There is nothing reticent about the plumage of this wood duck. The color palette generated by his plumage is obviously going to be bold and perfectly suited for a dramatic presentation.
Susan says, “Let this palette taken from Lucia’s photograph guide your approach to the design of your presentation. These vivid colors will support a dramatic story where truth-telling and harsh reality take center stage or where an unabashed celebration is in the spotlight. Once again we suggest taking the feeling imparted by a photo and using it to infuse your presentation with the emotion that you are seeking by using it as a source for your color palette. Just like the font and images you select, the colors should match your message. If any of these are out of alignment, you will confuse your audience about your intent. Yes, the impact of making a wrong choice might be subtle, but the wrongness of a choice will impact on the effectiveness of your presentation by leaving the impression that something was off or unsettling. Just as a bright red dress feels out of place at a funeral, a color choice at odds with the message will seem out of place, too. Try to think of your presentation as a unified whole where all the elements align and fit together seamlessly.
Why Should You Care About the Colors in Your Presentation?
“The Darwinian reason for the colors of this wood duck’s plumage is to attract the attention of another wood duck. He makes a bold statement about himself here about his power, his dominance, his status. From his gleaming red eye to his purple chest outlined in white, to his electric blue back, this duck means something. Copying his color statement will lend the same power and status to your presentation. How could it hurt?”
Lucia says, “The vibrant colors of a wood duck are spectacular. Not only are they bright, but the feathers are delineated into very distinct groups of colors. Even his reflection, although wavy, has kept its distinctive coloring. The first time I saw one of these birds, I thought it looked like a wood carving or a decoy. I assure the duck pictured here is very real.
Watery Ripples Add Texture and Subtle Colors
The surrounding ripples of water create a textured setting for the duck. Notice the colors in the water are neither bright nor distinctive, which creates a nice counterpoint to the well-defined and vibrant colors of the wood duck. If you look closely you’ll find many of the same colors of the duck subtly smeared in the water. I wonder if Susan used any of these watery colors in her palette.Even if she didn’t, I urge you to look at a whole photo when using it to create your color palette, because you never know what you’ll find in the less obvious places. You might be pleasantly surprised.”
