Three ways to gel

CREATE COLOUR BACKDROPS, MOODY LOW-KEY EFFECTS OR SUBTLE TINTS

1 Vibrant backdrops

One of the simplest ways to use colour gels is for a vibrant backdrop. Set up a flash directly behind your subject, choose a colour gel to place over the flash then direct it towards the backdrop. Work out an exposure that results in a bold colour background, then add a frontal light to lift your subject.

2 Bounce colours

When we bounce a hard light source, like a gelled flash, off a white piece of card or white reflector the harsh light from the flash becomes more diffuse, resulting in gentler tints. Here, a blue flash is bounced off a card to the left, and an orange is bounced to the right, resulting in a gentle colour combo.

3 Bold and edgy

A gelled red softbox is placed to the left of the camera here, with a blue hard light behind and to the right. It results in a dramatic colour combination. Think about how colours have different connotations – red, for example, signifies danger while yellows and oranges create a warm, inviting mood.