A Splash Of Red

 

In this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge Patti invites us to to a photo scavenger hunt to find things that are red. She says – and I couldn’t agree more – that: “Sometimes in the middle of winter, the world is reduced to stark shades of black and white.  This is the time when my eyes are drawn to bursts of color.  I often notice coats, scarves, and other objects in bright shades of red–a happy color, especially in the winter.  No matter what the season, this color is emotional, fiery, and sensual.  It is hopeful and passionate.”

 

So let me show you some of my red shots!

 

“A red rose is not selfish because it wants to be a red rose. It would be horribly selfish if it wanted all the other flowers in the garden to be both red and roses.”

– Oscar Wilde

 

When I think of red, my thoughts instantly drift to roses and other flowers, it’s as simple as that.

And yet, not simple at all! Just look at the intricate petals that form each flower, the tiny crevasses that fill with water after a shower of rain, the tender creases of a red poppy…

I can not help feeling filled with awe at their sight!

 

Some of my red roses after the rain

 

 

A Tiger Lily after the rain

 

 

Red poppy

 

 

Did you know that in Japanese, koi means romantic love, and that the koi fish also symbolizes independence or liberty?

An ancient Chinese myth states that a koi swam upstream and climbed the falls to a point called ‘The Dragon Gate’ after which it transformed into a dragon. A mere fish, turning into something so mighty and powerful like a dragon signifies great determination and courage.

 

Red and white koi

 

 

“Red is the archetypal color, the first color humans mastered, fabricated, reproduced, and broke down into different shades, first in painting and later in dyeing. This has given it primacy over all other colors through the millennia.”

– Michel Pastoureau

 

If you’re looking for a place with Chinese vibes and colors, you could of course go to one of the many Chinese restaurants in Berlin… or you could visit the Panda Garden at the Berlin Zoo!

In Chinese culture one of the luckiest colors is red (yellow and green being the other ones). It symbolizes luck, joy and happiness.

No wonder that there’s lots of red to find surrounding the four(!) pandas we’re lucky to  have here in Berlin.

 

 

Entrance to the Panda Garden at Berlin Zoo

 

 

A tourist watching one of the Pandas

 

 

“Red is such an interesting color to correlate with emotions because it’s on both ends of the spectrum. On one end you have happiness, falling in love, infatuation with someone, passion, all that. On the other end you’ve got obsession, jealousy, danger, fear, anger and frustration.”

– Taylor Swift

 

Inside the Panda Garden, Berlin Zoo.  

 

 

“Red is the ultimate cure for sadness.”

– Bill Blass

 

These two girls were doing a little impromptu flamenco lesson – their red jackets instantly got my attention!

 

Flamenco anyone?

 

 

Hope you enjoyed my red shots and that they brought some color to your (wintery) day!