Kansas City RED

Welcome to My City

I'm CK Hicks, a Midwest photographer who's been capturing the world through a lens since age five.Recently, I discovered something remarkable: by using historic infrared photography techniques, I could reveal Kansas City's hidden beauty, literally making the invisible...visible.

Virtues of the Midwest

The official city flag has a field of red to symbolize warm hearts and Midwest kindness. The city's true colors have been here the whole time, but like infrared light, these virtues are "invisible" and often overlooked.Thanks to color infrared photography, this metaphor becomes a thing you can see, shining undeniably strong across the heartland.

The Heart of America

The settlement of Kansas was founded in the 1830s, then renamed to the Town of Kansas in the 1850s to honor the Kansa (Kaw) Indigenous Americans. It served as a waypoint for westward-bound settlers, bore witness to significant Civil War conflicts, and was a vital hub during the age of railroads.In subsequent years, it emerged as a home for jazz music, savory barbecue, and even Walt Disney's first art studio.Kansas City has left its mark on American culture and creative expression.

Photography Magic

Color-infrared photography captures light waves invisible to the human eye—the same technique used in WWII to distinguish real forests from camouflage.When I point my camera at Kansas City, healthy foliage glows red, transforming familiar scenes into dreamlike landscapes. It's like seeing the city's hidden warmth made visible.