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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #234 – Messages

This week, our newest team member, Donna of Wind Kisses shares her first challenge with us. Her challenge is titled “Messages.” She writes, “The options are endless. Does the message from your last fortune cookie resonate with you? Clouds? Is there street art, neon signs, or storefronts that grab your attention?” You can read her entire challenge post here. Welcome to the team, Donna!

For my personal take on this challenge, I’ve decided to focus on the literal. Signage that I’ve seen over the years, some humorous, some entertaining, and some like the opening photo, quite informational. The message is clear, Be Careful!

This sign, hanging above the main entrance to the hotel’s elevation at 5,280 feet advertises the motel. Still, to some, it could be a subtle message about the potential for joining the mile-high club without the benefit of an airplane.

On a building in Tombstone, Arizona, this sign reminds politicians to clean up their act. Although depicting life and times in the old west, we need this message more than ever these days.

While transiting the Panama Canal about a decade ago, I saw a boat pushing a barge with bright white signage on a bright red building. I didn’t need to know much Spanish to understand the message and to keep my distance.

In a small diner and souvenir shop, I noticed a small sign that relayed its message quite humorously to parents that they must keep their children under control.

This sign provides the same message for parental control but does so clearly. Its message is clear about the potential consequences of ignoring the sign.

Since the development of the automobile and highway systems, billboards have conveyed messages promoting products and services both for travelers and those who just happen to be traveling. This mural painted on the side of a building in Siler City North Carolina depicts an early billboard promoting Coca-Cola.

Patti is hosting next week for #235, Shadows & Reflections in Monochrome. I might just have to create a few new monochrome images for my response. Thanks again to Donna for volunteering to join our team.

If you’d like to pixel peep or see the photographic details such as shutter speed or f/stop of my images, check out the gallery of images here on my Flickr site. If you’d like to join in on the challenges each week, check out my link here.

I am writing this while docked at Charlotte Amalie in the US Virgin Islands, so I have a strong Internet connection through my cell carrier. When we leave port this evening, we’ll be back on the ship’s Internet, so limited speed and access will necessitate a delay in my responses to comments. I will read them and respond as usual, but I may be less than punctual. In the meantime, my wife and I are again enjoying the cruising lifestyle.

John Steiner

37 comments

  1. Loved them, John. This reply to Donna’s challenge is so you. I wish I could use the one with children and espressos at my work. That would change things quite a bit… Thank you, John, for a good start of my day 🙂

    Reply

    • I didn’t see it and photograph it, but a friend relayed a sign in a restaurant. It said something like, “If you don’t like our service, please stop and pick up a job application.”

      Reply

  14. I can’t believe someone has almost exactly the same boot wiping sign as I used this week, although mine tells cowboys to wipe their boots! I’ve seen the children sign before and or it always me laugh.

    janet

    Reply

  15. Wishing you continued fun on your cruise. Before I read your words under Jerome’s sign, I was think,: does HE know? Lol. Too funny. And you are right, Tombstone’s sign is a reality these days. Thanks for coming alone even with your busy schedule. Its great to be a part of the team.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Donna! It was a bit of a challenge to get my post done on time for Thursday with our poor Internet connection.
      Without paying extra, we are given 150 minutes of “free” Internet, and I see as I am typing this, I have 14 minutes left. Good timing for me as it’s the last full day of the cruise and I am almost done being online for today.

      Reply

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