour in the photos below? Why?

See more examples of colour contributes to the mood of photographs via this link.

Use the links below to vibe check your chosen colour

Take or find photo to re colour

• Once you have chosen your colour & vibe, you must get a picture that you will recolour. You should choose to:
  -take a new photo
  -find a photo you have already taken in this class

• Create a folder called 'Photo Colour' in your Photography folder on your computer and put your image there.

• Open your image in Photoshop.

• Use one of the following two methods to colour your image:

Step by step instructions for creating a mono colour image

1. Open the Image: Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the image you want to colour by going to "File" > "Open" and selecting the file from your computer.

2. Create a New Layer: In the Layers panel (usually located on the right side of the screen), click on the "New Layer" icon at the bottom to add a new layer above your original image.

3. Select the Bucket Tool: Choose the Bucket Tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen or press the "G" key on your keyboard.

4. Pick a Colour: Click on the colour swatch at the bottom of the toolbar to choose the colour you want to apply. A colour picker window will appear, allowing you to select a hue from the colour spectrum or enter specific colour values.

5. Click on the new layer you have created to colour the whole image.

6. Set the Layer Blend Mode (where it says "Normal" above your layer): With the new layer selected, look for the "Blend Mode" dropdown menu at the top of the Layers panel (it usually says "Normal" by default). Experiment with different blend modes to achieve the desired colour effect. For example:

   • "Colour" mode will apply the colour while preserving the luminance of the underlying image.

   • "Overlay" mode will give a vibrant colour overlay, combining the colour with the image's details.

7. Adjust Opacity If the colour appears too strong, you can adjust the layer's opacity which controls the overall transparency of the layer.

8. Save Your Work: Once you are satisfied with the coloring, save your image by going to "File" > "Save As" and save is as a Photoshop Document (PSD) in your Documents folder. Then, save it as a JPEG to upload to your process journal. For more help with file formats, you could view our lesson on File Management again.

Step by step instructions for creating a duotone colour image

1. Open the Image: Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the image you want to duotone colour by going to "File" > "Open" and selecting the file from your computer.

2. Create a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer: In the Layers panel (usually located on the right side of the screen), click on the "Create new fill or adjustment layer" icon (it looks like a half-filled circle) and choose "Gradient Map" from the dropdown menu. A new adjustment layer will be added above your original image.

3. Access the Gradient Editor: With the Gradient Map adjustment layer selected, the Properties panel will open automatically. If it doesn't, go to "Window" > "Properties" to display it. In the Properties panel, you'll see the gradient bar with the current colors assigned to it.

4. Choose Duotone Colors: By default, the gradient will be black to white, which creates a grayscale duotone effect. To select custom colors, double-click on one of the color stops below the gradient bar. This will open the Color Picker window.

5. Pick the First Color: In the Color Picker, choose the first color you want for your duotone effect. You can use any hue you like, such as a dark blue, deep red, or any other color that suits your creative vision. Click "OK" to apply the color to the left color stop on the gradient bar.

6. Pick the Second Color: Double-click on the other color stop below the gradient bar, and again, use the Color Picker to choose the second color for your duotone effect. This color should contrast well with the first color to create a visually striking result. Click "OK" to apply the color to the right color stop on the gradient bar.

7. Adjust Opacity: You can fine-tune the intensity of the duotone effect by adjusting the Opacity of the Gradient Map adjustment layer. Lowering the opacity will make the duotone colours more transparent, blending them with the original image.

8. Refine the Effect: If needed, you can further enhance the duotone effect by experimenting with different gradient styles, adding more colour stops, or adjusting the positions of the existing colour stops on the gradient bar.

9. Save Your Work: Once you are satisfied with the coloring, save your image by going to "File" > "Save As" and save is as a Photoshop Document (PSD) in your Documents folder. Then, save it as a JPEG to upload to your process journal. For more help with file formats, you could view our lesson on File Management again.

• In your process journal, create a subpage under 'Class Projects' and call it 'Colouring an Image.'

• Insert the unedited photo you have taken and also the newly coloured version.

• Complete the response below.

Response Questions

Why is colour an important element for creating narrative? (Min 1 sentence)

Which colour and vibe did you choose? Why does that colour represent that vibe? (Min 1 sentence)

How is that colour and vibe related to the photo that you chose? (Min 1 sentence)