Color filter array devices and methods of making color filter array devices are disclosed herein. A color filter array may include a substrate having a plurality of pixels thereon, one or more nanowires associated with each of the plurality of pixels, wherein each of the one or more nanowires extends substantially perpendicularly from the substrate, and an optical coupler associated with each of the one or more nanowires. A method of making a color filter array may include, making an array of nanowires, wherein each of the nanowires extend substantially perpendicularly from a substrate, disposing a transparent polymer material to substantially encapsulate the nanowires, removing the nanowires from the substrate, providing a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein a hard polymer substantially covers an image plane of the pixel array, disposing the array of nanowires on the pixel array, and removing the transparent polymer encapsulating the nanowires.