How To Take Pictures Of BGS's?

[PAHighways]

What does that blue panel on the bottom of the IH 69 exit sign say?

Knowing Tunica, I'd say "CASINOS."

[MikeTheActuary]

What does that blue panel on the bottom of the IH 69 exit sign say?

Knowing Tunica, I'd say "CASINOS."

Yep.  I shot that while visiting my parents in Memphis this spring.  When I grew up in Memphis, Tunica was synonymous with extreme poverty, and I hadn't had a chance to visit the casinos since I left.

My head hurt after that excursion.  I had a hard time getting my head around just how much the area has changed, as well as being underwhelmed with the casinos after having gotten used to Foxwoods, Mohegan, and Vegas.

I wish I had had the camera out and ready later that trip, when we went by the "Future I-269 Corridor" sign in southeastern Shelby County.

[wytout]

OT: Nice avatar, MikeTheActuary.  Would I be correct in assuming that's a CT marker?  In fact, looks like the infamous Secret Route 540 (Hatchet Hill Rd. in E. Granby, CT) that was signposted for a while with a gorgeous MUTCD elongated reassurance shield complete with the best of all Highway font types...Type D.  That was probably the best looking shield ever posted in the state... Or is it maybe just a coincidence?  Had to ask.

[MikeTheActuary]

OT: Nice avatar, MikeTheActuary.  Would I be correct in assuming that's a CT marker?  In fact, looks like the infamous Secret Route 540 (Hatchet Hill Rd. in E. Granby, CT) that was signposted for a while with a gorgeous MUTCD elongated reassurance shield complete with the best of all Highway font types...Type D.  That was probably the best looking shield ever posted in the state... Or is it maybe just a coincidence?  Had to ask.

That it is.  Until it was removed, I used to drive by that sign at least twice a day most weekdays.  It was nice having a rather well known curiosity literally just down the street from the house.

Sadly, I only ever got one picture of that sign...and that picture turned out lousy.   I should have gotten a few before it was removed, but somehow I never figured that ConnDOT was going to rectify the mistake.

Of course, the area still has a couple of oddities.  If you continue east from the eastern end of CT540, you encounter a couple of roundabouts, installed by the Town of Windsor as traffic-calming measures.  Think of them as horizontal speed bumps.

The older of the two is visible in Google Street View, shot in September 2007.  It doesn't show yet in most online aerial maps.

[agentsteel53]

OT: Nice avatar, MikeTheActuary.  Would I be correct in assuming that's a CT marker?  In fact, looks like the infamous Secret Route 540 (Hatchet Hill Rd. in E. Granby, CT) that was signposted for a while with a gorgeous MUTCD elongated reassurance shield complete with the best of all Highway font types...Type D.  That was probably the best looking shield ever posted in the state... Or is it maybe just a coincidence?  Had to ask.

doesn't 30x24 with Series D show up more often in Conn?  I could've sworn I've seen some others here and there.

also, I can't remember offhand, but how do they sign US-202?  30x24 or 24x24?

[MikeTheActuary]

also, I can't remember offhand, but how do they sign US-202?  30x24 or 24x24?

It's 24×24.

[wytout]

Of course, the area still has a couple of oddities.  If you continue east from the eastern end of CT540, you encounter a couple of roundabouts, installed by the Town of Windsor as traffic-calming measures.  Think of them as horizontal speed bumps.

Hahah! I know all about them, lol.  I live on a street in the Hayden Station Rd. area in Windsor and there are two on that road at consecutive interstections, and I have to use them just about every day. I have to use the one nearest my street to make the equivalent of a left hand turn... instead of bearing right onto it and traveling 3/4 around, when there isn't a soul around, don't think
I don't make a 1/4 trip on it by uhmmm... bearing left into the circle instead .  I suppose one day I'll not realize one of Windsor's finest around or something and get caught doing it, but it shaves so much time of the commute, lol.

ok this is a BGS thread sorry... so to stay on topic.  When you're in CT you don't need a technique to take BGS pictures... as most of them are rather ugly, lacking any distinctive character except being outdated, i.e. using button copy, not using left or right mounted exit tabs generally, mixing street and city names on one sign and more.  Yup when I photo BGS's here I just take the shot.  No matter how much you try to dress up a pile of poop... it's still poop! 

doesn't 30x24 with Series D show up more often in Conn?  I could've sworn I've seen some others here and there.

also, I can't remember offhand, but how do they sign US-202?  30x24 or 24x24?

visit my sig link to see what CT usually does with 3-di state routes.  Or should I say the MANY things they do with 3-di state routes on 24X24. there are a few 30 X 24 shields scattered around throughout the state, the biggest outcropping at one intersection I've ever seen in Windsor Center.  However, usually if they do use an elongated shield a) it's by mistake as the 540 was a contractor flub up, and b) it's almost invariably type C font.

[agentsteel53]

I took the photo in September, 2006.

[BigMattFromTexas]

Well I took three pictures of BGS's on Saturday (10/4/09). On two of them I can tell the mess-ups:
On the Bell St, Goodfellow AFB, and Smith Blvd/Main St one I know I seemed to focus more on the sky 
And on the Pulliam/Bell St and Goodfellow AFB one theres a rain drop right on the window
But just remember that that was only my second time of taking BGS pics
BigMatt

[agentsteel53]

I split the thread into the BGS photo thread, and the reflectivity standards thread.

I may further split off the discussion of Conn shields at a later time.