This is progress
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, August 2010
[Please click here for more transportation goodness]
We see traffic lights every day, but do we really look at them? Probably not, as a detailed analysis might not be advisable when you're negotiating a six-lane intersection at speed, bracketed on one side by some kid balancing driving his dad's Volvo with texting his buddies on his BlackBerry and on the other an octagenarian on her way home from bingo who apparently has difficulty telling the difference between the accelerator and brake pedals.
(For what it's worth, I've encountered both of these folks in recent days. I love London drivers.)
So on an afternoon when I found a set of lights while out on a walk with my wife, I had all the time in the world to explore it with my camera in a way I just couldn't do while fending off Teen Berry King or Grandma Pedal Pusher. Either way, I need to walk more and drive less.
Your turn: What's your favorite traffic signal. Why?
The colors of the stop lights always remind me of M&M's so it is my favorite. The most subjective traffic sign has to be the YIELD... hardly anyone ever does.
ReplyDeleteI suppose my favorite is the arms-extended, palms-upward-as-if-in-supplication signaling "WTF?" directed at ...
ReplyDeleteOh! You mean like lights and signs and stuff. Sorry, I was still stuck on Teen Berry King.
Art in the city.. gotta love it. It sure makes for a cool photo.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit to my blog yesterday. It sure was nice to see your smiling face there. :)
Carmi, I'm loving this!! On first glance, I couldn't tell what it was, then it came to me. You have turned an ordinary stoplight into a work of art!! Wish I'd have thought of this! Maybe I would have if I walked more! This is quite stunning, and would make a good poster! Your driving comments gave me a chuckle!
ReplyDeleteGo, green, I like to see what there is to see. Great question Carmi.
ReplyDeleteMy new Transportation photo is up. Come on by and take a look.
Sue
I entirely agree with you, but you forgot to mention the make-up and CD-changing Preferably at the same time) variety.
ReplyDeletePS Thank you for the pleasant comment. You can find a night-shot of the "Askøy-bridge" here.
In Vanuatu we have all sorts of traffic signs... only some of them aren't in place anymore. Nevertheless you are still expected to STOP at the place where the STOP sign used to be...
ReplyDeleteHope you are having an excellent week! Happy hump day!!! And Chag Sameach!
I love stop lights. I keep my camera on the passenger seat set on Auto but turned off (batteries you know) then when I come to a stop light, I quick turn on my camera find something interesting, frame and snap away. I have gotten some really fine photos that way and it's great practice for learning to quickly frame your photos and comes in handy for when you are photographing wildlife or sports (wait maybe those are the same things) Johnina :^A
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first learning how to drive, the traffic light with the arrow always confused me. What is the difference between the arrow with a red light and just the arrow itself? I don't know why I found that so confusing (looking back more than 25 years later).
ReplyDeleteGood writing.
Shane
http://bdgjm.blogspot.com
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ReplyDeleteThere is a stop sign I pass almost daily on my way from our little village to the slightly bigger city. Someone has spray painted underneath it "Hammertime". Makes me smile everytime. What can I say? I'm an '80s child.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this short story, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite traffic light would be the red light.
ReplyDeleteI was sitting in front of one the other day and thinking how symbolic it seemed. You rushing through the day, moving at neck-breaking speed to get from one point to the next...then you encounter a red light and it forces u to stop; stop and regroup, assess the progress you've made so far and make new ones if u have to.
I thought that evening about the tonnes of difference it would make if we had red lights at intervals in our lives...lights that force us to stop and take inventory.
Yup, the Red light it is!
I'd have to go for amber... the anticipation of action!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, so nice to discover a not-American blog :-) I found you through BON; you have one more follower!
J.J.
http://dreamsandreality-jj.blogspot.com/
Not my favorite traffic sign, but possibly the most memorable: http://newyorkprism.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-i-know.html
ReplyDeleteGreat blog!
Lai
http://newyorkprism.blogspot.com
The STOP sign is my favorite signal. It's bold, straight forward and known around the world.
ReplyDeleteMuy lindos pero hay que respetarlos!! saludos
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