The overall quality of the light source can have a profound effect on color perception. Light and dark tints of color that in flat light would show as one hue become more differentiated in bright light--the effect of color contrast. Yet, if that light is too bright and the surface is glossy we will get greater interference, thus some of the color that we might see in flat light becomes "washed out" or replaced by white. If the surface is matte the reflection becomes more diffuse we see more color. Thus, the greater the surface reflection the less the color richness or saturation we perceive. Rough surfaces throw off all sorts of reflections that can vary the color in many ways.
Atmospheric effects also alter color. If you look at a range of mountains from a distance, for example, you see them as blue. When you walk or drive closer to them, however, you see them as green, or red or whatever color they might be.
The same goes for the color changes subjects seem to undergo throughout the day. The inherent color, if you will, of sandstone formations do not change but we all know that photographing those formations late in the day, on a clear day, will yield the most spectacular results. Those afternoon colors are influenced by the prevailing light. Their amber tint results from the color bias of the light as it travels longer distances later in the day.
The color of any one thing does not exist in a vacuum. It is influenced by the color of subjects around it and how those subjects absorb and reflect light. It's as if we exist in a world of color mirrors and reflectors that bounce light from one subject to another. This sets up the world of color relationships and creates many of the color enhancing vibrations and associations we see around us.
In short, the way we see color is almost subjective--it is certainly conditional. Just as brightness is influenced by a host of factors, color itself is always changing and being affected by the energy around it.
The color mood of this image is affected greatly by atmospheric conditions. Photo and text copyright George Schaub 2010
