CHAPTER 1 RESEARCH PROPOSAL Background to the research problem Colours are different wavelengths of light, which are reflected from countless objects. Humans possess the skill to distinguish between hundreds of bands of wavelengths, by utilizing the sensory cells in the retina of the eye (Gage, 2006). Consequently seeing in colour is our own perception and a personal experience. Perception of colour is manipulated by various factors, such as mood, emotion, gender, temperament, age and persona, as well as social and cultural background (Begum, 2008). Through the above it is clear that each individual will understand colour in their own way. According to Carl Jung, colour forms part of the human psychological and biological heritage, therefore one can …show more content…
Some of the most noticeable photographers in this area were: Ernst Haas, Ansel Adams, Joel Sternfield and Joel Meyrowitz. In the field of colour psychology and the emotive value of colour related to photography, not much research has been done on this specific topic. In my studies, I will utilize information and knowledge that I have gathered through research done on colour psychology and the emotive value of colour and apply the significant facts and information to the field of commercial photography. Research Design For the research design a literature study will be done, consisting of research that includes past and present methods of colour psychology. A representation of the emotive value of colour will also be done via a series of photographs, illustrating the different emotions that can be evoked by various colours over a broad selection of photographic genres, including fashion, landscape, food, portraiture and abstract photography. Natural and artificial elements as well as environments will be used to illustrate the different colours within the