When you’re drawn to color like I am, you can make serious shopping mistakes with impulse buys! This week Ritva’s post is all about color, its meaning and its importance. I love red, and when I see red, I automatically try to figure out where I can use the item. More than not, I don’t need it. The older I get, the more level headed I am and can leave the item behind.
When we were young marrieds, my husband drag raced a red Pontiac with cheater slick tires. It became my car. I cannot tell you how many police followed me on the freeway until they realized I was a woman. Then they left me alone. Here’s a somewhat red car with a beautiful reflection.

I guess I like deep colors like red because my skin is pale and pastels just make me look like a ghost. I went to our new friend AI to find out what red symbolizes:
- Passion: Red often represents strong emotions like love and desire.
- Danger: It is commonly used to signal warning or alertness.
- Energy: Red is associated with vitality and enthusiasm.
- Power: The color conveys strength and authority.
- Courage: Red symbolizes bravery and determination.
- Action: It encourages movement and urgency in various contexts.
Is that me? I’m not sure. I’m passionate about photography. But, I don’t go looking for danger. I used to have a lot of energy. I’ve never been power hungry. I do have courage. In an emergency, I do take action.
Let’s look at some more images. If I have a choice, I’ll sit under a red umbrella. I think I should have bought those cups, but I restrained myself. Japanese gardens always include red. While red is a stimulating color, this bridge calms me down. Just walking across it creates serenity.



You know I love flowers. I could have filled this post with flowers, but we are limited. Here are two: a tulip and rose.


Now that Ritva has me in a red mood, I just might go shopping. One more red blouse or a red doodad won’t hurt. But I really don’t need them. What to do?? Maybe I need to end this post and busy myself with some other color. I do like blue, purple, and green!
Talking about color, your textures last week showed beautiful colors of rust, wood and florals. Thank you for participating. When you post your colors, please link to Ritva’s original post and use the Lens-Artist tag. Next week Egidio will challenge us, so look for his post. In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.
Stunning and vibrant reds Anne
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Thanks Brian!
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Red is such a great colour to use, it always looks great in photos. These are wonderful Anne.
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Thanks Leanne! I do love Red!
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Lovely shots, Anne. You driving a red car with police behind you..brings a rather movie like impression in my head 😂. Reds are interesting for me – evoking different feelings e.g. they feel celebratory when I wear them, dangerous when I see them on caution signs, tempting when there are red tomatoes around (I go crazy and always buy more than I need). But somehow, the photos of red subjects don’t turn out nicely for me.
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Thanks PR! I love how you express how red makes you feel. I just don’t understand why your photos of red subjects don’t bring out those feelings. Maybe it’s a 2 dimensional image vs a 3 dimensional reality.
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You are probably right about the feelings part, but I meant more about the photo quality itself – the red color just blends into itself and therefore, the picture doesn’t show the folds, curves etc. of the subject like it does outside of the camera.
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The ruby red of those glasses is a wonderful thing, Anne. I love red too, but I’m surrounded by blue xx
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Thanks Jo! I think red would be hard color to be surrounded by. My house is accented in blue also. It’s a calming color and more suitable for relaxing then red. Red is more emotional.
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Oh it’s easy to engage with the vibrancy of red, and you have chosen such perfect examples.
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Thanks Margaret!
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Lovely vibrant red.
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Thank you Rupali!
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LOL for the police following you in your little red sports car Anne! Loved that image especially. Your red bridge looks so much like the one we love at nearby Magnolia Gardens. And your red flowers are gorgeous. Terrific post.
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Thanks Tina!
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These vibrant reds really leap off the screen! I’m left wondering if you did go shopping for more red things aft posting this?!
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I would have if I could have! I’m still nursing my back after back surgery, and my husband decided to give me a Mother’s Day gift–his cold! My shopping time will come.
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It will – meanwhile take care of yourself!
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Bold choice with red Anne. I love the car reflection, umbrella, and bridge. 😍
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Thanks Brad!
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I love vibrant colors in photograph and in life. Your post covers both. The red car and its reflections are perfect for this challenge. The bridge over that pond is serenity. What a great gallery!
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Thanks Egidio!
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Red is so vibrant – it really stands out. My favourite is the flower
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Thanks Karina!
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I liked your close-ups of petals, Anne. I’ve heard of red cars as being referred to as “cop magnets.” I guess it’s true! 😉
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Thanks Siobhan!
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All of your red examples are rich and pleasing to the eye! I chuckled at your desire to buy one more doodad or red blouse… with the 250th year celebration looming, I’ve been buying a few patriotic doodads myself! You have permission, Anne! 😁 ❤️🤍💙
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Thanks Terri!
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Well, red is sex, love, anger and war. Red has the highest wavelength of all colours of the visible spectrum. It sets aggressive energies free and is the colour that all children, in all cultures, react to first. Red wants attention and is associated with extraversion.
Anyway, there is much more to say about red, about the different shades of red and on which object it is used.
Red cars are involved in more accidents than cars of any other colour, and they are more popular with women than with men, according to statistics.
If you want decent info about colour, look at John Gage’s “Culture History of Colour”. I wrote several books about colour as well.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I never looked into what red stood for. I guess I’ll have to. I like it because it looks good on me! Thanks for the information Fab 4!
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Beautiful pops of red colour’s! I personally find photographing red flowers more challenging, you’ve captured them beautifully here!
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Thanks Pam! I have a difficult time with white flowers.
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Beautiful reds, Anne – varied too. Loved your story about the red car and the police – smiling still…♥ I find it difficult to photograph red flowers and also blue flowers – they don’t turn out in the colour I think they are. You have managed very well!
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Thanks Ann-Christine! I’ve never had trouble with reds. Maybe your monitor needs calibration.
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