Why Red?

When I was little, I took photos of everything. The flowers blooming in my neighborhood, the way clouds glowed pink at sunset, the sunlight peaking through tree branches — I wanted to pause time and capture every small wonder I came across.

I would sit my older cousins down and scroll endlessly through my “artwork,” hoping they would feel the same sense of awe I did. But their reactions were never quite what I expected. Maybe it was because I had a fresh hundred photos every week, but I was sure it couldn't be that. 

As I grew older, I realized the way I saw my photographs wasn’t the way others saw them. To me, each image was more than a picture— it was a small detail that encompassed the natural beauty of the world. But to someone else, it might have just been another picture of a flower or a cloud.

When I was first introduced to Photoshop, I experienced that same disconnect. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to alter nature’s beauty. Wasn’t it perfect as it was? But one family trip to California changed that perspective forever.

We were in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a place that feels like it’s straight out of a storybook. Red flowers spilled over white stone walls, moss covered the wavy tile roofs, and the ocean shifted from deep blue to turquoise. I remember thinking how beautiful it all was and wondering if anyone else was in such awe. 

That’s when I picked up my camera and started experimenting. A bike leaning against brick steps, roses growing up the window panes, and the cutest little breakfast spot called the Tuck Box were my focus. Any free time we had I pulled out my phone to meticulously brush over any areas of red color. It took hours to go over the three photos I selected as the start of my mini series. I played with desaturating the background and keeping the color — red — in focus. When I went to show my work to others, suddenly it seemed like people started seeing the details the way I did. It was like I had finally learned to communicate with my photos. I had only just begun learning how to share a story or an emotion, but I finally understood how photography was an expression of my art.

I think a lot of artists go through that stage of trying to figure out not just what they want to share, but how to share it so someone else can see it too. For me, finding that approach made photography “click” in a whole new way.

And honestly, I’m still figuring it out. Every time I pick up my camera, it’s another chance to see if I can get closer to sharing what I see in my mind. Some days it works, some days it doesn’t — but that’s part of what keeps it interesting.