Understanding Color

Colors are what give significance to the people, places, and things that form our life experiences as humans. The essence of life would be transparent behind its letters if colors did not visually and symbolically distinguish the differences that make life’s substance beautiful.

Imagine a world where color did not exist; you see nothing, but monotonous topographies. Life would be extremely dull, there would be no curiosity, no noticeable imperfection. Humans would only go through the motions and would only try and understand the surface of life’s greatest attributes. They would not be able to see through the terrifying perfection of the black and white chroma; which means humans would not only be constricted from discerning the true colors of environments, but restrained from seeing their colorful individual selves.

What makes an individual unique is what is molded through their perception of realities and how their realities are constructed in their minds. This mold is what builds a person’s identity which later is exerted through personality, energy, mood, and aura. These four elements are chromatic, and they are what bring someone’s personal uniqueness to life. This is something way more meaningful than physiological differences, as you can still spot physiological differences in a black and white topography. This gives a meaning to someone’s identity, impact, and belonging in a society.

What is scary to think about is that there used to be no perception of color, meaning no true interpretation of all the elements that make the world a beautiful place. In a terrifyingly perfect colorless life, there was neither red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo or violet. No simple colors- meaning that the complexities, mixtures, hues, and saturations of those simplicities were nonexistent. Of that black and white, was a spread silence everyone scarily accepted as a fact of life.

Around 90 million years ago, our primitive mammalian ancestors had a bi-chromatic view of the world. Later on, around 30 million years ago, our ancestors had evolved four classes of opsin genes, giving them the ability to see the full-color spectrum of visible light, the colors we see. Changes in natural selection environments and genetic mutations gave our ancestors the accessibility to see the world and themselves as they are supposed to be seen, and our generation has the ability to continue to further take advantage of that visibility. No one knows when color will disappear, how are you going to construct and perceive your colorful reality? Hopefully by the end of this story you can understand the importance of color not only visually, but symbolically in your life and in reading other people’s identities to really understand the world you live in.

When you were younger, you were probably forced to take that first grade art class where you learned the difference between primary colors and secondary colors and then splattered that paint onto a canvas to make a blob. Right? After art class, you would just go on with your day with your painting of a blob in your backpack not giving a care in the world that you painted that blob on an art board. There were important things to worry about, right? Like your math class learning 2+2 or a spelling test that you studied so hard with your parents for.

However, you would bring that blob artwork in your backpack back home untouched and your parents would ask what you did at school that day. I guarantee that for most of you, the first thing you pulled out of your backpack was that blob artwork you created. You would excitedly show your parents, and they would praise you, call you Pablo Picasso, and hang it on the refrigerator. Little did you know, that the blob of paint you created was you subconsciously depicting your identity and reality on a canvas.

Your parents praising you, as we probably all obviously know now, was not because of the blob that was splattered on the paper, it was the color, imagination, identity, energy, and story of YOU that they cherished.

As you got older, those colorful blobs turned into colored lines, which turned into mixed color figures, which turned into complete visual representations of the essence behind you. Yes, those drawings may not have been that symmetrical, but symmetry is not what makes a drawing worth looking at.

At one point, when you hit a certain age you get a choice whether or not you want to continue using colors to create art. Most people choose to leave that part of their life behind completely because it does not seem significant to them; schedules get busier where they do not have time to use colors to create art. Your drawings were getting more complex, showing the deeper roots of your identity, but you let that go. When this happens, colors all of sudden have even less of a meaning then they did, there is no level of symbolism discovered past the label.

You continue on with your life just looking at different objects and environments labeling them subconsciously as a label color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, black, white, brown, silver, gold, bronze to name the simple ones.

In my photo stories, I want to help you understand the deeper significance of the colors that you subconsciously mixed together in your first grade blob, and the reason that these colors make you, you. These colors are not just labels, they are a mysterious language communicating your depth and the depth of the people, places, and things around you.

Each person is made of all colors, but the ones that are visible are the ones that mold your identity. Each color has its own significance defined by its intensity of hue, saturation, and light. However, a numerical or lettered explanation is only the start of the definition, it is impossible to solely define a color’s true definition. You can only find a true color by experiencing it.

Let’s suppose I asked you to name the first thing that comes to mind that is labeled as the color red. You would probably say a generic object such as an apple, blood, cherry, tomato, etc. That is because we as a society have labeled that visible light pigment on them as red, so we know all those generic objects are red. But did you ever think about how someone else’s red may not be the same red as yours? That red apple that you think about may have a completely different visual to someone you know. One person's red might be another person's yellow and vice versa. You might really see apples as the color someone else calls yellow, and the bananas as someone else's red. But our individual perceptions don't affect the way the color of red, or that of the fruit, make us feel and identify with. The way we each perceive color does not alter the universal emotional responses, experiences, and identifications we have with them.

Below are the descriptions of what each simple color means and how they are experienced, I want you to be able to articulate what colors make up your identity.

Red

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with red, you would probably say anger, passion, or love. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of red, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that society has labeled as red. You physically would think anger because of fire, and passion/love because of hearts and lips. How can everyone have the same universal perception and construction of red, when we physically perceive red differently? Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived reds.
People experience and identify with red through emotions of anger, love, or passion and how consistent those emotions are within themselves and the environment they are growing up in. The more you experience elements of red, the more red you are as a person. The more you experience red, the more red chemicals you put into life’s mixture.
Red is not just one hue. There are many different hues that identify as the color red, similar to how many people of the same cultures and communities have extreme differences. That is what makes each community beautiful and intriguing.
What makes red beautiful are the different hues that are in its category. There are maroon, crimson, magenta, scarlet, vermilion, coral, Indian red, burgundy, cardinal, carmine, cherry, auburn, and fuchsia to name a few. All of these hues are physically different, but trigger similar universal reactions between humans.
Red is mostly emitted by anger, love, passion, danger, dominance; it is an energizing color. If you overwhelmingly experience red through these emotions and create and destroy using mostly these emotions in society, you are red.
If you sometimes experience red and emit those emotions, you have a portion of red inside your color mixture, but it is either creating a grander color identification or sharing equal/unequal space with other colors.
If you never experience red or rarely emit those emotions you have no red in your identity. I believe this is very rare because love and anger are huge universal, satisfaction characteristics of the human race.
Orange

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with orange, you would probably say warmth, devotion, or danger. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of orange, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that the society has labeled as orange. You physically would think of warmth because of heat, and danger because of signs that exercise caution and also for safety equipment. How can everyone have the same universal perception and construction of orange, when we physically perceive orange differently? Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived oranges.
People experience and identify with orange through emotions of warmth, danger, strength or deceit and how consistent those emotions are within themselves and the environment they are growing up in. The more you experience elements of orange, the more orange you are as a person. The more you experience orange, the more orange chemicals you put into life’s mixture.
Orange is a high energy color, it is the perfect balance between the perfection of yellow and the power of red. Therefore, orange is made by the elements of warmth, anger, and passion. Orange is not just one hue. There are many different hues that identify as the color orange, similar to how many people of the same cultures and communities have extreme differences. That is what makes each community beautiful and intriguing.
What makes orange beautiful are the different hues that are in its category. There are 150 different hues of orange, so I will not list them all. All of these hues are physically different, but trigger similar universal reactions between humans.
Some hues of orange and their meanings:
Dark Orange: this shade of orange represents distrust and deceit.
Reddish Orange: this color is symbolic of passion, desire, aggression, action and domination.
Golden Orange: This usually stands for wealth, quality, prestige, wisdom and illumination.
Light Orange or Peach: this is more soothing and represents friendliness and calmness.
Orange is mostly emitted by these elements in these hues; it is a strong color that captures the effects of naturalness. If you overwhelmingly experience orange through these emotions and create and destroy using mostly these emotions in society, you are orange.
Orange is also the color of transformation; it is connected to perfection and the highest state of illumination, it signifies the quest for knowledge. For example, the changing autumn leaves signifies the transformation between seasons, illuminating a fresh feel.
A person who is orange in their aura can also border on overpowering when treated wrongly.
The color represents fire and since all impurities are burnt by fire, it symbolizes purity as well.
If you sometimes experience orange and emit those emotions, you have a portion of orange inside your color mixture, but it is either creating a grander color identification or sharing equal/unequal space with other colors.
If you never experience orange or rarely emit those emotions you have no orange in your identity.
Yellow

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with yellow, you would probably say happiness, rejuvenation, sacrifice, toxicity, and suffering. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of yellow, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that the society has labeled as yellow. You physically would rejuvenation because of happiness because of bright sun rays, and suffering because of jaundice. How can everyone have the same universal perception and construction of yellow, when we physically perceive yellow differently? Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived yellows.
People experience and identify with yellow through emotions of happiness, suffering, or rejuvenation and how consistent those emotions are within themselves and the environment they are growing up in. The more you experience elements of yellow, the more yellow you are as a person. The more you experience yellow, the more yellow chemicals you put into life’s mixture.
Yellow is not just one hue. There are many different hues that identify as the color yellow, similar to how many people of the same cultures and communities have extreme differences, but that is what makes each community beautiful and intriguing.
What makes yellow beautiful are the different hues that are in its category. There is canary, gold, daffodil, flaxen, butter, lemon, mustard, corn, medallion, dandelion, fire, bumblebee, and banana to name a few. All of these hues are physically different, but trigger similar universal reactions between humans.
Yellow illuminates the positives and negatives. If you overwhelmingly experience yellow through these emotions and create and destroy using mostly these emotions in society, you are yellow.
If you sometimes experience yellow and emit those emotions, you have a portion of yellow inside your color mixture, but it is either creating a grander color identification or sharing equal/unequal space with other colors.
If you never experience yellow or rarely emit those emotions you have no yellow in your identity. I believe this is very rare because happiness and suffering are hugely universal, satisfying characteristics of the human race.
Green

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with green, you would probably say success, growth, nature, and envy. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of green, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that the society has labeled as green. You would think of success because of the color of money and nature because of trees and grass. How can everyone have the same universal perception and construction of green, when we physically perceive green differently? Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived green.
People experience and identify with green through emotions of success, envy, or growth and how consistent those emotions are within themselves and the environment they are growing up in. The more you experience elements of green, the more green you are as a person. The more you experience green, the more green chemicals you put into life’s mixture.
Green is not just one hue. There are many different hues that identify as the color green, similar to how many people of the same cultures and communities have extreme differences, but that is what makes each community beautiful and intriguing.
What makes green beautiful are the different hues that are in its category. There are 295 hues of green and all of these hues are physically different, but trigger similar universal reactions between humans.
If you overwhelmingly experience green through these emotions and create and destroy using mostly these emotions in society, you are green.
If you sometimes experience green and emit those emotions, you have a portion of green inside your color mixture, but it is either creating a grander color identification or sharing equal/unequal space with other colors.
If you never experience green or rarely emit those emotions you have no green in your identity.
Blue

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with blue, you would probably say seriousness, tranquility, inspiration, and freedom. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of blue, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that the society has labeled as blue. You physically would think tranquility because of the calming sounds of water running, and seriousness because of an aquamarine crystal because it is rigid and not a rounded figure. How can everyone have the same universal perception and construction of blue, when we physically perceive blue differently? Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived blue.
People experience and identify with blue through emotions of seriousness, inspiration, or tranquility and how consistent those emotions are within themselves and the environment they are growing up in. The more you experience elements of blue, the more blue you are as a person. The more you experience blue, the more blue chemicals you put into life’s mixture.
Blue is not just one hue. There are many different hues that identify as the color blue, similar to how many people of the same cultures and communities have extreme differences, but that is what makes each community beautiful and intriguing.
What makes blue beautiful are the different hues that are in its category. There are 28 hues of blue and all of these hues are physically different, but trigger similar universal reactions between humans.
If you overwhelmingly experience blue through these emotions and create and destroy using mostly these emotions in society, you are blue.
If you sometimes experience blue and emit those emotions, you have a portion of blue inside your color mixture, but it is either creating a grander color identification or sharing equal/unequal space with other colors.
If you never experience blue or rarely emit those emotions you have no blue in your identity. I believe this is very rare because freedom and seriousness are hugely universal, satisfying characteristics of the human race.
Purple

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with purple, you would probably say sadness, romance, relaxed, and dreamy. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of purple, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that the society has labeled as purple. You would think it's dreamy because of the color of a psychic crystal or relaxed because of lavender. How can everyone have the same universal perception and construction of purple, when we physically perceive purple differently? Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived purple.
People experience and identify with purple through emotions of sadness, romance, or dreamy and how consistent those emotions are within themselves and the environment they are growing up in. The more you experience elements of purple, the more purple you are as a person. The more you experience purple, the more purple chemicals you put into life’s mixture.
Purple is not just one hue. There are many different hues that identify as the color purple, similar to how many people of the same cultures and communities have extreme differences, but that is what makes each community beautiful and intriguing.
What makes purple beautiful are the different hues that are in its category. There are 29 hues of purple and all of these hues are physically different, but trigger similar universal reactions between humans.
If you overwhelmingly experience purple through these emotions and create and destroy using mostly these emotions in society, you are purple.
If you sometimes experience purple and emit those emotions, you have a portion of purple inside your color mixture, but it is either creating a grander color identification or sharing equal/unequal space with other colors.
If you never experience purple or rarely emit those emotions you have no purple in your identity.
Pink

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with pink, you would probably say love, kindness, femininity. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of pink, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that the society has labeled as pink. You would think it's feminine because it is the gender classification of a female or love because of Valentine’s Day. How can everyone have the same universal perception and construction of pink, when we physically perceive pink differently? Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived pink.
People experience and identify with pink through emotions of love, kindness, or femininity and how consistent those emotions are within themselves and the environment they are growing up in. The more you experience elements of pink, the more pink you are as a person. The more you experience pink, the more pink chemicals you put into life’s mixture.
Pink is not just one hue. There are many different hues that identify as the color pink, similar to how many people of the same cultures and communities have extreme differences, but that is what makes each community beautiful and intriguing.
What makes pink beautiful are the different hues that are in its category. There are 129 hues of pink and all of these hues are physically different, but trigger similar universal reactions between humans.
If you overwhelmingly experience pink through these emotions and create and destroy using mostly these emotions in society, you are pink.
If you sometimes experience pink and emit those emotions, you have a portion of pink inside your color mixture, but it is either creating a grander color identification or sharing equal/unequal space with other colors.
If you never experience pink or rarely emit those emotions you have no pink in your identity.
Black/White

If I were to ask you what emotion you associate with black and white, you would probably say darkness vs. lightness and death vs. birth. This is not because you are interpreting the meaning of black and white, but because you associate those feelings with an object or environment that society has labeled as black and white. You would think it's dark/light because of night and day or death vs. birth because of heaven and hell. Physical perceptions do not alter the universal emotional trigger of our differently perceived black and white.
People experience and identify with black and white through contrasting emotions and topographies, the contrast is what distinguishes an emotional feeling. The more you experience elements that lack color, the more black and white you are as a person. The more you experience black and white, the more you don’t put color chemicals into life’s colorful mixture.