What Is the meaning of Contrast in Photography?

Understanding the meaning of contrast in photography is essential for creating compelling images.

Contrast highlights the differences in luminance and color, making elements in a photo stand out.

You may hear definitions which refers to the differences between the foreground and the background, how bright the colors are, and often that contrast only applies in black and white photography.

These definitions are either wrong, or they’re incomplete.

This guide will explore the various types of contrast and provide practical tips for using it effectively in your photography.

What is the Meaning of Contrast in Photography?

The meaning of contrast in photography refers to the visual difference between elements within an image. 

This can be the difference in:

• Brightness
• color,
• or even conceptual elements. 

High contrast within a photo can create drama and intensity, while low contrast often results in a softer, more cohesive image.

Understanding the meaning of contrast is essential for creating impactful photos.

High Contrast in Photography

High contrast images feature strong distinctions between light and dark areas. This type of contrast can add drama and depth to a photo, making subjects pop and details stand out sharply.

Example of High Contrast:

When a color image has high contrast, often, every color will be defined intensely to the point of being very vivid.

This is desirable when you want the whole spectrum of possible colors to be clearly detailed with the same effect as though you had taken the photograph in the brightest of sunny conditions.

How to Achieve High Contrast:

• Use strong lighting sources to create clear distinctions between light and shadow.
• Adjust your camera settings to enhance contrast, such as increasing the contrast setting or using a high-contrast film.
• In post-processing, use tools like curves and levels to accentuate the differences between light and dark areas.

Low Contrast in Photography

Low contrast images have minimal differences between the light and dark areas, creating a more subdued and harmonious look.

These images can evoke a sense of calm and unity.

In low contrast black and white images, much of the image will appear gray, when compared to the harsher ‘whites‘ and ‘blacks‘ of a high contrast images.

For color photographs with low contrast, the most noticeable differences are that the colors are diminished and not very strong.

To stick with the weather analogy, instead of bright sunshine, imagine taking the photograph on a dull, cloudy morning or late evening.

Example of Low Contrast:

How to Achieve Low Contrast:

• Shoot in diffused or overcast lighting conditions to avoid harsh shadows.
• Use settings on your camera or filters that reduce contrast.
• In post-processing, decrease the contrast to soften the image.

What is Tonal Contrast in Photography

Tonal contrast focuses on the variation in lightness and darkness in an image. It can add depth and dimension, particularly in black and white photography where color is not a factor.

These differences in lightness and darkness are probably what most people mean when they discuss contrast.

The level of contrast in bright and dark areas go a long way to determining how well defined the image will be, and it is particularly applicable to the clarity of black and white photographs.

Example of Tonal Contrast:

How to Achieve Tonal Contrast:

• Pay attention to lighting and shadows when composing your shot.
• Convert your image to black and white to focus solely on the tones.
• Use post-processing tools to enhance the tonal range of your photo.

What is Color Contrast?

Color contrast involves using opposing colors to make elements in a photo stand out. Complementary colors, such as blue and orange or red and green, create strong visual interest.

As you may know, colors as they relate to graphics and images, are normally represented by a color wheel.

If we imagine yellow at the top of this wheel and go anti-clockwise, we’ll go through oranges, reds, purples, blues, greens and end up back at yellow once we have gone all the way around.

The colors that we pass through first (yellow, orange, red) are known as ‘warm ‘ colors, and the ‘cold’ colors are the blues, purples, and greens. Adjusting color contrast means making the image warmer or colder, by either enhancing the reddish colors and diminishing the blues, or conversely making it colder by doing the opposite.

For example, if you are photographing the ocean and wanted it to have a colder appearance you would bring out the blue and green colors, whereas a wooded scene in autumn might be enhanced by increasing the color contrast in favor of the warmer red and orange colors.

Note the terms warm and cold refer to the color temperature and is not a reference to the temperature outside.

How to Achieve Color Contrast:

• Use the color wheel to identify complementary colors.
• Incorporate elements with contrasting colors into your composition.
• Enhance color contrast during post-processing by adjusting saturation and hue.

Conceptual Contrast in Photography

Conceptual contrast combines elements that are conceptually different, such as old and new or natural and man-made, to create interest and tell a story within the image.

Example of Conceptual Contrast:

How to Achieve Conceptual Contrast:

• Think creatively about the subjects you are photographing and how they relate to each other.
• Look for opportunities to combine unexpected elements in your composition.
• Use post-processing to enhance the differences between the contrasting elements.

Effectively Using Contrast in Photography

To effectively use contrast, consider the type of mood you want to create. High contrast can convey drama and intensity, while low contrast can suggest calmness and tranquility. Experiment with different lighting conditions and post-processing techniques to find the best approach for your style.

Editing Contrast of Photographs

With programs such as Photoshop, InPixio, Movavi, and Corel Paintshop, the array of edits, adjustments, and enhancements you can make to digital photographs, is limited only your imagination, assuming you know how to use the software to its full potential.

Contrast is obviously one of the aspects of an image which you can adjust, either to improve it or to give it an effect that was not present when the image was taken.

A dullish image can be brought to life by increasing the contrast so that the colors are made more vivid and alive.

Alternatively, you can add atmosphere to an image by turning down the contrast so that many shades melt into each other.

Brad Evans

Brad is a seasoned photographer whose journey began in 2006 with a 3.1-megapixel digital camera. Over the years, he has specialized in various photography genres—from weddings and portraiture to product and studio photography. Based on the Sunshine Coast of QLD, Brad combines his love for education and photography, sharing his expertise on DSLRAD.com, a platform committed to capturing life’s treasured moments and empowering photography enthusiasts.