For example, the leaves of most plants absorb red and blue light very strongly and reflect green light efficiently. Carrots, on other hand, absorb blue and green light and reflect yellow, orange and red light. So we perceive leaves to be green and carrots as orange. The exact shades of the colors that we observe depend upon the precise wavelengths that are absorbed. Smooth and rough surfaces reflect light differently, making some objects apear shiny and others dull.