Catching the magic of magenta with your iPhone

In this blog article, I dive deeper into the world of colour, monochromatic light and find out why magenta can be such a challenge to photograph with an iPhone.

Catching the magic of magenta with your iPhone
Magenta coloured flower.

Introduction

Colour is an intriguing phenomenon that enriches and influences our daily lives. From the soft green of nature to the vibrant blue of the sky, colours arouse emotions and create atmospheres around us. One colour that often evokes fascination and wonder is magenta.

But did you know that magenta does not actually exist as a single colour in the spectrum of light?

The colour spectrum and monochromatic light

To understand the mystery of magenta, we must first take a look at the colour spectrum. The visible colour spectrum, as represented in a rainbow, consists of different colours ranging from red to violet. When white light is refracted through a prism, it is split into these colours, resulting in the colour spectrum.

Colour spectrum. Without magenta.
Colour spectrum. Without magenta.

Monochromatic light, on the other hand, consists of a single wavelength or colour. In the case of magenta, which is between red and blue, it is caused by a specific combination of wavelengths.

This means that magenta is actually a colour perceived in our brain as a result of the fusion of different colours in the light spectrum. So when you look at magenta, you actually see two colours (red and blue).

The mystery of the purple line

When we look at a traditional ring-shaped colour spectrum, we see a seamless transition from red to violet. This gradual change implies that magenta should be part of the spectrum.

Colour circle with seamless transition between red and blue.
Colour circle with seamless transition between red and blue.

However, if you study the spectrum closely, you will notice that there seems to be a gap between red and violet. This gap is called the "purple line" and represents the missing part of the spectrum where magenta should normally lie.

The view below shows it well. The red line represents the monochromatic colours and their wavelengths. Between violet and red a line called the purple line.

Colour spectrum showing the "Purple Line".
Colour spectrum showing the "Purple Line".

Photographing magenta with an iPhone

Now that we understand why magenta is such a mysterious phenomenon, we can turn to the challenges in photographing this colour with an iPhone. An iPhone's auto focus is designed to respond to the most common colours in the visible spectrum.

Because of magenta's unique properties, formed by the combination of red and blue, the camera can sometimes struggle to find the right focus point.

To successfully capture magenta tones, it may help to apply a little trick. By placing your finger next to the subject, letting the camera focus on your finger and then withdrawing your finger before taking the picture, you can help the camera find the right focus point.

This trick has often helped me with photographing lilac, magenta and purple flowers in particular.

The same trick with very small subjects. Then I sometimes leave the finger in the picture to indicate scale.
The same trick with very small subjects. Then I sometimes leave the finger in the picture to indicate scale.

Photographing magenta tones with an iPhone can be a challenge, but with some patience and experimentation you can achieve beautiful results.

Capturing the magic and beauty of magenta in images can be a worthwhile artistic challenge. So, the next time you want to capture the enchanting colours of magenta, you now know how to make the most of your iPhone camera.

This one does seem to float away from the image.
This one does seem to float away from the image.