Here's a link to my flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/
Please give me advice on taking good signal photos, some came out really sharp and clear, some came out looking like poop. I know I shouldn't be using a phone camera, but it's the easiest way to upload my signal photos. Can someone critique my Flickr page, and give me tips.
Alright, here's some advice:
1) Understand and play around with composition. (https://petapixel.com/2016/09/14/20-composition-techniques-will-improve-photos/) This is good advice for everyone, from beginners to experts, regardless of the subject matter. Not everyone has the fanciest equipment, but composition is a great place to start.
2) Line up your image neatly; although post-production tweaks help a lot too. Use the entire frame for some shots, zoom in for others. It depends on what kind of story you're telling.
3) Conditions matter: Are you always shooting into the glare of the sun? At the same time of day? Photographers look for the "golden hour (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_(photography))" (sometimes it's up to two hours), as it brings out colors and contrast. That said, sometimes you have to take your shots when you can.
4) If you're using a phone-based camera, the image sensor responds best to outdoor use. The shutter speed will be faster, and less likely to blur, because you've chosen a specific object for it to focus upon.
5) Zooming in on your desired subject might make it more interesting, but at the expense of image quality.
6) Don't be afraid to play around with settings. Exposure, color temperature, contrast, but use like spices...a little is good, too much can ruin the meal.
7) Shooting from a vehicle usually includes unwanted glare, window tinting, and whatever garbage is on the windshield/window. Prepare for it.
8) Ignore all of the above if you really like your photographs. Sometimes the best memories come from spur-of-the-moment photography.
I don't have a lot of advice specifically for traffic signals; I mostly work with signs and road scenes, but I have noticed that the lights' colors are difficult to capture. The light source operates at a different color temperature than daylight, and usually at 50/60Hz (?) which is also tricky photograph at times.
Lastly, you always acquire new tricks in photography. Practice, practice, practice...you learn one thing, and then want to learn another, because nobody knows it all. When you see a professional, you see their best work, not the 80-90% of the shots that didn't make the cut.
Quote from: formulanone on December 18, 2017, 09:03:11 PM
Alright, here's some advice:
1) Understand and play around with composition. (https://petapixel.com/2016/09/14/20-composition-techniques-will-improve-photos/) This is good advice for everyone, from beginners to experts, regardless of the subject matter. Not everyone has the fanciest equipment, but composition is a great place to start.
2) Line up your image neatly; although post-production tweaks help a lot too. Use the entire frame for some shots, zoom in for others. It depends on what kind of story you're telling.
3) Conditions matter: Are you always shooting into the glare of the sun? At the same time of day? Photographers look for the "golden hour (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_(photography))" (sometimes it's up to two hours), as it brings out colors and contrast. That said, sometimes you have to take your shots when you can.
4) If you're using a phone-based camera, the image sensor responds best to outdoor use. The shutter speed will be faster, and less likely to blur, because you've chosen a specific object for it to focus upon.
5) Zooming in on your desired subject might make it more interesting, but at the expense of image quality.
6) Don't be afraid to play around with settings. Exposure, color temperature, contrast, but use like spices...a little is good, too much can ruin the meal.
7) Shooting from a vehicle usually includes unwanted glare, window tinting, and whatever garbage is on the windshield/window. Prepare for it.
8) Ignore all of the above if you really like your photographs. Sometimes the best memories come from spur-of-the-moment photography.
I don't have a lot of advice specifically for traffic signals; I mostly work with signs and road scenes, but I have noticed that the lights' colors are difficult to capture. The light source operates at a different color temperature than daylight, and usually at 50/60Hz (?) which is also tricky photograph at times.
Lastly, you always acquire new tricks in photography. Practice, practice, practice...you learn one thing, and then want to learn another, because nobody knows it all. When you see a professional, you see their best work, not the 80-90% of the shots that didn't make the cut.
Show me some of my images, that are my best work, and show me the ones that need retakes.
Quote from: traffic light guy on December 18, 2017, 09:58:27 PM
Show me some of my images, that are my best work, and show me the ones that need retakes.
I think, in a way, that's quite subjective. I've had a few shots that I hated, but that others liked.
Quote from: traffic light guy on December 18, 2017, 06:31:22 PM
Here's a link to my flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/
Please give me advice on taking good signal photos, some came out really sharp and clear, some came out looking like poop. I know I shouldn't be using a phone camera, but it's the easiest way to upload my signal photos. Can someone critique my Flickr page, and give me tips.
My first thought was...it's not the phone...it's the crap Pennsylvania has to take pictures of!
Honestly I think most of your pics are fine. With cell phone cameras, you can only do so much. We can always zoom in on the photo to see minor details. Pics from moving cars are tough because, well, you're moving, and you have to deal with windshields or other glass that isn't perfectly clean either. The sun is tough also, between its brightness and angles. And cell phone pics and dusk/dawn don't mix too well together either.
I looked through your first Flickr page. Most pix are not bad. One condition you need to be careful with is cloudy/partly cloudy days. Your eyes might think your pix will come out all right, but your camera might interpret the conditions differently. Light might not be as bright, or there might be more weird shadows. Sunlight is, of course, going to blind and wash out any subject matter; also cars in front of you reflecting the sun. Try not to be in a hurry when getting a shot; tough, yes, if you are driving, but the light/focus could be easily compromised. If you're going to be driving while taking the pix, try to make sure your windshield is *clean*. Also, clear off anything loose and light-colored from your dashboard--better yet, invest in 1 or 2 black or very dark (like navy blue) towels to cover the dash. Yes, it is easier to use a phone camera, but not always the best for every use. If you are going to be snapping regularly, I would consider a digital camera along with the phone for at least some outings. As for how the colors and brightness are with traffic lights, it could be trial and error; as we all know, some signals have LED which could flicker or be *very* bright, while others that aren't up to date could have varying quality (dim bulbs, 'burnt' lenses, washed-out color) or be affected by sun glare. Oh, and Busman has a point... you might not like something you took, someone else might love it. It's like art in general. Painting, architecture, sculpture--each has its fans, and its detractors. Even if you only post great stuff on your Flickr, don't be so quick to erase all the other pix. Deleting the blurry ones is probably good, but the remainders will be good for letting you know what to do better next time. Also, the ones you hold onto might be a source of a good memory or great trip you took. Don't beat yourself up over your photography, you're probably not going to be another Ansel Adams, nor do you have to be. Just like Let's Make a Deal, there will be some zonks among the prize winners. Good luck!
Quote from: busman_49 on December 19, 2017, 08:12:37 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on December 18, 2017, 09:58:27 PM
Show me some of my images, that are my best work, and show me the ones that need retakes.
I think, in a way, that's quite subjective. I've had a few shots that I hated, but that others liked.
I think an important point to make about taking pictures, is that you take them for yourself. It's great to post pictures on the internet and to interact with others, but really, no-one is going to feel the same way about your photos as you do.
You should re-take the photos that
you aren't happy with.
On the other hand, if your objective is to garner likes on the internet, then I'd suggest to you that traffic light pics probably aren't going to be the subject matter that is going to be the most effective at achieving that goal.
I'm going to echo the advice above in terms of photography. Practice. If you want to take consistently great photos, you need to take lots of photos. Over time, you will find that the keeper rate of your photos will steadily increase as you learn about both better composition techniques, in addition to better understanding the technical aspects of photography.
Check out my recent images, and I've deleted the crappier ones
I have no professional advice, but honestly, I really like your pictures. I don't notice anything particularly bad about any of them. Also, some of the most recent ones (the close-ups) are especially cool.
I'm no professional, but so far, it looks pretty good to me! :thumbsup:
I'm starting to notice that my Flickr photos get better as time progresses. I know it's subjective, but can somebody let me know which shots are their favorites
What town is it that uses the red street blades? According to updated MUTCD standards, they're going to need to replace all of the street blades because red is no longer an acceptable color :-D
I like your pictures. I tend to look past photography concepts other than good contrast/lighting...I try to focus on the content in the photography. I was actually thinking about getting photos of different traffic signal configurations, which means I would try to have only one photo of a signal with two 3-section heads, etc since anything else seems redundant.
Okay, I'll focus on the positives. Again, this entirely opinion...you or somebody else can completely disagree and that's cool.
I don't know much about traffic lights, so take some things with a grain of salt. To be entirely fair, road photography isn't always the most elegant subject, it can be quite mundane. The specifics might be interesting enough to those with a deeper interest within a hobby, and whether the photo is "excellent" or "popular" or "gallery material" matters very little. There's times I take a sign photo just because a want a photo of the sign, and don't care about the rest of the elements in the photo.
Sometimes, only those with an interest in the discrete differences and slight variations are going to appreciate or care about the minutiae. (Don't be offended by that, any sort of specialized hobby, interest, or collectible is like that to its "outsiders".)
Lastly, take photos because you want to. I've had a few stinkers get a few likes, other personal favorites of mine exhibit zero interest. If the "likes/faves" are the most important thing to you, then you can spend many hours of your day selling yourself as a product to the internet, and garner hangers-on and back-scratching everyone else so you all create an endless cycle of karma-liking which saps your soul for eternity.
On the other hand, if you want a photo (or hobby) to generate more interest, then give detailed descriptions. Telling a viewer that "this is X" and "this is Y" doesn't really convey any information. (Why is X the way it is? Why did this Y get manufactured that way? What's the benefit/drawback/differences/allure of Z over Y, or unlike X? Why is this photo and/or subject interesting to you?)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4720/38962990974_f25cfe868b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22n2vLs)
8-inch Mark IV traffic lights (https://flic.kr/p/22n2vLs) by brandonking3 (Traffic Light Guy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
- This pretty good, it makes it look imposing; post is not centered, yet the signal head is offset enough to give visual balance. Trees lend support to the post, and the wire at the top right gives some angular and parallel support. Color contrast is nice, too.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4743/39641163282_822346bd61_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23oXjLs)
McCain and Marbelite traffic lights (https://flic.kr/p/23oXjLs) by brandonking3 (Traffic Light Guy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
- Another photo where the elements balance out nicely. That's what makes a photo more interesting to someone. Again, the angles give and draw attention, the subject is put in a way where it can be imposing; traffic lights are intended to be "authoritarian" with "utilitarian".
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4739/38612702894_daab51b1bf_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21Q5cjN)
Peek traffic lights (https://flic.kr/p/21Q5cjN) by brandonking3 (Traffic Light Guy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
- Good use of red, works in rule of threes. Color that works in a line (top-left to bottom-right).
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4738/38213984305_6c804c1176_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21dQEbn)
Eagle traffic light (https://flic.kr/p/21dQEbn) by brandonking3 (Traffic Light Guy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
- Pretty good illustrative photo. Subject is dominant part of photo, and post is secondary. Detail is plainly visible; that's the specialist part of the hobby which makes it more interesting to everyone.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4486/37944870676_b8dc21cf12_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ZP4o5d)
4-section 12-inch Eagle Mark traffic signal on a pedestal (https://flic.kr/p/ZP4o5d) by brandonking3 (Traffic Light Guy) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
- Good explanation, interesting because I was wondering why it was red and green at he same time.
I take pics with my iphone 6s. That's it, nothing fancy. Are the pics the best quality? Nope.....but they satisfy me. (I take them for the sign. I'm mostly into non-reflective button copy signage and have recently branched out into stubs and whatnot.)
It's trial and error. But there's things about my pics I hate but others don't notice and vice versa.
So for me, it'll be hard to say which ones are better. I think they all are just fine.
Quote from: paulthemapguy on January 16, 2018, 10:39:58 AM
What town is it that uses the red street blades? According to updated MUTCD standards, they're going to need to replace all of the street blades because red is no longer an acceptable color :-D
I like your pictures. I tend to look past photography concepts other than good contrast/lighting...I try to focus on the content in the photography. I was actually thinking about getting photos of different traffic signal configurations, which means I would try to have only one photo of a signal with two 3-section heads, etc since anything else seems redundant.
Abington Township, PA uses red street blades
What do you guys think of my far-away shots, where it shows the view of the entire intersection
Quote from: traffic light guy on January 16, 2018, 06:03:59 PM
What do you guys think of my far-away shots, where it shows the view of the entire intersection
In the thread where you're trying to show paint chips, I couldn't really see anything especially when looking at the pics on my cell phone.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 16, 2018, 06:05:36 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on January 16, 2018, 06:03:59 PM
What do you guys think of my far-away shots, where it shows the view of the entire intersection
In the thread where you're trying to show paint chips, I couldn't really see anything especially when looking at the pics on my cell phone.
Look at those images on my Flickr page, they're in full quality.
One last thing to remember as the inexorable passage of time transforms us all and mutilates everything in it...save almost all your photos and originals.
You never know when your old stuff might become interesting.
Can you delete the one blurry photo out of a dozen similar shots, or that third exact repeat of the same subject? Yes, of course.
But when you want that one-and-only shot that's hidden among the inexplicable mass on our hard drives? The one nobody else bothered to ever photograph? The photo which you'll cherish because it reminds you of the simpler times and wonderful memories? That one which proves/disproves that annoying know-it-all fellow on the internet (this could be me)?
...you'll be glad you had it.
Quote from: formulanone on January 16, 2018, 06:52:39 PM
One last thing to remember as the inexorable passage of time transforms us all and mutilates everything in it...save almost all your photos and originals.
You never know when your old stuff might become interesting.
Can you delete the one blurry photo out of a dozen similar shots, or that third exact repeat of the same subject? Yes, of course.
But when you want that one-and-only shot that's hidden among the inexplicable mass on our hard drives? The one nobody else bothered to ever photograph? The photo which you'll cherish because it reminds you of the simpler times and wonderful memories? That one which proves/disproves that annoying know-it-all fellow on the internet (this could be me)?
...you'll be glad you had it.
+1
Very, very, very well said!! Keeping your pictures is definitely highly recommended. I actually have a great example of how significant it can be if you keep a picture for even just a few years. This is my current profile picture on my YouTube Channel, and it probably has been ever since I took this photo back in June 2014 (and for what it's worth, this is also my profile picture (still) on Instagram and a lot of other things as well):
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180117/3857f39c8b304514c778f9672368e30c.jpg)
This road-related sight has changed dramatically in the last few years. Here is what it looks like now, as of a few weeks ago (when this picture was taken):
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180117/289346c787f20b395d5bab6c67a060c4.jpg)
What was, a few short years ago, a new profile picture that showed a cool new road photo I had just taken, is now already a piece of history and in the past. Now my profile picture is no longer that "cool, new road photo" - it is now rich history. It's amazing how much more historical a road picture (or any picture) could be after just a few years. I'll probably keep that as a profile picture for a little while longer, because it brings great nostalgia, and it is incredibly intriguing. Definitely keep your pictures at all costs, because they will only increase in value as time goes on, and you will want these visual reminders of your younger memories, and something interesting to look at anyway, of course! :nod:
Here's another problem, other people seem to have better signal finds. Other signalgeeks on Flickr get to capture the good stuff (4-Ways, CH Art Decos, old Eaglelux signals), meanwhile I mostly get boring McCain installs, which is what most of my area consits of. I get jealus of other people's Flickrs, seeing all the interesting signals they have. BUT, there still are a select amount of decent stuff that I have, like the 70s-era Eagle installs that I found in the Huntingdon Valley.
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 20, 2018, 09:02:10 AM
Here's another problem, other people seem to have better signal finds. Other signalgeeks on Flickr get to capture the good stuff (4-Ways, CH Art Decos, old Eaglelux signals), meanwhile I mostly get boring McCain installs, which is what most of my area consits of. I get jealus of other people's Flickrs, seeing all the interesting signals they have. BUT, there still are a select amount of decent stuff that I have, like the 70s-era Eagle installs that I found in the Huntingdon Valley.
A major component of that is travel. In my city, the vast majority of the signals are 12 inch with most of them being mostly LED (and all 16 inch LED pedestrian signals), so a lot of the more interesting stuff I had to travel to other cities (and even other states) to document.
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 20, 2018, 09:02:10 AM
Here's another problem, other people seem to have better signal finds. Other signalgeeks on Flickr get to capture the good stuff (4-Ways, CH Art Decos, old Eaglelux signals), meanwhile I mostly get boring McCain installs, which is what most of my area consits of. I get jealus of other people's Flickrs, seeing all the interesting signals they have. BUT, there still are a select amount of decent stuff that I have, like the 70s-era Eagle installs that I found in the Huntingdon Valley.
For one, you're 16; getting out of your own town, let alone your county, isn't easy until you have you own transportation and spare time. It was the same for me when I first learned to drive around, be home with the darned thing by dinner because it's not yours. Most of us were in that same boat...er, car. You went to school, work, your friends' houses, a few errands, and that was about it until summertime. When you have the time and ability to travel, that's when you can get around to taking different photos. If it makes you feel any better, it wasn't until the past few years that my career involved travelling around the country.
Try some different subjects, in the meanwhile. People, animals, plants, flowers, trees, towns, cities...check out some of the suggestions in composition, techniques, angles, colors, and try out something unusual. Who knows, you might pick up an interest in what you've started to explore. It's easy to dismiss the familiar, but see what other photos are out there in your own town. Explore the map in Flickr, perform a Google Images search of your town/city, see what others say and make a statement with your photos.
Lastly, Flickr is all about sharing photos. Obviously someone is going to find things you don't have in your area. Nearly every time I log in, there's some neat photos about any interest that I'm hundreds or even thousands of miles away from (or worse yet, just missed it the week before). Twenty-five years ago, you'd either physically share printed photos, or you'd have to wait for someone to publish a book about a subject to see other's photos. Don't let this kind of thing weigh you down.
Quote from: formulanone on February 20, 2018, 02:11:19 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 20, 2018, 09:02:10 AM
Here's another problem, other people seem to have better signal finds. Other signalgeeks on Flickr get to capture the good stuff (4-Ways, CH Art Decos, old Eaglelux signals), meanwhile I mostly get boring McCain installs, which is what most of my area consits of. I get jealus of other people's Flickrs, seeing all the interesting signals they have. BUT, there still are a select amount of decent stuff that I have, like the 70s-era Eagle installs that I found in the Huntingdon Valley.
For one, you're 16; getting out of your own town, let alone your county, isn't easy until you have you own transportation and spare time. It was the same for me when I first learned to drive around, be home with the darned thing by dinner because it's not yours. Most of us were in that same boat...er, car. You went to school, work, your friends' houses, a few errands, and that was about it until summertime. When you have the time and ability to travel, that's when you can get around to taking different photos. If it makes you feel any better, it wasn't until the past few years that my career involved travelling around the country.
Try some different subjects, in the meanwhile. People, animals, plants, flowers, trees, towns, cities...check out some of the suggestions in composition, techniques, angles, colors, and try out something unusual. Who knows, you might pick up an interest in what you've started to explore. It's easy to dismiss the familiar, but see what other photos are out there in your own town. Explore the map in Flickr, perform a Google Images search of your town/city, see what others say and make a statement with your photos.
Lastly, Flickr is all about sharing photos. Obviously someone is going to find things you don't have in your area. Nearly every time I log in, there's some neat photos about any interest that I'm hundreds or even thousands of miles away from (or worse yet, just missed it the week before). Twenty-five years ago, you'd either physically share printed photos, or you'd have to wait for someone to publish a book about a subject to see other's photos. Don't let this kind of thing weigh you down.
I appreciate it formulane, you're one of the few guys here besides freebrickproductions who's patient and kind towards me. I appreciate your helpful tips. Any other member would've flipped their shit
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 20, 2018, 02:49:40 PM
Quote from: formulanone on February 20, 2018, 02:11:19 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 20, 2018, 09:02:10 AM
Here's another problem, other people seem to have better signal finds. Other signalgeeks on Flickr get to capture the good stuff (4-Ways, CH Art Decos, old Eaglelux signals), meanwhile I mostly get boring McCain installs, which is what most of my area consits of. I get jealus of other people's Flickrs, seeing all the interesting signals they have. BUT, there still are a select amount of decent stuff that I have, like the 70s-era Eagle installs that I found in the Huntingdon Valley.
For one, you're 16; getting out of your own town, let alone your county, isn't easy until you have you own transportation and spare time. It was the same for me when I first learned to drive around, be home with the darned thing by dinner because it's not yours. Most of us were in that same boat...er, car. You went to school, work, your friends' houses, a few errands, and that was about it until summertime. When you have the time and ability to travel, that's when you can get around to taking different photos. If it makes you feel any better, it wasn't until the past few years that my career involved travelling around the country.
Try some different subjects, in the meanwhile. People, animals, plants, flowers, trees, towns, cities...check out some of the suggestions in composition, techniques, angles, colors, and try out something unusual. Who knows, you might pick up an interest in what you've started to explore. It's easy to dismiss the familiar, but see what other photos are out there in your own town. Explore the map in Flickr, perform a Google Images search of your town/city, see what others say and make a statement with your photos.
Lastly, Flickr is all about sharing photos. Obviously someone is going to find things you don't have in your area. Nearly every time I log in, there's some neat photos about any interest that I'm hundreds or even thousands of miles away from (or worse yet, just missed it the week before). Twenty-five years ago, you'd either physically share printed photos, or you'd have to wait for someone to publish a book about a subject to see other's photos. Don't let this kind of thing weigh you down.
I appreciate it freebrickproductions, you're the only guy here who's patient and kind towards me. I appreciate your helpful tips. Any other member would've flipped their shit
That's formulanone who has offered up some great advice, and scanning through I see several others, including adventurernumber1, who has to be the most positive person on here.
Anyway, you are young and will have plenty of opportunities to venture out further as you get older. Enjoy your youth.
Let me compare what other guys have in their area, versus the boring shit I have to suffer through:
What other signal guys get to take pictures of:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/10502932023_e1a70881ac_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/h17gLT)Classic Crouse-Hinds 4-Way (https://flic.kr/p/h17gLT) by William Brown (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tracksidegorilla/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/9991124615_1c393b2aa0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/gdT8ge)Crouse-Hinds 1-Way (https://flic.kr/p/gdT8ge) by William Brown (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tracksidegorilla/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/13370301574_1d5d30554c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/mnuhQW)Crouse-Hinds Porthole (https://flic.kr/p/mnuhQW) by Detroit Signal (https://www.flickr.com/photos/84790408@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4728/39327167422_cd82947634_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22Vd1JJ)GE Streamlines (https://flic.kr/p/22Vd1JJ) by freebrickproductions (https://www.flickr.com/photos/96431468@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3251/5870931684_07674cfbe7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/9WN4s5)DSC_0019 (https://flic.kr/p/9WN4s5) by Ian Ligget (https://www.flickr.com/photos/iccdude/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3175/5870362885_2c6a24c935_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/9WK9nc)DSC_0951 (https://flic.kr/p/9WK9nc) by Ian Ligget (https://www.flickr.com/photos/iccdude/), on Flickr
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160626%2F179dd95873c165e939785a85e5daf963.jpg&hash=2f63a5024e0c5163c4b1cc2358d0c1ff98add232)
Now, look at the boring shit I have:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/33090965484_22b14a0507_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Sq8RaE)Modern McCain traffic signal install (https://flic.kr/p/Sq8RaE) by Traffic Light Guy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/33150255860_e8f22681c3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SvnJ8w)Newer McCain signals along Stenton Avenue (https://flic.kr/p/SvnJ8w) by Traffic Light Guy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4688/39291315272_379d3237a2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22S3g9d)Another Modern McCain setup (https://flic.kr/p/22S3g9d) by Traffic Light Guy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
Good God this setup is bland:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4516/37921826284_5425674be0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ZM2gM7)TCT traffic signals along the Huntingdon Pike (https://flic.kr/p/ZM2gM7) by Traffic Light Guy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
I shoudn't let it revolve around my life I know, but I don't really have many people to share this interest with
Those GE streamlines that you sited for me aren't anywhere near "my area", as they're in northern New Jersey and I live in northern Alabama. Also, a lot of what you've posted I believe has since been removed or replaced. I know those Crouse-hinds Type Ts have been.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on February 22, 2018, 09:35:00 PM
Those GE streamlines that you sited for me aren't anywhere near "my area", as they're in northern New Jersey and I live in northern Alabama. Also, a lot of what you've posted I believe has since been removed or replaced. I know those Crouse-hinds Type Ts have been.
That proves my point, by the time I'm an adult, I'm gonna have to hitchhike for old signals, they're be coming less and less common. 2001 is a really bad year to be born in if you like traffic lights, which will be replaced by self driving cars by the mid-2030s.
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 10:13:58 PM
Quote from: freebrickproductions on February 22, 2018, 09:35:00 PM
Those GE streamlines that you sited for me aren't anywhere near "my area", as they're in northern New Jersey and I live in northern Alabama. Also, a lot of what you've posted I believe has since been removed or replaced. I know those Crouse-hinds Type Ts have been.
That proves my point, by the time I'm an adult, I'm gonna have to hitchhike for old signals, they're be coming less and less common. 2001 is a really bad year to be born in if you like traffic lights, which will be replaced by self driving cars by the mid-2030s.
Traffic lights will likely hang around for a good while longer than that, as you'll still have a lot of non-self driving cars for many, many more years after that.
Quote from: chays on February 20, 2018, 09:50:05 PM
That's formulanone who has offered up some great advice, and scanning through I see several others, including adventurernumber1, who has to be the most positive person on here.
Anyway, you are young and will have plenty of opportunities to venture out further as you get older. Enjoy your youth.
Thanks! What's very strange is that when it comes to myself (due to Major Depression), I tend to be debilitatingly pessimistic, but when it comes to other people, I tend to be incredibly optimistic, because that's what comes from my heart with no opposition from my mentally ill mind.
And yeah, others have shared some very good advice, and traffic light guy, I predict that things will turn out well for you - just be patient, take all of our advice into consideration and apply it, and work toward your goal by taking action (but not being overboard with it). I think things are looking bright. :nod:
An option for me, is to stop using a phone camera
Quote from: traffic light guy on March 02, 2018, 03:29:09 PM
An option for me, is to stop using a phone camera
If you're really dedicated to this task (your posts certainly suggest as much ;-)) I would definitely recommend getting at least some sort of cheap, dedicated digital camera. Digital zoom on phone cameras blows due to noise from how digital zoom works, and if you want nice closeups of signal heads you're going to want actual physical zoom capabilities.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on March 02, 2018, 04:34:48 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on March 02, 2018, 03:29:09 PM
An option for me, is to stop using a phone camera
If you're really dedicated to this task (your posts certainly suggest as much ;-)) I would definitely recommend getting at least some sort of cheap, dedicated digital camera. Digital zoom on phone cameras blows due to noise from how digital zoom works, and if you want nice closeups of signal heads you're going to want actual physical zoom capabilities.
I'm gonna personally recommend a Canon Powershot ELPH 170 IS (https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/point-and-shoot/slim-stylish-cameras/powershot-elph-170-is), as it isn't too expensive and is quite portable, as well as having 12x optical zoom. I've been using it a lot and I love it. It'll only set you back about $150 + shipping, but if you want to get a good camera to start out with, I'd say it's definitely worth the investment.
I also think I might be too hard on myself when it comes to traffic lights. I easily get jealous that other signal geeks get to document interesting and rare stuff, while the signals on my Flickr page are nothing special.
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 02, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
I also think I might be too hard on myself when it comes to traffic lights. I easily get jealous that other signal geeks get to document interesting and rare stuff, while the signals on my Flickr page are nothing special.
It happens. I've felt the same way in the past when it came to traffic signals (or retail, or school buses even). You either find/make a way to go seek out the interesting stuff, or you live vicariously through other people's photographs if there's no way for you to get them yourself.
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 02, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
I also think I might be too hard on myself when it comes to traffic lights. I easily get jealous that other signal geeks get to document interesting and rare stuff, while the signals on my Flickr page are nothing special.
It seems like you keep mentioning Philadelphia-area signals without even considering that New Jersey is part of the area. Could New Jersey have something better than what you can find in Pennsylvania?
Quote from: 1 on April 03, 2018, 10:04:58 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 02, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
I also think I might be too hard on myself when it comes to traffic lights. I easily get jealous that other signal geeks get to document interesting and rare stuff, while the signals on my Flickr page are nothing special.
It seems like you keep mentioning Philadelphia-area signals without even considering that New Jersey is part of the area. Could New Jersey have something better than what you can find in Pennsylvania?
If NJ does have any, look into the larger, poorer cities such as Camden, Trenton & Atlantic City. Most signals NJDOT, NJTA and SJTA related are all relatively new (yes, the toll roads do have a few intersections under their jurisdiction with signals they installed and/or maintain). They counties may have a few older ones as well; the obviously old ones are going to be green. Camden & Salem Counties may still have some in existence; I can't think of any in Gloucester or Burlington Counties.
Good idea, the poor cities tend to have the oldest signals. Like camden and trenton. Philly is half-and-half, half of the city has signals that are only a couple of years old, while areas such as the northernmost tip of Broad street, and spring garden street have setups that are a teeny bit over four decades old. (Both of which I have photos of). Back roads are also good idea. Especailly the backroads in Chester, there's still a few ancient artifacts still thriving. I already wrote down a list of signals that I plan on getting
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 07:30:03 PM
Let me compare what other guys have in their area, versus the boring shit I have to suffer through:
[...]
Now, look at the boring shit I have:
Keep in mind you don't see how many intersections with McCains and Eagle Durasigs that those other guys drove through and didn't photograph to go to the neat ones.
You do happen to live in an area with far more older signals than average. The oldest signals I can think of around here aren't much older than 1990 or so. If I want to see something older, like a four-way signal, I have to drive clear to Garvin County.
As for photography, two tips. One, always try to shoot with the sun at your back, if possible. The great thing about signals is that there's usually one facing each direction, so unless it's a setup with different signal head types for different directions, you have the opportunity to choose the signal that lines up best with the lighting conditions. You never want to shoot facing into the sun, especially near sunset.
Secondly, play around with Photoshop (or if you're not made of money, The Gimp) to touch up your photos. One easy trick is to mess with the color grading. Most cameras don't shoot black as black, but rather some shade of grey. If you use software to push the all of the colors of the image so that the darkest greys are closer to true black, it will cause the lighter colors to appear less washed-out and more vivid. The easiest way of doing so is to bring up the Levels dialog, which has black, grey, and white dropper buttons on it. Choose the black dropper and find what looks like the darkest grey in the entire image (this will usually be a shadow on a dark surface), and select it. The software will do its thing, and, if you picked the right spot, you'll have a much nicer photo. If not, press Reset and try a different spot.
(Note that the white dropper does the same thing with white, but you generally don't want to do this, since "blowing out the highlights", i.e. making the whitest parts of the image pure white, is considered aesthetically displeasing. You want some grey on even your whites in order to show detail.)
Here's a before & after with just that one tweak done to the image. See the difference?
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4739/38612702894_daab51b1bf_z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/t3jX50A.jpg)
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 03, 2018, 10:10:57 AM
Quote from: 1 on April 03, 2018, 10:04:58 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 02, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
I also think I might be too hard on myself when it comes to traffic lights. I easily get jealous that other signal geeks get to document interesting and rare stuff, while the signals on my Flickr page are nothing special.
It seems like you keep mentioning Philadelphia-area signals without even considering that New Jersey is part of the area. Could New Jersey have something better than what you can find in Pennsylvania?
If NJ does have any, look into the larger, poorer cities such as Camden, Trenton & Atlantic City. Most signals NJDOT, NJTA and SJTA related are all relatively new (yes, the toll roads do have a few intersections under their jurisdiction with signals they installed and/or maintain). They counties may have a few older ones as well; the obviously old ones are going to be green. Camden & Salem Counties may still have some in existence; I can't think of any in Gloucester or Burlington Counties.
I can't speak for Camden or Atlantic City as I don't venture over there too much, but Trenton had (and likely still has) a bunch of classics still alive when I attended a signal enthusiast meet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/iccdude/albums/72157632960730078) centered around there in 2013.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 04, 2018, 06:09:01 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 07:30:03 PM
Let me compare what other guys have in their area, versus the boring shit I have to suffer through:
[...]
Now, look at the boring shit I have:
You do happen to live in an area with far more older signals than average. The oldest signals I can think of around here aren't much older than 1990 or so. If I want to see something older, like a four-way signal, I have to drive clear to Garvin County.
+1. Pennsylvania (and especially the Philadelphia area) is quite a big hotspot for finding old signals and equipment compared to the rest of the country, something I've noticed when I moved away up here to Maine for college. Other than a very small amount of 4-way beacons that are scattered far between across the state, Maine doesn't really have any extraordinarily old signals left. There is only a single Eagle flatback I know of left near me in Bangor, and it's the last remaining at the intersection of Hogan Road and Bangor Mall Boulevard (https://goo.gl/maps/xh99QnEyyhA2). There are some towns around Philly where you can still find incandescent Eagleux's and Crouse-Hinds art deco's at several intersections in a row!
If you're really that sick and tired of seeing ancient single-faced lights, make a trek up to some of the small towns in the Pocono's where you'll find a variety of old 4-way's. St. Clair has several intersections in a row with Eagle 4-ways, Shenendoah and Catasauqua both have a porthole, Mahanoy City has a CH type M, to name a few...
Quote from: Ian on April 04, 2018, 01:29:52 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 03, 2018, 10:10:57 AM
If NJ does have any, look into the larger, poorer cities such as Camden, Trenton & Atlantic City. Most signals NJDOT, NJTA and SJTA related are all relatively new (yes, the toll roads do have a few intersections under their jurisdiction with signals they installed and/or maintain). They counties may have a few older ones as well; the obviously old ones are going to be green. Camden & Salem Counties may still have some in existence; I can't think of any in Gloucester or Burlington Counties.
I can't speak for Camden or Atlantic City as I don't venture over there too much, but Trenton had (and likely still has) a bunch of classics still alive when I attended a signal enthusiast meet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/iccdude/albums/72157632960730078) centered around there in 2013.
Nice Flickr page!
At quick glance, I believe all the signals you have pictured are still there. Trenton has replaced some Walk/Don't Walk signals with Hand/Man signals (that's what NJDOT calls them occasionally), although I can't vouch for any of the ones you show. The license plate on the pole is long gone. :-)
So, here's the thing about Trenton - they're a little slow at fixing things. Alarmingly slow. There's this signal on Willow and Bank Street: https://goo.gl/maps/oRBHETHX1SN2 . About a month ago, the pole on the far side went missing. It probably got hit and removed. It STILL hasn't been replaced! That leaves just one signal per direction! And currently, one of the green lights is out.
Quote from: Ian on April 04, 2018, 01:29:52 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 03, 2018, 10:10:57 AM
Quote from: 1 on April 03, 2018, 10:04:58 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 02, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
I also think I might be too hard on myself when it comes to traffic lights. I easily get jealous that other signal geeks get to document interesting and rare stuff, while the signals on my Flickr page are nothing special.
It seems like you keep mentioning Philadelphia-area signals without even considering that New Jersey is part of the area. Could New Jersey have something better than what you can find in Pennsylvania?
If NJ does have any, look into the larger, poorer cities such as Camden, Trenton & Atlantic City. Most signals NJDOT, NJTA and SJTA related are all relatively new (yes, the toll roads do have a few intersections under their jurisdiction with signals they installed and/or maintain). They counties may have a few older ones as well; the obviously old ones are going to be green. Camden & Salem Counties may still have some in existence; I can't think of any in Gloucester or Burlington Counties.
I can't speak for Camden or Atlantic City as I don't venture over there too much, but Trenton had (and likely still has) a bunch of classics still alive when I attended a signal enthusiast meet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/iccdude/albums/72157632960730078) centered around there in 2013.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 04, 2018, 06:09:01 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 07:30:03 PM
Let me compare what other guys have in their area, versus the boring shit I have to suffer through:
[...]
Now, look at the boring shit I have:
You do happen to live in an area with far more older signals than average. The oldest signals I can think of around here aren't much older than 1990 or so. If I want to see something older, like a four-way signal, I have to drive clear to Garvin County.
+1. Pennsylvania (and especially the Philadelphia area) is quite a big hotspot for finding old signals and equipment compared to the rest of the country, something I've noticed when I moved away up here to Maine for college. Other than a very small amount of 4-way beacons that are scattered far between across the state, Maine doesn't really have any extraordinarily old signals left. There is only a single Eagle flatback I know of left near me in Bangor, and it's the last remaining at the intersection of Hogan Road and Bangor Mall Boulevard (https://goo.gl/maps/xh99QnEyyhA2). There are some towns around Philly where you can still find incandescent Eagleux's and Crouse-Hinds art deco's at several intersections in a row!
If you're really that sick and tired of seeing ancient single-faced lights, make a trek up to some of the small towns in the Pocono's where you'll find a variety of old 4-way's. St. Clair has several intersections in a row with Eagle 4-ways, Shenendoah and Catasauqua both have a porthole, Mahanoy City has a CH type M, to name a few...
As you said, the western side of Pennsylvania is where all the old signals linger, I've been doing google maps cavity searches of certain areas in the far western side of PA, Crafton has some dinosaur aged single-faced art decos that date back to the Post WWII era. There was another borough I saw on Google Maps, it also has some ancient ruins, there were no mast-arms, that's how old they were.
District 6 has a few areas that I already pinned: The northernmost tip of Broad Street & Spring Garden Street have rows of mast-arm installs that are just above four decades old. (The oldest were the Crouse-Hinds Type Ms)......don't know of any other old signals in Philly besides the CH art decos in the naval base. Other than those, the oldest you'll see on a regular bases are Eagle Mark IV/Siemens signal configurations from the 1990s. (which really isn't that old). Montgomery and Bucks County's oldest signals are Eagle flatbacks. Delaware county has a few ancient artifacts in the backroads of their cities, Crouse-hinds art decos and eageluxes from the 1950s. Other than Eagle flatbacks, Lower Merion still has a few eageluxes.
Yeah, there's some traveling that needs to be done, 4-Ways are on the other side of PA. I don't think that there's been a 4-way in District 6 in decades.
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 04, 2018, 03:55:11 PM
As you said, the western side of Pennsylvania is where all the old signals linger, I've been doing google maps cavity searches of certain areas in the far western side of PA, Crafton has some dinosaur aged single-faced art decos that date back to the Post WWII era. There was another borough I saw on Google Maps, it also has some ancient ruins, there were no mast-arms, that's how old they were.
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 04, 2018, 03:55:11 PM
Yeah, there's some traveling that needs to be done, 4-Ways are on the other side of PA. I don't think that there's been a 4-way in District 6 in decades.
Pittsburgh and the surrounding suburbs do have some nice old equipment, but all of the towns I listed in the Pocono's are within a two hour drive from Philadelphia, and don't require going all the way to western PA. There's a lot of cool and old signal related things within a two hour drive from Philly (easily a day trip), but you need to do a little bit of digging.
Baltimore might be a city you may be interested in visiting, and it's closer. Last I was there, several intersections had Eagle 4-way's and I saw one or two GE streamlines still kicking.
Quote from: Ian on April 04, 2018, 09:10:11 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 04, 2018, 03:55:11 PM
As you said, the western side of Pennsylvania is where all the old signals linger, I've been doing google maps cavity searches of certain areas in the far western side of PA, Crafton has some dinosaur aged single-faced art decos that date back to the Post WWII era. There was another borough I saw on Google Maps, it also has some ancient ruins, there were no mast-arms, that's how old they were.
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 04, 2018, 03:55:11 PM
Yeah, there's some traveling that needs to be done, 4-Ways are on the other side of PA. I don't think that there's been a 4-way in District 6 in decades.
Pittsburgh and the surrounding suburbs do have some nice old equipment, but all of the towns I listed in the Pocono's are within a two hour drive from Philadelphia, and don't require going all the way to western PA. There's a lot of cool and old signal related things within a two hour drive from Philly (easily a day trip), but you need to do a little bit of digging.
Baltimore might be a city you may be interested in visiting, and it's closer. Last I was there, several intersections had Eagle 4-way's and I saw one or two GE streamlines still kicking.
Yup, I sure do need to do a bit of digging. But my best bet for now is to check out the leftovers in Lower Merion, it's only a ten minute drive from Philly. Chester and Marcus Hook are for later on. Same with central and western PA
Which part of Baltimore has these ancient gems, I was in that area for a vacation back in 2008, and I didn't recall any 4-Ways.
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 04, 2018, 09:25:49 PM
Which part of Baltimore has these ancient gems, I was in that area for a vacation back in 2008, and I didn't recall any 4-Ways.
Oh lord, I can't even remember where I exactly I saw them. They're scattered throughout the city, so you may need to do some digging for those as well. I do remember that the ones I saw were north of downtown. Check the less traffic volume roads, I'm sure you'll find some...
Quote from: Ian on April 05, 2018, 12:52:18 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on April 04, 2018, 09:25:49 PM
Which part of Baltimore has these ancient gems, I was in that area for a vacation back in 2008, and I didn't recall any 4-Ways.
Oh lord, I can't even remember where I exactly I saw them. They're scattered throughout the city, so you may need to do some digging for those as well. I do remember that the ones I saw were north of downtown. Check the less traffic volume roads, I'm sure you'll find some...
Now , I need something quick and easy. Where are some towns in District 6 where I can find some oldheads. Marcus Hook and Chester have a few leftovers in the backroads, anything else that's undocumented? District 6 is my quickest option
Only three GE Streamlines are left in Baltimore, and they're all in some pretty bad neighborhoods, IIRC.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on April 06, 2018, 10:03:18 PM
Only three GE Streamlines are left in Baltimore, and they're all in some pretty bad neighborhoods, IIRC.
I think New Jersey would be a better place to find old signals, I could've swore to God I saw some crouse-hinds art decos in ocean city. They were all incandescent, controlled by mechanical marbelite controllers. They were in some part of the coastal region on new jersey. I can't remember
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 07:30:03 PM
Good God this setup is bland:
TCT traffic signals along the Huntingdon Pike
WOAH there, chief. Peek's and TCT's are beautiful works of art.
IMO, the only truly "bland" signal design out there are McCain's. All others are at least moderately more interesting.
Quote from: jakeroot on April 07, 2018, 02:19:08 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 07:30:03 PM
Good God this setup is bland:
TCT traffic signals along the Huntingdon Pike
WOAH there, chief. Peek's and TCT's are beautiful works of art.
IMO, the only truly "bland" signal design out there are McCain's. All others are at least moderately more interesting.
I'd say the modern Aluminum Econolites are just as bland. Looks like a Durasig from the front, but a McCain from the back...
Singer signals are also kinda bland, but a few of the small details (like the larger visors on them compared to most signals, triangular mounts for the latches, and the fact that they use dzus fasteners for the latches) makes them more interesting than McCains and aluminum Econolites to me.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on April 08, 2018, 10:39:25 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on April 07, 2018, 02:19:08 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 07:30:03 PM
Good God this setup is bland:
TCT traffic signals along the Huntingdon Pike
WOAH there, chief. Peek's and TCT's are beautiful works of art.
IMO, the only truly "bland" signal design out there are McCain's. All others are at least moderately more interesting.
I'd say the modern Aluminum Econolites are just as bland. Looks like a Durasig from the front, but a McCain from the back...
Singer signals are also kinda bland, but a few of the small details (like the larger visors on them compared to most signals, triangular mounts for the latches, and the fact that they use dzus fasteners for the latches) makes them more interesting than McCains and aluminum Econolites to me.
This is true. I have to wonder if the McCain style is cheaper to manufacture than something more "creative". I saw an Alusig in Seattle yesterday that was, frankly, quite boring. I thought they had a different design than what I saw, but it very clearly said Alusig on the back...
(https://i.imgur.com/bh9EAAT.jpg)
Quote from: jakeroot on April 09, 2018, 09:08:04 PM
Quote from: freebrickproductions on April 08, 2018, 10:39:25 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on April 07, 2018, 02:19:08 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on February 22, 2018, 07:30:03 PM
Good God this setup is bland:
TCT traffic signals along the Huntingdon Pike
WOAH there, chief. Peek's and TCT's are beautiful works of art.
IMO, the only truly "bland" signal design out there are McCain's. All others are at least moderately more interesting.
I'd say the modern Aluminum Econolites are just as bland. Looks like a Durasig from the front, but a McCain from the back...
Singer signals are also kinda bland, but a few of the small details (like the larger visors on them compared to most signals, triangular mounts for the latches, and the fact that they use dzus fasteners for the latches) makes them more interesting than McCains and aluminum Econolites to me.
This is true. I have to wonder if the McCain style is cheaper to manufacture than something more "creative". I saw an Alusig in Seattle yesterday that was, frankly, quite boring. I thought they had a different design than what I saw, but it very clearly said Alusig on the back...
(https://i.imgur.com/bh9EAAT.jpg)
8 inch Alusigs (like what you posted) somewhat more interesting than 8 inch Durasigs, IMO (partly due to them being slightly rarer and having bumps on the side that Durasigs lack), but their 12 inch signals look like Durasigs without the cone going as far back. Here's a few pictures comparing the two:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/865/40667936534_e544c11290_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24XFNFy)8 inch Alusig (https://flic.kr/p/24XFNFy) by freebrickproductions (https://www.flickr.com/photos/96431468@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/887/40667936574_35f6303f55_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24XFNGf)12 inch Alusig (https://flic.kr/p/24XFNGf) by freebrickproductions (https://www.flickr.com/photos/96431468@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/792/27511497178_ba5bce57f7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HV6BCf)8 inch Durasig (https://flic.kr/p/HV6BCf) by freebrickproductions (https://www.flickr.com/photos/96431468@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/795/40486702175_369e07be8c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24FEW2e)12 inch Durasig (https://flic.kr/p/24FEW2e) by freebrickproductions (https://www.flickr.com/photos/96431468@N06/), on Flickr
Also, it's worth noting that when G&W took over Eagle Signal around 1970, they split Eagle into two companies: Durasig and Alusig. Durasig made polycarbonate signals while Alusig made aluminum signals. This lasted until Eagle merged with LFE in the late 80s (maybe early 90s) to form Mark IV (later bought by Siemens and then sold off to Brown Traffic Products, now Mobotrex, a few years ago).
I've you've noticed my recent pictures have been looking extra sharp. I tweaked the settings on my camera, although it doesn't look the best, it looks miles ahead of my pictures from 2016. I also plan on going back to Lower Merion and retaking pictures of those old doghouses in better quality.
Durasig and Alusig were not two companies. They were Gulf and Western brand names for the signals Eagle made. The names were discontinued after Gulf and Western sold off Eagle Signal. Mark IV discontinued the Alusig model in favor of their own signal head but kept Durasig.
It wasn't until a few years ago when current Eagle owner "Mobotrex" updated the molds and removed the old brand name
From the late 80s on the Durasig design was known as Type SA...unknown what SA refers to.
Not much of a signal fan, but here's a shot of some traffic lights from Calhoun City, Mississippi last week:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/948/41644707452_ea69702f98_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26s11Ds)
Anyways, there a few setups that another guy has captured, he goes by the name macsignals. Let's compare the two.
Same intersections, different people. These are in Levittown:
Image 1
Macsignals:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4212/35335502076_2e7dc2b698.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VQtFGq)12" Flatback doghouse w/ Durasig (https://flic.kr/p/VQtFGq) by Macsignals
traffic light guy:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/41012119195_4f96923bab_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25u6Qcn)Eagle flatback doghouse, an Econolite, and an 8-inch Eagle flatback (https://flic.kr/p/25u6Qcn) by Traffic Light Guy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
Image 2
Macsignals:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4199/34987950640_aa5d3a06f3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ViLoLh)Eagle Doghouse (https://flic.kr/p/ViLoLh) by Macsignals
traffic light guy:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/41012123815_92df0c9c4e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25u6Rz2)Eagle flatback doghouse, a Peek, an 8-inch eagle flatback, and an eaglelux (https://flic.kr/p/25u6Rz2) by Traffic Light Guy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
Image 3
Macsignals:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5821/30324007762_ae82cc423f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NcCt33)Down the road, all 12" Flatback Eagles w/Doghouse (https://flic.kr/p/NcCt33) by Macsignals
traffic light guy:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/943/41012116025_11e8cf9e7d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25u6PfH)Side-mounted Eagle flatback doghouse (https://flic.kr/p/25u6PfH) by Traffic Light Guy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144426590@N04/), on Flickr
I don't think the comparisons are necessary. Your quality has clearly improved.
Quote from: jakeroot on May 10, 2018, 10:53:05 PM
I don't think the comparisons are necessary. Your quality has clearly improved.
I've been using a different camera for my newest photos