Color Contrast

Taking a step forward and improving your photography skills, we look at adjustments one can make on a point and shoot camera. In this scenario I used my Canon PowerShot SX100 IS and its My Colors function. It’s possible that your camera has the same or similiar capability but will be called something else. Peruse your manual for these key words, color and/or contrast.

At Epcot in the Morocco Pavilion on a partly sunny day, I sat in one spot and changed settings for each photo. To use these advanced settings, your camera must be dialed to P, Av, TV, or M. Press the Function button and scroll down to My Colors and then move right to Custom Color and press the DISP (display) button. The arrows on the left let you go up and down between Contrast, Sharpness, and Saturation. The integer bar on the right lets you guide the arrow from left to right, increasing and decreasing each setting one by one. We will explore sharpness and saturation at a later time.

The integer bar has 5 options. From left to right they are minus 2, minus 1, zero, plus 1, and plus 2. Provided are three examples of how using in-camera contrast makes a difference in your photos.

Photo One – Set to minus 2, this image is very full and flat. Nothing stands out.

Photo Two – Taken at zero or in the middle, the yellow pop out the most with greens in a close second. The separation is alright but nothing spectacular.

Photo Three – Set to plus 2, the contrast in this photo is obvious as all colors are bright and the whites are clean and crisp. his photo is sure to grab far more attention than the others.

Increasing color contrast works best on things such as flowers, landscapes, and architecture versus on people and pets. It’s also handy on very overcast days when lighting is soft and flat.

I’m on Facebook. Are you?