Life in Color :Red Photos

Photograph by Tim Laman
Red, the color of human blood, symbolizes passion, fire,
love, and anger. In Eastern cultures, it also connotes
luck and prosperity. Red occurs throughout nature, from
dying stars to dying leaves, and humans have evoked its
powers for everything from politics to sports.
Here, a brilliant red sea fan coral spreads behind a golden
damselfish in waters off Fiji’s Namenalala Island.



Photograph by David Evans
Rich red draperies and glowing paper lanterns transform
a rocky cave into a magical wedding hall in China's Hubei
Province. Red is the traditional color of Chinese wedding
celebrations.


Photograph by Michael Melford
Iron-rich rocks create a rust-red creek bed for fast-flowing
waters in Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park.
The Canadian park lies across the international border from
Montana's Glacier National Park.



Photograph by Emory Kristof
Kenya's Lake Magadi blushes under a bacteria bloom
following a rainstorm. The extremely salty, alkali lake
holds little life, but its waters are a favorite spot for
wading birds.




Photograph by Tim Laman
A triplefin fish is nearly indistinguishable from the bright
red sponge on which it rests. This shot was taken on
the pristine reefs around the Tukangbesi Islands,
protected by an Indonesian national marine park.



Photograph by Medford Taylor
Darkness lends a reddish tint to sea oats bending with
storm-whipped winds in Saxis, Virginia. The salt-loving
tall grass thrives in beach ecosystems and helps to form
and protect sand dunes by collecting windblown grains.



Photograph by Raul Touzon
A solitary red maple leaf lies on the trunk of a downed tree
in Maine's Acadia National Park. The United States is home
to some 90 different species of maple trees.



Photograph by Nick Norman
A brilliant red sea star lies amid algae-covered rocks in
the waters off Vancouver Island, Canada. The invertebrates
use some colors to scare off potential predators and other
hues to blend in with their surroundings.



Photograph by Steve McCurry
A crimson Turkish flag becomes a patriotic bedspread in
an Istanbul bedroom. The crescent and star are symbols
of Islam, but their use predates the religion and the flag's
origins are a matter of debate.



Photograph by Thomas J. Abercrombie
A glowing keyhole arch and dusty-red walls frame
the minaret of Al Berdain Mosque in Meknès, Morocco.
The arch's lighting also suggests a crescent moon, one of
Islam's traditional symbols.


Photograph by Chris Johns
The fleeting shadow of a San (Bushman) child races across
a red wall in Welkom, South Africa. Like many San the boy's
family lived as squatters for nearly two decades, forgotten
by African governments.



Photograph by Michael Yamashita
A Hindu ascetic, or sadhu, wrapped in a bright-red cloth,
smokes underneath a vad (banyan) tree outside a temple in
Mumbai (Bombay), India. Sadhus devote themselves to
the spiritual life, own few possessions, and typically depend
on donations to survive.



Photograph by Ed Kashi
A red car sits on a dirty and deserted side street in
communist East Berlin. East and West Germany were
reunited in 1990 after 45 years of separation following
the end of World War II.


Photograph by Joel Sartore
Musical legend Chuck Berry holds his cherry-red guitar
during a performance at a music festival in Aspen, Colorado.
With early classics like "Rock, Rock, Rock,"
"Go, Johnny, Go!" and "Johnny B. Goode,"
Berry is considered one of rock-and-roll's pioneers.



Photograph by Jodi Cobb
A geisha in Kyoto, Japan, applies the blood-red lipstick
that completes her traditional makeup. Modern geisha
carry on an ancient profession; they privately entertain
Japan's rich and powerful men and maintain total
confidentiality.


Photograph by Al Petteway
A Maryland maple tree shows off the flaming foliage
beloved by "leaf-peepers." Experts say most people judge
the quality of each autumn's foliage by the prevalence
of red leaves.



Photograph by Jim Richardson
Sumac leaves glow red in the autumn light at the Tallgrass
Prairie National Preserve in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas.
The grassy prairie landscape is dotted with shrub thickets
of sumac and dogwood, which are favored by birds and
small animals.



Photograph by Jodi Cobb
Nothing can dampen the enthusiasm of Taipei
schoolchildren gathered for a celebration of Double Ten,
Taiwan's national day. Double Ten remembers
the October 10, 1911, revolution that ended China’s
last dynasty.



Photograph by James Stanfield
The College of Cardinals, the Catholic Church's
highest-ranking clergy, meets in Vatican City to elect
new cardinals. Supreme among their tasks is the selection
of new popes, who traditionally come from within
the college itself.