40 Impressive Selective Color Photography Examples

Selective color helps photographers to produce beautiful and interesting images. Using photo editing software we can change some of the areas to black and white, while other areas remain colorful making photos more vibrant. Using selective color, we can make ordinary quality images to extraordinary high-quality images. Desaturating and masking color photos is mainly used in this process.

In this post we present you with 25 superb examples using this technique of color selection.

1. Down to the sea

Three boys are diving into the sea from rocks at a height of about 35 to 40 feet. Shot looking down from the promenade above, Nice, France, 2002. Scanned from color slide and manipulated in Photoshop.

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2. Lunch Time

This photo was taken on September 1, 2011 using a Canon EOS REBEL T2i.

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3. Just take my soul

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4. Pencil Rainbow

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5. Hand of God

This photo was taken on August 21, 2011 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, IN, using a Nikon D3000.

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6. Monday Morning Coffee…

Photo is actually Saturday Coffee from Raven’s Horn Vista on the Golden Eagle Trail.

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7. Prrrr… look me in the eye

Shot with Canon EOS 60D with Focal Length 135mm and Shutter Speed 1/40 sec.

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8. A Stroll Through China Town

This photo was taken on February 27, 2010 in Old Town, Portland, OR, US, using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

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9. Fragile

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10. Red

This photo was taken on November 25, 2010 using a Canon EOS 7D.

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11. A+M

This photo was taken on May 1, 2010 in Alberta, Alberta, CA, using an Olympus E-30.

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12. The Boat and the Castle

Shot taken at Holy Island,Northumberland, with a Panasonic Lumix G1, 14-45mm lens. Three separate exposures merged into HDR via Light room, Photomatix and CS3. Selective coloring then carried out in CS3.

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13. A Mother’s Faith

This photo was taken on February 13, 2011 in Shellharbour, Wollongong, NSW, AU.

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14. Eagle Owl

Close up of a Spotted Eagle Owl.

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15. National business

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16. The Garden

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17. Let there be Peace please…

This photo was taken on July 27, 2008 in Krishna giri, Tamil Nadu, IN, using a Nikon D40.

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18. Tora selective coloring

This photo was taken on May 3, 2008 using a Nikon D80.

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19. Snake Tie

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20. Winter Lanterns

Snow covered trees and yellow lanterns.

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21. November Leaf

Autumnal close-up of fallen leaf. Selectively colored b&w photograph.

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22. Contrast in Orange

This photo was taken on July 29, 2005 in Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province, KH, using a Sony DSC-P8.

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23. Kaida

Messing around with my new SB-700 last night. I kept bugging my roommate’s dog, Kaida. I rarely care for selective color but had to give it a try on those eyes!

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24. Tom

This photo was taken on November 29, 2008.

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25. Al sicuro

This photo was taken on November 12, 2009 using a Nikon D80.

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26. Bonsai

Construction equipment in central Boston

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27. Fleur de ma ville

This photo was taken on April 22, 2006.

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28. Volvo

The vintage Volvo bus at Tampere Central Square. Selective colored b&w photo.

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29. Santa Barbara

Shot with Canon EOS 5D with Focal Length 300mm and Shutter Speed 1/200 sec.

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30. Retired Bobcat

This photo was taken on February 14, 2010.

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31. Blue High Key

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32. Sausalito Fog

Finally caught the Golden Gate in the light I’ve been hoping for. Yeah, yeah, another selective color shot..

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33. Metamorphosis

This photo was taken on June 7, 2010 using a Panasonic DMC-LX3.

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34. Pondering the depth of god

This photo was taken on October 10, 2010 in California, US, using a Nikon D5000.

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35. Drop of colour on a desolate beach

Taken just after sunrise, the Buddhist monk was the only colour around.

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36. To End in Smoke

This photo was taken on January 21, 2010 using a Canon EOS 1000D.

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37. Burn Pit

In Iraq.

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38. lace

Shot with Nikon D7000 with Lens Nikon 50mm f1.4 with Focal Length 50mm.

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39. Boo!

Shot with Canon EOS 60D with Focal Length 135mm and Shutter Speed 1/160 sec.

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40. Thank You

Shot with NIKON D90 with Focal Length 50mm and Shutter Speed 1/200 sec.

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I hope you enjoyed a lot and gained some knowledge. Post your valuable comments. Thank you.