As creatives, we see the colors of the world through the camera lens. Pantone’s color of the year for 2018 is 18-3838 ULTRA VIOLET. A beautiful shade of purple with a slight hint of blue. When we saw Ultra Violet our first thought was the color of the night sky in the middle of the Milky Way. This month we asked our Lowepro Storytellers to find Ultra Violet 18-3838 in their part of the world.
A little-known fact about myself is that I am color blind so sometimes color specific assignments can be challenging. The image I included for this months post is quite literally my exact interpretation of how close my eyesight can match the color that was assigned to us. I chose this image because Spring is finally upon us. After months of cold moody images, the landscapes are starting to fill with color again. Aesthetically this isn’t a complicated image but I don’t believe an image has to be complicated to be impactful. Because of the green backdrop, the color of the wildflower pops off the screen. I know I don’t speak for myself when I say I can not wait to hit the trails and enjoy the Spring flowers.
Canon 5D Mark III
F/4 @ 1/4000
Canon L Series 24-105mm
A Velvet-purple Coronet Hummingbird showing off its incredible iridescence in the cloud forests of Colombia.
As photographers, the kaleidoscope of colours present at Nikita & Rishi’s wedding was both inspiring and daunting to capture. But what made it all the more powerful was the accompaniment of an amazing range of emotions – from tears of joy to gut-busting laughter. If you look hard enough, pretty sure you can find PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra in there 😉 We are truly blessed to bear witness to the joining of such vibrant and colourful souls…
Purple is commonly known for spirituality, the sacred, higher self, passion, balance, and vitality. Purple helps align our energy with the energy of the universe. Light purple hues represent feminine energy, romantic and nostalgic feelings. Dark purple hues are known to evoke feelings of gloom, sadness, and melancholy. Bright purple hues have been known to fuel imagination and creativity.
Dawn light at Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park, Canada’.
Nikon D800
Nikkor 17-35 2.8 lens
iso 100
F16
17mm
0.4 sec exposure
The bluebell woods in Scotland are incredible and finding a hidden patch can be really challenging. I spent a couple of weeks last summer mindfully keeping an eye for an area that looked like it might contain a field or area of them and finally, after two weeks of searching, came across an incredible display of these in the small region of Perthshire where the bluebells are commonly found. The vibrancy and crispness of the violet next to green is simply breathtaking.
Nikon D800
ISO 100
F 10
1/125 sec
As a photographer, seeing the world in every shade is something I feel fortunate for. I get no greater pleasure in life than watching the sun’s light fall, changing beautifully with each passing minute. Since 2012 I’ve been loading my medium format Bronica with 120mm Kodak Aerochrome, and seeing my travels in a different light. This extinct infrared film stock changes the Earth’s landscape wildly, turning all vegetation pink. During a fishing and backpacking trip, I shot a roll it through the wilderness and it has really pushed Denali National Park further into majesty.
Camera: Bronica ETR Si
Film: Kodak Aerochrome
Settings: not recorded
I love seeing the colorful Ghana fabrics that everybody wears. During Harmattan in Ghana the landscape isn’t as green and the orange dust covers everything. I noticed this young girl wearing this purple outfit outside while doing her chores and I stopped to capture her portrait. I’m not sure it’s the exact Pantone color of the year, but it’s pretty close!
NIKON D810
Sigma Art Lens
ISO 500
50mm
f/1.4
1/320
Moments before the sun disappears behind the mountains and darkness takes over we get to witness all sorts of colors. Those moments of the day create and enhance the most magical colors and paint the mountains.
NIKON D750
Nikon 70-200 f/2.8
f/9
1/1600
ISO 640
In this image color, light and focus are used to emphasize the primary character, Captain Phasma, while simultaneously de-emphasizing the stormtroopers in the back.
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 135mm f/2L@ f/2
ISO 100
1/160 sec
A magical evening on the Point Reyes National Seashore with the full moon setting over the Point Reyes Lighthouse and the mighty Pacific.
Camera Info:
Nikon D800E
Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8
24mm
30 sec
f/2.8
ISO 3200
She is bold, creative, and unconventional. At no other time in history have young woman been so empowered to take creative risks, own their individuality, and to push past social norms and boundaries than today. This dramatic hue of Ultra Violet symbolizes originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking – to which she is co-creator of a more inspired future for us all.
Canon 60D
50 mm
ISO 400
f/2.8
1/30
Hands-down the most spectacular sunrise in the Okanagan Valley in 2017. This image was captured at the beautiful Predator Ridge Resort near Vernon, BC. We spent an amazing week here shooting drone aerials.
DJI Inspire; f/2.8; 1/60 second; ISO 100; 15mm lens
