What is Red's initial interest in the giraffes in the novel, West With Giraffes?

Red is a photographer who dreams of seeing her photographs in Life Magazine. Her real name is Augusta Lowe and she meets Woody at the quarantine center in New York City with a man she calls Mr. Big Reporter. She fall is enamored with the giraffes and determines to follow the rig to California, taking pictures she hopes will fulfill her dream.