Midwest Center for Photography - Red

Red as a subject matter can be photographed from a variety of viewpoints, capturing images of red literally or conceiving photographs of red conceptually. The primary color of red can be approached in a straight forward manner in all of its tints, tones and shades - whether capturing red in the vibrant high chroma of scarlet and crimson, the darker shades of maroon and burgundy, the midtones of ruby, fuchsia or brick, or the subtleties found in the various muted tints of pink. Red can be used as the actual subject matter when a composition is predominantly comprised of the color of red, a contrast to the complementary color of green, or a design relief element with red as a highlight in the totality of the composition. Red can be viewed or interpreted psychologically as a symbol of passion, the red of a rose, one of the heart, the life giving qualities of blood or the fear of the bloody. Red being one of the highest hues vibrating on the color spectrum, red draws attention like no other color. It is a symbol to alert, to warn of danger, to highlight, or to stop. A person can use the phrase of seeing red, an implication of anger, of energy, one that motives us to take action. Red is highly linked to the longing of passion and love, red is hot, the feeling of desire and senuality, as being found in the heat of passion. Among all of the various approaches to the concept of red, the photographs featured in the Red exhibition will encompass a wide range of images of the interpretation of the color of red.