Culture Shock by auntietk
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Okay, sometimes I have to show you something just for fun.
During my vacation in Chicago, I was walking one morning with Mark (who lives there) and Marilyn (who doesn't). We crossed a street and I saw this red pipe sticking up out of the ground. I did a double take!
"Mark!" I cried, "Is this a fire hydrant?"
Mark looked at me like I was from another planet.
"Yes Tara, it's a fire hydrant," he replied.
"Where's the rest of it?" I asked, snapping photographs like a crazy woman.
"What???" I'm pretty sure Mark secretly thinks I'm insane.
Nevertheless, I persevered and got some fantastic shots of this unfamiliar bit of "ordinary" Chicago.
The shot on the left is of a fire hydrant in my neighborhood. This is the typical hydrant here. (There used to be a few that were painted to look like people wearing hats.) They're all this shape, and they're mostly painted yellow, although I think some are red (or they used to be red, I'm not sure).
I would love to see more fire hydrants from across the country and around the world, so I've started a Forum thread ...
Show Me Your Fire Hydrant!
:D

Comments (31)
LOL ours are normal. Great shots Tara, I was wondering when you was going to post this. I remember the conversation about them when we were all together.
LOL You may wish to rephrase your request.... god only knows what pictures you might get and some you won't be able to post here.... Great shot!
Love your photo comparison. Ha, this is a great subject. OK, tomorrow I'll go out and get a couple of Kansas fireplugs for the thread. Fireplugs are funny...they are the sort of things you walk or drive by every day without "seeing". The old downtown area of Leavenworth was built in the 1850s/1860s. The early water pipes were made of wood and every now and then the water company still comes across one during a street dig.
thats weird ..here they are painted a neon green!!
very decorative - the decorative ones disappeared a long time ago here in holland - posted our solution in the thread.
That interesting..all ours are below ground, under a metal lid! And folk steal the metal sign that points to the hole, leaving only a concrete marker which is empty of the casting.
Now i remember we had aneat one in my street. I wonder if it still looks like what I remember from my childhood. If I pass the street again, I will take a shot. These two are awesome looking fire hydrants and well captured :-)
This is a fun capture and story. Great thread to start! Cheers, Clive
wonderful!!!
WHAT!?!??!!!! Fire hydrant red is "lettre morte" in Seattle? Wowwwwww!
interesting story and photos!
EXCELLENT!!!
Very interesting Tara...great photos
ah Tara, a great idea with the forum thread will add mine,, have one taken from NY and will shot some herebouts, cause they look very different...smile
nice pics my friend
Wonderful and very creative work
Nice hydrants but as andrea says ours are under ground with only a cover so not much to see.
This sure is different. I'll try and fine a New Hampshire version for your forum. Dana
Yes, these little critters are everywhere here in the City of Windy Politicians. And they're so short you can practically trip over them. Show you my fire hydrant? There was a really old one in my previous neighborhood that was covered in rust and had faded into a funky Kayo-Pectate pink that I made a few shots of last year. If I can find it in my massive photo back log I'll send it to you. I love the idea of hydrants around the globe! I could see this snow-balling into something very interesting. I will, reluctantly, refrain from making sexual inenuendos about showing people your fire hydrant, and simply compliment you on yet another great piece of work.
LOL...Sweetie - I'll go hunt down a fire hydrant just for you... I promise. Delightful images showing the tools of the trade in different cities! :)
Great camparison. I have never paid any attention to the color of fire hydrants, but I don't remember ever seeing a yellow one.
Excellent comparison, and subject.
Interesting images!
mind looks like yours in Settle
LOL. Good idea. Most of us don't look at the ordinary objects we see everyday. I'll have to get out this week and shoot a few :)
They are so different! Cool idea!
Would have done the same thanks for the smile, Tara May this is cool sure is warm hugs and love, Linda Kaye
Well I can't do this.. Lol UK water access for fire engines and the like, are underground. The engines carry the unlocking 'keys' with them... So... :-) Cool shot though, interesting... Rob.
How did I not comment on this until now? That brain of mine...sometimes I wonder about it! This is an incredible idea. Fire hydrants are such an everyday part of life here that I scarcely even notice them. I wish that I could find examples of the non-Chicago sort, but alas...no. I didn't even see them in Prague at all...I know they were there, but I think they were embedded in other structures. Wonderful work; I have a somewhat sentimental attachment to Chicago's fire hydrants, and weirdly enough, I will miss them when I'm not in the city of windy politicians (to steal Corey's precise and fitting description.) But I have to say, I look forward to seeing Seattle's in person! Great work!
I guessed what you meant, Tara, when I saw only the thumbnail. Now I know what culture shock you mean....LOL Pssst.... your seattle fire hydrants are most better than the Chicagoers... Look how rusty they are! Maybe there is no water in, only hot air....LOL