Gallery: red, white AND blue
For many of us the combination of red, white and blue symbolises freedom, unity, and patriotism because of its use in our flags. But individually they have their own meanings. Red is the colour of passion and energy, although it is also a warning sign. Blue is a much calmer colour, indicating peace and stability. And white brings a sense of calm, hope and simplicity.
Maybe those who first brought those colours together in our flags were on to something? Who wouldn’t want to live in a country of energy, peace, stability, and hope? Ah well, we can all dream!
I have previously collated blue images from my archives, red ones, white ones. Even red, blue and yellow! But I’ve never, to my recollection, sought out shots with all three colours in! So that’s the task I set myself for this week’s Sunday Stills challenge. And while it’s easy to find blue with white or red with white, and not too tough to find red with blue, finding all three (other than on flags) isn’t easy!
So let’s start with a cop-out, some shots of the Stars and Stripes I’ve taken on our various visits to the US over the years. Hover over any of the shots to see a caption explaining where each was taken.
And I can’t omit our own flag, the Union Jack, although I have fewer shots of that. I guess it just isn’t exotic enough!
Here are a couple from Paris, referencing the French Tricoleur. The one on the left was taken on the Ile de la Cité. On the right is one from Montmartre, (not Porto despite appearances!)
And now for the rest, a random assortment of red, white and blue combinations found on our travels and closer to home. My feature photo was taken in Faro, Portugal. Again you can hover over any of the shots to see the caption.
28 Comments
Annie Berger
Great collection of red, white, and blue shots, Sarah. My particular favorite was of the boats in Cape Verde but couldn’t help, even as a relatively new American, being struck by some of the Stars and Stripes shots. Eloquent introduction as always, too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Annie 🙂 I was struck by those boats, especially the one with the Stars and Stripes design when those islands have no link to the US. Maybe the boat owner does, or simply has a liking for the country?!
equinoxio21
Let’s salute the colours…
Sarah Wilkie
Ah yes! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Teresa
Great gallery. Australia has the same colour too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Teresa 🙂 Many countries previously ‘colonised’ by Britain have it – one of our less damaging legacies in the world.
restlessjo
I recognised the opener immediately, Sarah. I really like the first of the French ones, and the boats, of course.
Sarah Wilkie
Ah, then you’ll probably be aware I cheated slightly and boosted the red in that opening shot?! I couldn’t resist as I really wanted to include some azuelos to fit the blue and white part of the challenge 😀
restlessjo
I’ve done exactly the same thing on whichever post I included them. I really don’t remember, but they’re quite faded these days.
Sarah Wilkie
😍
Anonymous
I really admire your collection for the colours, Sarah, and liked the intro, too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😀
janet
Love the doors especially and the gallery in general, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Janet 🙂
grandmisadventures
Great pictures! I love the one of the US flag in front of Devils Tower in Wyoming and those red and blue doors on the white building are very pretty 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😀 That Devils Tower shot is an old one (though not as old as the AZ one which is a scanned slide!) but I’ve always rather liked it myself 🙂
Anne Sandler
What a great collection of red, white and blues you have Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂
Monkey's Tale
You made me realize I don’t think we have any pictures of our flag! I love the Portuguese tiles and the Colombian doors. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Maggie 🙂 I guess we all often fail to photograph the over-familiar!
Tanja
Love photos from Faro
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Tanja 🙂
margaret21
What a clever idea for a post – and you’ve found A LOT of images. I’ll take the fishing boats please!
Sarah Wilkie
Well, the idea was all Terri’s, I take no credit for that 😀 Yes, those fishing boats are rather colourful, aren’t they?
Terri Webster Schrandt
Fabulous galleries of red, white and blue, Sarah! Glad you joined Sunday Stills this week! You reminded me just how many nations’ flags bear these colors. I find the Union Jack to be very striking. RWB also seems to be popular combinations in nautical themes too as you show us.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Terri 😊 This was a fun challenge and it hadn’t struck me either how many countries’ flags have that same colour scheme.
thehungrytravellers.blog
There’s a large number of countries across the world with those three colours on the national flag, I wonder if that might even be the real reason. Although not in our case, of course.
Sarah Wilkie
It could be – there must be some reason so many countries have adopted that particular colour combination?