Yellow silk lanterns painted with the characters for peace and safety hang in a row against a red wall, with a string of white bulbs above.

Ping An

Ningbo, China. 2023

I photographed a row of yellow lanterns against a red wall, each painted with 平安, píng ān: peace and safety. It is one of the most common wishes you see written in China, on lanterns, doors and car mirrors.

The colours are the whole frame. I let the first lantern go soft so the painted ones behind it carry the words.