You Need a Contrast Filter

     I've always been drawn to cameras and photography, but it was only two and a half years ago that it really became a hobby. Since then I've learned how to use manual mode, read a ridiculous number of photography books, taken a Photo 1 class, signed up for a Photo 2 class, and had one of my photographs on the Seattle Times website. Now, I want to take my photography to the next level and make meaningful and deliberate compositions.
    
     For a long time, contrast was never something I looked for when taking pictures. If I took a photo with good contrast, it was always a happy accident instead of a conscious choice. That's why I decided to focus on creating contrast in my first blog post.

     To create contrast in this photo, I used one red apple in a basket of green apples. Since red and green are complimentary colors, the green apples made the red apple stand out. Most of the time, the eye is drawn to the part of the photo with the most contrast. Then it's assumed that that area is the subject of the image, which is correct (Peterson, 130).

Without the red apple, this image would have very little contrast,
which would make it a sub-par photograph.

     Next, I used a single red leaf in a completely green composition, because "the use of a dominant color or tone is a great way to exaggerate the main subject" (Peterson, 142). By using green fabric and green apples, the one red leaf was the only spot where the color changed, so naturally our eyes go to that point first.

The contrasting color of the leaf against the other parts
of the photo make the image more interesting.

     Another way this photograph has contrast is in the distinct textures in the composition. The apples are smooth, while the leaf has jagged edges. This difference draws attention to the leaf.

     Do you think contrast a vital part of photography, or is it better to focus on other aspects in your pictures? Is color or texture contrast more important? Let me know in the comments below!

And here's a bonus picture,
just for fun :)

Peterson, Bryan. Bryan Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide. New York: Amphoto, 2012. Print.