Week 8 Blog Exercise: Tone and Color

In this image, there is a wide range in tone. The black and photographic elements provide variation in shades of black and white. There are lots of grey tones in between also. The use of tone in this image serves as a visual tool that "indicate and express dimension." (Dondis, p.48.) It also adds depth and detail, and make the images appear crisp and real.

The tones in this picture interact with the Dondis basic element, Dimension. The shadows on the ground and the way the light hits the three figures show that that they are in fact 3-dimensional.

As you can see, the designer of this image utilized the color red. Everything in the photograph is colored red, except for the three figures. This attracts the eye and also helps the three men stand out amongst their surroundings. The three dimensions of color (hue, saturation, and brightness) are also apparent in the image. In particular, there is a red hue, which is a primary of elementary hue that is also a "provoking hue" according to Dondis. The red color that is used is a saturated one; one that is "highly charged with expression and emotion," (p.51.) It is also fairly bright.

Furthermore, according to Dondis, "Red means danger, and love, and warmth, and life...." (p.50.) This image reflects these emotions, because one can create a story behind the photographs that embodies these feelings.

The red color also interacts with the Dondis basic element, Dimension. Because everything but the three figures is colored red, it places them in the foreground and emphasizes the space between them and the background.