When Bored Panda first featured Scottish photographer Kieran Dodds in 2020, his ongoing series Gingers had already begun challenging one of Scotland's most recognizable stereotypes. Rather than treating red hair as a curiosity, Dodds used portrait photography to explore identity, ancestry, and the surprising global journey of a genetic trait often associated with Scotland but found everywhere from Jamaica and Israel to Russia. The project quickly became about far more than hair, it became a visual study of migration, family history, and the unexpected connections between people across cultures.
Five years later, the series continues to grow. Since our last feature, Dodds has published "The Little Book of Gingers", a hardcover collection bringing together some of his favorite portraits alongside previously unpublished images.
Scroll down to explore another selection of these remarkable portraits and discover the stories behind one of the world's rarest natural hair colors.
