Lighted Spaces and Landscapes

Excerpts from a Geographer's Photo Archive

recent posts

  • Always Good Advice

    This was posted at a worksite in a conspicuous place. I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment. (Tempe, Arizona, 2005)

  • Commuting Crossing

    This sign was on my way to work for a number of years. Yes, the planes flew low. It wasn’t the planes that worried me–there was also a skydiving school and I would watch the sky for students. (Racine County, Wisconsin, 2017)

  • Say it Out Loud

    I confess that I didn’t take this shot. One of my former students sent this to me. I thought it was a joke and I had to look it up on the internet. They are still in business. Keep saying the name out loud (Buffalo, New York, 2006)

  • Total Wisconsin Joke

    It was perfect symmetry. I was on the road in southern Illinois and I stopped at a pancake joint for breakfast. I noticed the array of syrups and the brown container name caught my eye. I looked up to give my order to the waitress and her name was “Brandy.” I doesn’t scream Wisconsin any more than that. If you don’t understand, ask your Wisconsin friends. (Carbondale, Illinois, 2018)

  • Sometimes you Need a Warning

    There is a supper club that overlooks the Lake that is one of my favorite places to dine. It feels like I’ve stepped back into the 1960s (minus the cloud of cigarette smoke). This sign is at the end of their parking lot. It makes me think that that there must have been a problem at some time. (Kenosha, Wisconsin, 2009)

  • Why Buy When You Can Rent?

    One of my all-time favorite signs. When I saw it I couldn’t believe my eyes. (Phoenix, Arizona, 2004)

  • Funeral Humor

    It was a cute way to announce the move off the main street where a Jimmy John’s and Dunkin was needed. (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, 2012)

  • The Center of Things

    I was taking the train home from Michigan to Milwaukee in the 1980s. There was a delay on the tracks and they stopped at a station to let us walk around and get something to eat. Although we were between these two places, Detroit and Chicago were the endpoints on the train line. (Battle Creek, Michigan, 1986)

  • Got My Goat

    Here is a master at work. Shortly after this photo was taken, he cut off a small piece of meat for me to taste. It was excellent. I love goat–this was really good goat. I stayed for lunch, ate too much. (Cachi, Salta, Argentina, 2025)

  • Sometimes I’m Caught

    A student was getting a street shot as we were waiting on the ferry over to Ometepe. I was caught crossing the street. (Rivas, Nicaragua, 2004)