This week’s challenge was suggested to me by Charles Chubb. Thanks for the suggestion, Charles. In the 1970s, the sign in the opening image hung on a storefront at 46th Street and Broadway in Times Square, New York. It is an artifact that was on sale at the Mecum Auto Auction in Glendale, Arizona in 2022.
There are signs everywhere, they try to sell us, they can provide information, they can warn us of hazards, they can make us laugh, and they can tug at our emotions. This week’s challenge asks you to share images of signs or billboards that strike your fancy. Finally, for those who don’t make a habit of capturing images of physical signs, consider any photographs of metaphorical signs. I will start with some examples.
A sign of the change of seasons came early one morning near Bryce Canyon. The day before was cloudy with rain and fog. We were up early to drive to Bryce to capture the morning sunrise. When I stepped outside, I saw the sign that winter was soon upon us.
My last example of a metaphoric sign is this image of an all-electric Ford Mustang. This car with its 1400 HP electric motor system is a proof of concept for an electric high-performance race car. It reflects a sign of the changing times in personal vehicles.
In the mid-1920s, a Minneapolis company came upon the idea of a group of sequential signs they placed along highways. At an automobile museum in South Dakota, a compressed version of these signs, normally placed much further apart, is on display. This example of these small rectangular signs brings back memories for those of a certain age when U.S. highways featured Burma Shave advertisements. In this case, the signs read, “Past the Schoolhouse”, “Take it slow”, “Let the little”, “shavers grow”, and “Burma Shave.” The campaign was a catalyst for the Burma Shave Company and their sales exploded.
In Siler City, North Carolina, one of the many murals duplicates a historic billboard. Some states have limited, or even forbidden, these larger signs especially in areas with beautiful natural scenery. As one who travels many of the scenic byways of this great country, I am grateful for these regulations that keep America beautiful.
Posters are popular and are often reproductions of vintage signs. At one restaurant in Dickinson North Dakota, many of the pieces of wall art are reproductions of vintage signs from various attractions and businesses in North Dakota. It was fascinating to see many of these early ads on display. I photographed over half a dozen of them. They were all transferred to a wood backing and finished to protect the surface.
In a small shop, I noticed this sign asking people to keep an eye on their kids. It got the point across without being “preachy.”
The signs may look like ordinary trail markers to most people, but to me, it’s a special photo. Maricopa Regional Parks has featured a “100 Miles in 100 Days” challenge over the years. This year’s challenge starts on November 1 2023 and continues through February 8, 2024. Lynn and I both met the challenge a couple of seasons in previous years. What makes this photo special to me is that Maricopa County Parks used the image as a background for their certificates. I don’t know if they are still using the image, but I was happy that my own photo graced the certificates we received.
Warning signs are not to be ignored. On a trip through the Panama Canal, I happened to notice that we passed a barge at some distance from our ship. I was happy I had a telephoto lens so I didn’t have to get too close to the barge to capture the image.
Not all signs need words. The red light in the window of the Brothel Museum above the Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, Alaska tells people what used to go on in the rooms on the second floor above the bar.
A wrecked car inside this glass-walled trailer and the sign beside it act as a reminder that alcohol and driving don’t mix.
I am looking forward to seeing your challenge response this week. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists so I can find your post in the reader, or put a link to your post in a comment below.
You can view my entire gallery in my Flickr album here. I even have a few more example images in the album. Thanks to Amy for hosting last week’s challenge, “Contrasts”. Next week, it’s Sofia’s turn. If you’d like to join in the challenge, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.
John Steiner
Love the older vintage sign shots John and hoping not to see that first sign of winter here for a while…lol.
Traveling in the mountains of Wyoming last week, we saw some of those signs, but mostly at higher altitudes… still, winter is coming!
[…] John asks us to look for signs or billboards, they are everywhere. And, if you don’t capture images of physical signs, consider any photographs of metaphorical signs. Thank you, I will try a mix! […]
[…] If you like to see John’s great challenge post – for Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #272, and all his physical and metaphorical signs, then just click HERE. […]
[…] lake, which is less than a mile away from our house offers one of the most colorful foliage display I have even seen. Especially at a morning after sunrise, with a calm water the reflection of […]
[…] I don’t know about you, but these days I feel bombarded with signage of, mostly, the advertising kind. So, it’s great to pay attention to the signs that keep us safe and bring us joy. Thank you John for this fun challenge. […]
These are great – but the unattended children sign is a hoot!!
That’s my favorite as well, Nora!
[…] the Link to this week’s Original Post. And Tina’s Too. And […]
What a great topic, John. You created quite a variety to inspire us. I liked signs of the times. The explosive sign might have been a little disconcerting! Best of all the trail signs and the fact that you both made the challenge and your photo was chosen for the certificates. How cool was that?!!! You’ve inspired me for Wednesday. 🙂
Thanks, Marsha! The cruise ship kept its distance from that barge, for sure!
haha I wonder what a safe distance would be from a ship like that? Yikes!!!
Good thing I had a zoom lens on the camera. 🙂
Kaboom! Yes indeed! 🙂
[…] The stories that we tell about where we have gone are also full of uncertainty. We saw two signs at the Chang La, both put up by the same organization, which gave two different heights of the top of the pass. The higher altitude (5360 meters) is borne out by modern GPS measurements. That really makes it the world’s 10th highest pass, and one meter (!) higher than Khardung La. This contradicts all the tourist information that you get about Ladakh (if you are interested then you can read more about this controversy in the Wikipedia article on Khardung La). But is a one meter difference in altitude credible? Although enthusiasts will tell you that a modern phone has this sensitivity (once you take into account Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity), I keep my mind open and only use the two or three most significant digits of these signs. […]
That’s a wide ranging topic for sure, as your great collection of signs shows. I like signs of humour, so that one about children is one of my favourites in your set. So is the black humour of the sign by deadlycrash.org.
Here’s my entry: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2023/10/23/signs-of-uncertainty/
Thanks, I. J.
[…] featuring billboards and signs as his theme for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge. So be it. I don’t think I have any […]
Great challenge John and your photos are brilliant for this topic. Love the “brothel” no sign – sign! I’ve been through my archives and thought I had many, anyway found a few to be posted shortly.
Thanks. I am looking forward to seeing your choices, Alison.
[…] week John @ photobyjohnbo has challenged us to look for billboards and signs. They can be obvious or just a sign of something […]
Here you go, you’re going to be busy this week John, looking through all these pingbacks!
I believe this is the strongest response to one of my challenges yet. I am enjoying the attention. >grin<
I can imagine, a fun challenge
[…] Johnbo is this week’s host for the Lens-Artist challenge […]
Hi John! The vintage signs are just great as is the ‘unattended children’ one. You’ve covered a great variety of signs of all types. Great!
Thanks, James!! I enjoyed your take on the challenge as well!
[…] asks us to share images of signs or billboards that strike your fancy. Do visit John’s various fun, inspiring signs. We hope you’ll join us and share your images. Be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists so […]
Love the vintage signs, John. The Burma shave signs remind me of the signs for Wall Drug. How cool that Maricopa used your photo for their background! I also liked your red light photo.
janet
Great choice of signs. My favorite is the “Watch the children” notice. I imagine a lot of parents having an anxious chuckle over that one.
Your photo essay reminds me of the one time I was on an interstate in Vermont, heading north, for a business trip. Our client was driving and at one point, he asked if we noticed anything distinctive about the scenery. At first, I said no, all I saw were trees. Then I realized his point. No billboards. Not a one. I wish that were more common.
Indeed! Some states have it better than others in the scenery department, especially those with no billboards. 🙂
[…] look forward to the fun and creative potential from your lenses.Remember to link to John’s post here, and to use the Lens-Artists Tag so we can find you. Thanks to Amy for last week’s Contrasts […]
[…] of Journeys with Johnbo gives me a change to show off my many photographs of signs I have captured over the years. I am […]
[…] Lens-Artists Challenge #272 – Billboards and Signs […]
John, just when I least expected you offered us a terrific challenge. Through the years, as I explained in my post, I have been “collecting” signs I stumble on in our travels. So, I selected some of the more interesting signs from restaurant walls and restrooms. Here’s my entry:
https://egidio.photography/deep-thoughts/
Thanks, Egidio! I’m off to read your post!
[…] Linked to: Lens-Artists […]
My favorite is the Noth Dakota sign. And the unattended children sign 😂
https://wordpress.com/post/deoculomeo.wordpress.com/440
Your link in the comment didn’t work, Marina, but the tag did. Thanks for joining in my challenge!
A lovely collection again, John, but I must say that image of the car covered by snow is chilling! Pun intended. If that’s what Utah’s “first sign of winter” looks like I am horrified at what’s waiting for when winter really bites! “Why do people live there!?”, I ask myself…
We lived with snow and frigid winters for forty years, so when we retired, we made it a practice to spend the worst of North Dakota winters in warmer climates. Utah is much more temperate, but not immune from snow. 🙂
[…] Lens-Artists Challenge: Billboards and Signs […]
Those were some fun signs, John.
Here is my contribution for this week.
I just got back from reading your post. A great collection of signs and I am sure you had a memorable visit.
[…] So now I am linking this to Johnbo’s Signs in Lisbon […]
Great example of signages, John. Here is my entry https://mywanderings.travel.blog/
Thanks, Teresa!
[…] For this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Billboards and Signs […]
[…] Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Billboards and Signs […]
[…] Lens-Artist Photo-Challenge John:…Billboards-&-Signs […]
[…] Lens-Artists: Billboards & Signs […]
A fantastic challenge John. As I traveled through the reader, I arrived back at you to compliment you on this great inspiration. There has been so much creativity flying off the blogs this week. Well done. As for your own challenge, the red light was a creative look at a signal or sign. And I have to congratulate you on the Maricopa County Park photo. Dale and I have never met that challenge but talk of it. I hiked with a friend a few times last year who was doing it. There is another one I would love….the summit challenge. It is all in one day involves summoning the local hills. Have a good week.
Thanks, Donna! I am happy there have been so many responses. I’ve been really busy reviewing and commenting on all the submissions, and I’ve really been having fun noting the many signs.
While the 100-mile in 100-day challenge seems daunting, we met the goal by hiking 2-3 miles each hike and three hikes a week. They all had to be done in Maricopa Regional Parks so we spent most of the time in either White Tank or Estrella, but went out and about to visit other parks for variety.
[…] Hi! As you know I love participating in photo sharing amongst bloggers I’ve come to know here on WordPress. Here is my participation for The Lens-Artists Challenge #272 – Billboards And Signs hosted by … […]
I loved the unattended child one. while it’s funny – the message was indeed phrased in a way that got the point across. you’ve got to admire the nuanced thinking of the person who composed it.
here’s the signs I’ve photographed throughout my travels.
I love the old signs, but the keep an eye on their kids is the best. I think I will recommend to some to use.
🙂👍💯💯
That sign gets the point across in such a humorous manner. It’s one of my favorite sign images. 🙂
I’m in a agreement with that
These are fun! I found your site from Anita, 100 Country Trek. I just saw the sign about unattended children being given puppies and an espresso the other day when I was dying for coffee and wouldn’t have said no to a puppy to cuddle …
I am glad you enjoyed the humor! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
John, John, this was not easy! You showed us so many possibilities, and finally I got a post together. Loved especially the vintage poster and watch your children. As I visited Skagway some weeks ago, I must vote for that one as well – love textless signs. Thank you for hosting – it is fun to see what everyone comes up with. It seems to be easier for others than me!
I was surprised to see how much interest this challenge generated. It’s been fun seeing all of the signs!
I agree – so many different signs, and so many never seen before! I bet if we looked at signs in different countries or parts of the country, we would learn to recognise and be able to pick out where they came from.
[…] Here is my entry for guest host John of Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. […]
Your signs are so fun for this week. Great idea for a challenge 😀 😀
Here is my entry.
[…] week, for the Lens-Artist Challenge, Johnbo bids us to seek out signs. My header photo was taken several years ago, but seems even more […]
A fun challenge with great examples. Here’s mine: http://margaret21.com/2023/10/26/its-a-sign/
Thanks, Margaret!
What a fun subject for this week’s challenge, and all your examples gave us plenty of leeway. I especially like the Burma Shave signs. I remember them well. Long before all the other entertainment options available to children on long distance car journeys today, Burma Shave signs were a welcome distraction!!!
I’d love to see more of Burma Shave type signs around just for the nostalgic value, but I suppose they are a relic of history except in museums and similar venues.
[…] Lens-Artist Challenge is from John this week. The topic is […]
Great examples for this challenge, John.
Fab clicks.
And I had plenty of laughs. I love the vintage ones and the change of seasons.
[…] (Shared for Lens-Artists challenge: billboards and signs) […]
My contribution
[…] this week’s theme at Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #272, John inspires us to share our photos of Billboards and […]
Nice and interesting signs, the retro and vintage ones are quite special. 🙂 And here is my contribution this week, https://starrysteps.wordpress.com/2023/10/27/semne-si-panouri-lens-artists-photo-challenge-272-billboards-and-signs/
Thanks, Nicole!