There’s something about the blue and orange tandem that makes it effective. (It’s actually one of the reasons I reverted to my current blog layout/theme because I’m forever crushing on it. Heehee.) It is no wonder that the often unnoticed (though obvious) heavy use of these colors on film-related materials (posters, etc.) is a classic practice. Take for example the following:
(Photo source)
Orange/blue just so happens to be the most common set of complementary colors because blue is “cool” and orange is “enthusiastic” and “energetic.” – Slashfilm.com
With due respect to the study of contrast, I have another theory though. That once upon a time, a primitive appreciated the harmony and beauty of the nature:
Sunrise on 24 January 2010. Taken steps away from where I live.
There’s something more than fascinating about sunrise and sunset, isn’t it? The sight of these is the very basis of effectiveness of the tandem of blue and orange. When I had a 1-minute peak-a-boo with sunset, the hues adjusted accordingly.
PS. Even Mozilla Firefox adopted the tandem.
Popularity: 5%
i can still be updated about your goings-on 
Singapore’s Chinatown
Universal Studios Singapore (2 of 2)
Universal Studios Singapore (1 of 2)
The most famous ogre
Petronas Towers
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
haha. nice approach to the color theory.
i never thought ofit that way. so ill change my blog colors narin pala. hahaha. watch out for that! hehe
Sige, abangan ko ‘yan. Heehee.
Napansin ko nga…
Pero much better kung black and orange right?
.-= Lionheart´s last blog ..The New iPhone =-.
I also like black and orange, black-red-white, etc. I think it depends on the person’s personality and mood.
that’s a lot of posters! the balance is cool. wow. i just realized it’s all about balance for me today! LOL.
.-= PM´s last blog ..Balance =-.
Love it, blue and orange… Just that for now, colors represent political parties, and i am never a fan of that orange guy.
.-= sheng´s last blog ..Blue Bayou at Isla Jardin Del Mar, Glan =-.
“Orange/blue just so happens to be the most common set of complementary colors because blue is cool and orange is enthusiastic and energetic.”
This may hold true, poetically. But for me, the use of orange and blue in advertizing posters is because it stands out. Both colors are in the opposite side of the spectrum. Combining them makes the whole picture “alive” rather than using gray and black which are “dead” colors.
That’s the whole concept of advertizing anyway. To attract consumers.
.-= BlogusVox´s last blog ..Pangaral Ng Isang Cool Na Magulang =-.
Ditto, Ed. That’s why, too, most detergent boxes are colored yellow and red like Tide, for example. And most packagings have yellow hues in them plus one dark color (either red or blue or black).
I personally love orange and blue, Jo, because they conjur up (for me) the color of nature. Isama ko na rin ang green and yellow. That’s why I think I feel positive vibrations whenever I see a lemon and carrots.
I love your photos of the sunset against the silhouette of buildings. Maganda. Very dramatic.
.-= Nebz´s last blog ..Alkhobar’s ukay-ukay: The treasures lie beneath =-.
ahahahaa. kaya pala you approve of my blue and orange — well almost peachy — header!!
i really love your blog, wits. i learn something new everytime i visit =)
Have a blessed Sunday!
.-= Kero´s last blog ..International Aerobatics Show 2010 =-.
ay ang galing. oo nga ano. hmmm ma-try nga din ang ganyang color layout :p
.-= upto6only´s last blog ..Wooden Shoes + Pen + Card = Great Gifts =-.
ay oo nga noh! syempre tiningnan ko kagad yung icon ng Mozilla hehe
haha! ang galing! I never noticed that ha.. nice catch
.-= cza´s last blog ..Oooooh Burrrrrrger! =-.
ay oo nga. ang ganda. i love blue pero hindi gaano sa orange.
.-= eds´s last blog ..How’s your week going on so far? =-.
goodness how do you even start conceiving a post like this? i may never reach this level of awareness
great job.
.-= Photo Cache´s last blog ..La Boqueria – A Foodie Mecca =-.
villar/erap colors?
.-= angeli´s last blog ..issueless misery =-.
great post. i never pay that much attention to colors let alone color tandem.
.-= Josiet´s last blog ..Regency Cafe =-.
it’s one of my favorite tandem. contrasting in the norm aspect.
.-= dong ho´s last blog ..the big binondo food wok map – an invitation =-.
i never noticed the predominance of blue and orange on movie posters until i read your post!
nice observation.
.-= docgelo´s last blog ..MY COUSIN’S WEDDING =-.
i never would have realized that. although i also love the tandem of blue and yellow =).
.-= kayni´s last blog ..Eminent Eight =-.
Blue and orange are a nice combo. I like it too
Sunrise in the city eh ? They say there’s really only 2 scenes where you have to take your camera out to shoot landscape – sunrise and sunset
.-= bw´s last blog ..Sleeping on the Job =-.
wow! nice observation! oo nga no, ang ganda ng combination. i’ve always thought that yellow and black are the best! may kalaban na sila. hehe.
.-= mordsith´s last blog ..a decade over a cup of coffee =-.
Oo nga ano! What an interesting trivia!
Thanks for sharing!
.-= maan´s last blog ..Moleskine love! =-.
When I was in high school I made a detailed plan of a school I was going to own someday, and the school colors are blue and orange. Orange screams attention for me, and blue, tranquility. The sunset and sunrise are simply gorgeous.
.-= katcarneo´s last blog ..It’s February, Y’All! (And Yes, This Post Contains the Word Love) =-.
oo nga no? ang galing mo! blue and orange are indeed great combination of colors.
lovely photos you got there.
.-= ibyang´s last blog ..Say "I love you" All The Time =-.
No wonder sunsets are so calming!
.-= toni´s last blog ..This giddiness is brought to you by… =-.