ORANGE – LAST BUT NOT LEAST; WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE
“If love were a color, it’d be orange.”
Jarod Kintz
(9 Photos)
Some time back, in response to the Weekly Challenge “Yellow”, I offered some interesting factoids about the color from the book The Secret Language of Color by Joann and Arielle Eckstut. It seems only fair I should do the same for Michelle’s Orange challenge this week. I’ve opened the post with one of my favorite captures from a trip to Southeast Asia, featuring three monks in their beautifully-colored orange robes. According to the sisters Eckstut, Buddhists chose saffron for their robes’ color, but because it runs about $5,000/pound, they used turmeric and jack fruit to create the color instead.
“If family were a fruit, it would be an orange. A circle of sections, together but separate. ”
Letty C Pogrebin
From the sublime to the ridiculous, from monk to monkey. The happy fellow above, I suppose, assumed he could control the water flow to our hotel in Africa many years ago. I must admit I am pleased he chose something orange so that he could play in my post 😊. Did you know that orange was the last (but not least) color named in the rainbow, and that many native cultures to this day have no word for it? Perhaps, the sisters tell us, this is because when dark it is usually identified as brown, and when light, as yellow – so it has a very narrow band but “when it’s really orange, it really shines”.
“The pumpkin is always oranger on the other side of the patch.”
Unknown
We find orange in so many places – flowers, fruits, vegetables – and of course the plumpest pumpkins. For centuries the color orange was called “red-yellow”; it only got its own name when the fruit was taken from China, through Persia to Spain and finally to France, where it became an “orenge”. It is the only color that actually takes its name from an object. Interestingly, the word occurred back in the 13th century as an adjective describing the bitter taste of orange peel. It wasn’t until the 16th century that the word was used to refer to color.
“The porch light hums the sound of another orange dawn.”
Sunrises and sunsets – lots of oranges found in both. The sisters tell us that although yellow is the color most visible during the day, orange best captures our attention once the sun begins to rise or set. That was surely true as I captured this glorious sunrise in South Carolina’s Ace Basin. Add a touch or blue sky or sea, and orange is the most visible color. This explains why it is the color of life preservers, rafts, construction cones and crossing guards.
“Orange is the sky tonite, as sun sets in the hills.”
Moon Lion
While wandering the beautiful streets of Buenos Aires, my husband and I came upon an artist’s capture of a warm sunset painted on one of the city’s many wall murals. In a place where art is everywhere, so too is orange. We particularly enjoyed the brilliant buildings of La Boca – an amazing environment full of many bright colors including, of course, orange.
“Orange is the unspoken promise of another brilliant day.”
Lisa J. Parker
Beyond fruits and vegetables, the earth offers us many examples of orange. We see it in the deep red, yellow and orange shades of the earth in Roussillon, France, home of one of the world’s largest ochre deposits. The colorful earth contrasts beautifully with the lush green trees and the vivid blue of the Provençal sky. You can gauge the size of these ridges by the tiny man at the very top.
We see orange too in the incredible geology of Yellowstone’s amazing geysers and hot springs, including the geometric formation below.
“Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.”
Wassily Kandinsky
Speaking of earth’s natural oranges, one cannot imagine a better example than the curious hoodoos of beautiful Bryce Canyon in Utah. A photographer’s paradise, I found it difficult to choose from my many favorite captures of this natural wonder. I finally decided on this one, but for more examples please visit my previous posts about the canyon by entering Bryce in the search field.
“Orange is a happy day.”
Mary O’Neil
For someone who does not particularly warm to the color orange, it appears quite often in my archives. Perhaps I need to revisit my feelings about this obviously happy color! To see some others’ interpretations, look here.
Such a great display of orange…actually one of my favorite colors, maybe its because I love sunrises and sunsets (and two great friends growing up had orange hair), so this is perfect. The Three Monks photo is right up my alley, so would have to call this my favorite…with a shout out to your Ace Basin shot, that is pretty spectacular.
Pretty apt for colour”ORANGE”. Beautifully compiled.
I love the first shot. You can feel the movement in it.
How on earth did I not twig that Orange is the only colour named after an object .. how bizarre .sometimes the most obvious is the most elusive in my case Tina !!
A fabulous selection … I loved the Monks … and Rousillon ridges .. SO very fiery with the ochre I too remember from out visit last year and then Bryce Canyon .. an absolute favourite of mine . Thanks TIna – really stunning pictures .
Thanks Poppy-must admit is not thought of that either😜 I was stunned at how much orange I found in my archives. An among my favorite shots. Who knew?!
What an interesting set of pictures!
Many thanks 3-weeks!
Very nice shots Tina. It’s hard to take your eyes off the first one though 🙂 There is a strong sense of rhythm, harmony and movement in it which is so pleasing to the eyes. Orange tone adds to the visual intensity. Great capture!
Thanks so much Uday-definitely a long-time personal favorite!
Beautiful work Tina.
Many thanks Jim!
Orange is not my favorite color but as I looked at your pictures, I realized how much beauty it adds to our lives. Beautiful pictures!!
Thanks Secretangel. Not my favorite either but it does indeed show up in some magnificent things!
Interesting pictures in orange.
Thanks Robert.
You’ve got some really spectacular images here, Tina. The monks may be my favorite but I am also curious about your wall art. How did you create that gorgeous piece?
Thanks Annette! The wall art was in Buenos Aires. I simply cropped my photo of the art to include only the sunset part😀
Wow. Exceptional, Tina! Very nicely done. Love, love, love all that orange and the contrasts in the photos!
Many thanks Alexandria!
ooh! These are nice. The monkey made me smile 🙂
Thanks Kendra!