H is for HUE and the HOT SHOE

My title this week sounds a bit like a crazy Welshman with fantasies of doing naughty things with a stiletto. I know, you thought maybe I'd transgressed a bit and there'd be a little titillation, but no. I intend to discuss "Hue" and the "Hot Shoe" and how they fit into my theme of photography. Sorry if I disappoint.

Hue refers to the properties of colour and although there are many mathematical considerations in its computation, I will avoid that part like the plague. You can change the hue in a photo by using any photo software like Photoshop Elements. By playing around with the hue or saturation tool, you can end up with a photo that looks completely unreal. This is fine if you're trying for a surrealistic look, but be careful not to overdo. The purpose of this tool is to alter the vibrancy of colours by either enhancing dull or bright colours. Here are a couple of examples using the same scene taken in a Sicilian olive grove.

First, we have the photo in what I call a "natural" hue.

Second, the photo has been changed to add a yellow hue.

Third, the photo has added a pink hue.

Fourth, the photo has a purple hue.

Finally, the photo has a normal hue with a 50% saturation level.

So you can see that playing with the Hue (and saturation levels) can create a totally different look, depending on what you want to demonstrate. The following shows an example of what I did to the photo of a bow thruster (on a boat) by distorting it with a "wave" element and then saturating it to the maximum level. A boring steel-coloured circle turns into "op art." What do you "see" in the abstract?


Does anyone know what a Hot Shoe is in relation to photography? Contrary to its image as something sexy, it is the spot on the top of a camera where you can mount a flash unit. It is shaped like an inverted, squared-off U of metal. The matching adapter on the bottom of the flash unit slides in from the back of the camera and is sometimes secured by a clamping screw on the flash. In the center of the "U" is a metal contact point. This is used for standard, brand-independent flash synchronization. Normally the metal of the shoe and the metal of the contact are electrically isolated from each other. To fire the flash, these two pieces are shorted together. The flash unit sets up a circuit between shoe and contact—when it is completed by the camera, the flash fires. (from Wikipedia) See below.

So I guess there is an element of mating with the hot shoe, but not a very exciting one.

Hallelujah to Mrs. Nesbitt, who in my mind should wear a halo for all her heroic efforts keeping ABC Wednesday going for 10 rounds! She has hands-down won my admiration for such a creative, intelligent and heartfelt meme. Her happy, hectic and hilarious (yet humble) handful of helpers will visit each contributor to hand out kudos for their posts. No one is hostile, hypocritical, or hateful here. We're all here for fun and to meet people from all over the world. So join in and have some happy times!