Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. Like many other photographers when looking for something to photograph, I start with something intrinsically motivated. This past week, I’ve studied how different colors push us towards different behaviors. Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It has very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red. The color red pushed us to make quick decisions, which is also why its the main color in the branding behind many fast food joints.

Ultimately I find that red is the perfect color to describe the passion that many of us feel toward anything we care for. It represents the root of our being and establishes the deepest connections with our physical bodies, environment, and with the Earth.

What does red mean to you?