They can serve as a reminder of a location or the directions to get to a place. Signs can convey interesting information about a location, such as what activities take place or what things cost. They can sometimes provide several pieces of information in one image.
Signs might be clever, humorous, or serious. I also consider flags and menus as types of signs. On a recent Caribbean cruise, I tried to capture an image of each country’s flag in every port of call. As simple as that sounds, it was not always easy. Flags were not as plentiful as I initially imagined. On a windless day, flags were not flying. In Saint Lucia, as I started my visit, I grabbed a “flag” photo on a souvenir purse, just in case. Fortunately, I later found one wet flag in the pouring rain that I had to unfurl from the flagpole in order for it to wave. When flags were flying, several attempts were often required to capture an image with the flag fully visible. Fortunately, smart phones make this easy using the burst mode. Many ports of call had obvious “touristy” signs where one could pose for an image. These areas were often populated by vendors trying to sell goods and local tours.
I also looked for colourful souvenirs that included the name of each respective country, thus providing both a location, often a year, as well as some vibrant colour to the photo.
In conclusion, in addition to one’s wonderful photos of loved ones and landscapes, signs of various kinds may serve as a nice reminder of your travels.
Text and accompanying photos by Peeter Põldre
Fotogalerii
