Steve Sick

@starrytraveler

Hobbyist photographer and progressive. A simple person wandering in a complex world. #Photography #classicmono #ghostsign #スナップ写真 #白黒 #モノクロ "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them" Ray Bradbury

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Steve Sick@starrytraveler· 17d

After Hours: When the crowds fade, the city reveals the stories it only tells in whispers. Shot in Kanda, Tokyo, Japan with my Nikon Zf B&W mode during my visit in 2026 November #WeekDforDark #AlphabetChallenge #ClassicMono #NikonZf #スナップ写真 #白黒 #モノクロ

A black-and-white nighttime photograph of a narrow urban street lined with restaurants and storefronts illuminated by bright Japanese signs. The left side of the frame is dominated by glowing rectangular signs with Japanese lettering, while a tall vertical sign reading “DVD” rises above them. In the foreground, a lone person stands in silhouette in the middle of the street with legs slightly apart, facing toward the shops. The buildings recede into the distance, creating strong leading lines that draw the eye deeper into the scene. Most of the street remains in deep shadow, allowing the bright signage to stand out dramatically against the dark architecture and night sky. The overall mood is quiet, contemplative, and reminiscent of classic film noir.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· 20d

Where Centuries Meet the Sky: Beneath the sweeping eaves of Sensō-ji, the illuminated Tokyo Skytree rises beyond the temple grounds. Shot with the Nikon Zf in B&W mode in October of 2024. #ClassicMono #Tokyo #AlphabetChallenge #WeekDforDark #NikonZf #スナップ写真 #白黒 #モノクロ

A black-and-white nighttime photograph of Sensō-ji Temple in Tokyo. The brightly lit temple fills the left side of the image, its ornate rooflines and a large hanging lantern glowing against the darkness. Near the center, the illuminated Tokyo Skytree rises high into the night sky, framed by modern apartment buildings. In the foreground, visitors stroll across the open temple grounds, their figures appearing as dark silhouettes. Smaller temple buildings sit to the right, creating a visual bridge between traditional Japanese architecture and the modern skyline. The expansive black sky emphasizes the contrast between the ancient temple and the towering, contemporary landmark.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· 22d

Echoes of the Gardston: The name has nearly disappeared from the wall in downtown Estherville hidden among the windows. Join the #BlueSkyArtShow Saturday July 25, 2026 The theme is #Glass #GhostSignSaturday #shootPentax #ClassicMono #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject #Iowa #historic

A black-and-white photograph looks upward at the corner of a historic brick building in downtown Estherville. Near the roofline, a very faint painted ghost sign reading “Gardston Hotel” stretches across the side wall, its letters softened by decades of weathering. Decorative brick details frame the front façade, while several tall arched windows line the side of the building, one fitted with a window air conditioner. The worn sign blends into the brickwork, creating a subtle reminder of the building’s former life as the Gardston Hotel.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· 24d

The Rhythm of the Side Street: A fleeting moment where Tokyo’s quiet backstreets feel like they belong to only a handful of people. This was shot in Tokyo in November of 2024 with my Nikon Zf in B&W mode. #UrbanGaze #HumansOfBlueSky #Nikon #NikonZf #street #urban #Japan

A black-and-white photograph of a narrow city street lined with small storefronts in Japan. On the left, several restaurants display traditional paper lanterns beneath tiled awnings, while one metal roll-up door is closed and marked with graffiti. Vertical Japanese signs project from the buildings above the sidewalk, and a bicycle is parked beside menus and a sandwich board. On the right side of the street, a cyclist wearing a backpack rides away from the camera toward a brighter intersection where a few pedestrians and small vehicles can be seen. The converging lines of the buildings and roadway draw the eye into the distance, contrasting the intimate alley with the larger modern buildings beyond.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· 27d

Between Tide and Sky From the heights of Enoshima Sea Candle, the coast unfolds in one graceful sweep. The bridge draws you in, but it’s the elegant curve of the beach that carries your gaze along Sagami Bay toward the city beyond. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekCforCurves #ClassicMono #Japan

A black-and-white photograph taken from the Enoshima Sea Candle observation tower overlooks Enoshima Bridge leading to the mainland. Beyond the bridge, a broad sandy beach curves in a smooth crescent around the calm waters of Sagami Bay. Gentle waves form bright, parallel lines against the dark sand, emphasizing the shoreline’s graceful arc. Two birds glide above the water near the center of the scene. Mid-rise buildings line the waterfront, with wooded hills and dense neighborhoods extending into the distance beneath a soft, hazy sky. The sweeping curve of the beach is the dominant visual element, guiding the eye naturally across the landscape.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· 29d

Medicine for Another Era: Sunlight briefly restores a fading advertisement for Nelson Drugs, reminding us that painted walls often outlive the businesses they once served. #GhostSignSaturday #shootPentax #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject #Iowa

A black-and-white photograph shows the side wall of an older downtown building, where a faded painted advertisement for Nelson Drugs is partially illuminated by a bright shaft of sunlight. The words “Nelson” and the larger letters of “Drugs” are worn and incomplete, with decades of weathering leaving only fragments of the original paint. Deep shadows from a neighboring building cut diagonally across the wall, creating a striking contrast between light and dark. A modern security camera is mounted high on the rough stone corner of the building, while a metal conduit pipe runs vertically through the center of the ghost sign, emphasizing the meeting of past and present.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jul 16

Layers of Time: A faded ghost sign watches over a changing streetscape. Businesses come and go, cars replace horse carts, and pedestrians keep moving—but the walls remember every name they’ve carried. #urbangaze #humansofbluesky #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject #shootPentax #street #urban

A black-and-white photograph of a downtown street scene. In the foreground, two people are crossing the street in front of parked SUVs and sedans. Behind them stands a modern commercial building with a hanging “Carry Out” sign. Rising above it is the upper wall of an older brick building, where a large, weathered ghost sign is still visible. The faded advertisement reads “Koenig Insurance” with the word “Founded” above it, though parts of the lettering have worn away over time. A large circular patch of lighter paint obscures part of the mural. The historic stone building to the right features tall arched windows and decorative brickwork along the roofline, creating a striking contrast between the surviving past and the active present below.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jul 13

Beneath the Arcade: Every step carries a different story, but beneath the repeating arches they all become part of the same journey. In the ordered rhythm of Nakano Sun Mall, strangers move together through a corridor where everyday life never stands still. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekBforBehind

A black-and-white photograph of Tokyo’s Nakano Sun Mall shopping arcade, viewed from street level. A person wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a backpack walks away from the camera in the foreground, blending into a steady flow of shoppers. Storefronts line both sides of the covered pedestrian street, with Japanese signs and hanging circular shop emblems repeating into the distance. The vaulted glass roof creates a series of bright arches that lead the eye toward the vanishing point, giving the busy shopping arcade a strong sense of depth and movement.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jul 11

Echoes Across the Brick The paint has nearly surrendered to time. . Shot with my Pentax during a recent visit to Sioux City, IA. Join the #BlueSkyArtShow Saturday July 11, 2026 The theme is #Quiet #GhostSignSaturday #shootPentax #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject #Iowa

A black-and-white photograph of a large, five-story brick warehouse viewed from a slight angle. Faded white painted letters reading “BEKINS MERCHANDISE STORAGE” stretch across the upper façade, creating a striking ghost sign that spans much of the building’s width. The structure features rows of arched windows near the roofline, smaller rectangular windows on each floor, and a long metal loading dock canopy extending across the front. Thick clouds fill the sky, emphasizing the building’s age and the enduring presence of the historic sign.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jul 6

Ghost sign in a ghost town : An abandoned co-op elevator rises above the treeline, its weathered walls still bearing the ghost sign of the Richards Co-op Elevator Co. #AlphabetChallenge is #WeekAforAbandoned #ghosttown #ClassicMono #shootPentax

A weathered grain elevator rises above a screen of dense green trees, photographed in black and white from a low angle against an overcast sky. The structure is a tall, pyramidal wooden elevator clad in corrugated metal siding, now heavily rusted and streaked with age. Near the base, faded painted lettering is still legible across several horizontal panels, reading fragments of “…OS CO-OP. ELEVATOR CO…” on one line, “…IN FEED SEEDS FERTILIZE…” below it, and “RICHARDS, IA” beneath that — signage for what was once a Farmers Co-op Elevator Company.

The building’s lower facade shows several broken or boarded window openings, with splintered wood and torn siding visible around two jagged holes where panels have given way. Smaller square window openings, some boarded and some empty, are spaced along the upper stories. The structure narrows toward the top into a peaked gable, above which sits a small headhouse and a metal support tower or cap rig — a boxy angled framework with cables and a rounded fixture at its peak, silhouetted against the pale sky. Diagonal metal braces extend from the elevator’s side near the base of this tower. The foreground is dominated by the dark, textured silhouettes of tree branches and leaves that partially obscure the lower portion of the building, framing it from below.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jul 4

“Go Refreshed” — A Faded Toast on Cinderblock. Recently discovered on a bldg in downtown Worthington, MN #GhostSignSaturday #GhostSign #GhostSigns #GhostSignProject #Worthington #Minnesota #shootPentax

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jul 4

The Pause Before the Crossing In the heart of Tokyo, the city’s rhythm is measured in traffic lights and footsteps. Join the #BlueSkyArtShow Saturday July 4, 2026 The theme is #Wide #NikonZf #Shibuya #ClassicMono #Japan #Tokyo #HumansOfBlueSly #UrbanGaze

A black-and-white photograph of a busy Tokyo intersection viewed from the sidewalk. A white sedan waits in the foreground while dozens of pedestrians gather on both sides of the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. Tall commercial buildings covered with Japanese signs frame the street, with trees softening the urban landscape. Traffic signals, street signs, and crowds fill the scene, capturing the energy of the city just before everyone begins crossing.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 30

Rolling Canvases: Steel carries freight. Paint carries voices. Industry and street art share the same journey—each car becoming a moving gallery before it disappears down the line. #shootPentax #streetArr #tagTuesday #graffiti #trainspotting #alphabetChallenge #weekZforZany #classicMono

A black-and-white photograph shows a line of covered hopper railcars on tracks curving gently to the right beside a large industrial warehouse. The nearest railcar is covered in bold graffiti, while several more cars stretch into the distance. An elevated highway overpass crosses the background, with gravel and patches of grass lining the tracks beneath an overcast sky.

A black-and-white photograph looks down a row of covered hopper railcars parked alongside a long metal warehouse. The nearest car fills the foreground and features large graffiti across its side, while additional railcars recede into the distance. A narrow road runs alongside the tracks, and older brick buildings are visible at the far end of the industrial corridor under a cloudy sky.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 28

Bekins Keeps it Safe : Taken during a photo walk last weekend in Sioux City #SignsOnSunday #SilentSunday #shootPentax #ClassicMono #B&W #photography #streetphotography #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject

Black-and-white photograph of a faded ghost sign painted on the upper side wall of a historic brick building.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 27

Gathering in Silence: The bumblebees were harvesting pollen from anise hyssop located outside the local dental clinic. Join the #BlueSkyArtShow Saturday June 27, 2026 The theme is #Macro #Fujifilm #FujifilmX-T50 #ClassicMono #B&W #flowers #Bumblebee #BNWmacro

This black-and-white close-up has a wonderful sense of intimacy. The shallow depth of field isolates the bumblebee against the soft background, while the monochrome treatment emphasizes texture—the bee’s fuzzy body and the delicate blossoms become the stars of the image.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 24

Whispers of Another Era Taken during my walk up Court Street in Sioux City over the weekend #shootPentax #ClassicMono #WallsOnWednesday #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject

A monochrome image of a time worn GRANT TIRES sign whispering from the past.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 22

Looking up Virginia Street: Taken during a weekend visit to Sioux City. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekYforYonder #shootPentax #ClassicMono #B&W #photography #streetphotography #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject

A black-and-white photograph looks north along Virginia Street in Sioux City, Iowa. In the foreground, a railroad crossing intersects a quiet street lined with large brick warehouse buildings. Dominating the right side is a massive faded ghost sign reading “BEKINS MERCHANTS STORAGE” with the word “GRANT” painted below. Farther down the street, another weathered Bekins sign is visible on a multi-story brick building. Utility lines stretch across the cloudy sky, while a church steeple rises in the distance, adding depth to the historic industrial scene. The image conveys a sense of age, commerce, and the enduring presence of the city’s railroad heritage.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 21

Up on the Rooftops: The old ad is still visible if you know where to look something that few people do. This one is in downtown Le Mars, IA #SignsOnSunday #SilentSunday #shootPentax #ClassicMono #B&W #photography #streetphotography #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject

Black-and-white photograph of a faded ghost sign painted on the upper side wall of a historic brick building. The sign advertises Koenig Insurance and features large block lettering with a partially visible circular emblem on the right. A modern building in the foreground obscures the lower portion of the advertisement, creating a contrast between contemporary architecture and the weathered remnants of the past. The stonework and arched window of the older building remain visible along the right edge of the image.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 20

Curving to Shadows The rails catch the last of the light before bending away into shadow, disappearing around a curve that keeps its destination—and its stories—just out of sight. Join the #BlueSkyArtShow Saturday June 20, 2026 The theme is #Curve #railway #morning #photography #ClassicMono #B&W

A black-and-white photograph of a railroad track curving gently to the right through a quiet, tree-lined landscape. The rails begin in the foreground and guide the viewer’s eye toward a shaded bend in the distance. Sunlight highlights sections of the gravel ballast and grassy areas beside the track, while tall trees create a dark backdrop. A small building is partially visible among the trees near the center of the image. The curve of the rails and the contrast between light and shadow create a peaceful, nostalgic atmosphere with a sense of mystery about what lies beyond the bend.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 18

All Aboard : Passenger boarding for a ride on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad #shootPentax #UrbanGaze #HumanOfBlueSky #classicMono #B&W #trainspotting #railfanning #iowa

Black and white photograph of a vintage Rock Island Line passenger train at a station platform used by the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. A heavyweight passenger car dominates the frame, its riveted steel body and curved roof catching the light, with “ROCK ISLAND” lettered across the side and the number 2584 below the windows. The brick-paved platform is busy with visitors: a woman checking her phone walks past the train, a man in a cap and two boys carrying small bags head toward the camera, and a cluster of people wait near a station building with an overhanging roof at left. On the train’s vestibule steps at right, a woman in shorts is caught mid-step boarding the car. Utility poles and overhead wires rise against a flat, overcast sky in the background.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 16

Thunder Bridge at Dusk: As daylight slips away, the Thunder Bridge becomes a silhouette of steel and memory, its string of lights tracing a path across the quiet waters below. The name is a local moniker for the sound of a vehicle crossing its wood plank decking. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekXforXyloid

A historic steel truss bridge spans a calm river at dusk in Spencer, Iowa. The bridge appears mostly in silhouette against a fading evening sky, while a line of small lights runs along its lower edge. Their reflections shimmer in the dark water beneath. Tall grasses fill the foreground, and trees frame both ends of the bridge, creating a peaceful rural scene as night approaches.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 14

The Last Refreshment Located in an alleyway in downtown Boone, IA this palimpsest ghost sign has endured. #SignsOnSunday #SilentSunday #shootPentax #ClassicMono #B&W #photography #streetphotography #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 14

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 10

Where the Water Meets the Weekend: A visit to the Falls of the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls. Shot with my Nikon Zf. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekWForWater #WaterfallWednesday #Nikon #NikonZf #HumansOfBlueSky

A wide view of a rocky waterfall area shows people scattered across layered pink and gray stone formations. Water cascades down a large waterfall on the left and a smaller fall in the background. Visitors sit near the water, explore the rocks, and take photos. In the foreground, a woman poses while another person crouches to photograph her, while nearby visitors take selfies and enjoy the scenery. The rushing water and rugged rock formations create a lively outdoor gathering place.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 7

Last Light for Pontiac The cars are gone, the service bays have changed, but the old Pontiac sign still stands watch—one of the last reminders of a brand that once ruled America’s roads. #SignsOnSunday #SilentSunday #vintagesign #neon #ClassicMono #shootPentax #photography #blackandwhite

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 6

Gateway on Enoshima: The torii marks the entrance, but the real story is the steady stream of people weaving through Enoshima’s narrow streets, following a route shaped by tradition and curiosity alike. Join the #BlueSkyArtShow Saturday June 6, 2026 The theme is #Busy #Enoshima #Japan #ClassicMono

A black-and-white photograph of a crowded shopping street in Enoshima, Japan. A large weathered torii gate spans the width of the street in the foreground, framing a narrow uphill lane packed with pedestrians. Traditional storefronts and wooden buildings line both sides of the path, their signs and awnings extending toward the crowd. Beyond the gate, the street climbs toward a temple roof visible in the distance, with a wooded hillside rising behind it. People of all ages fill the scene, creating a sense of constant movement and energy along this historic approach to the island’s shrines and temples.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 5

Vertical Nostalgia: Long before algorithms and feeds, visibility meant neon, steel, and a spot high above the street. Two vintage signs from downtown Ames. #shootPentax #ClassicMono #scape #urbanscape #Iowa #Ames #vintagesign #Pentax

Black-and-white photograph looking upward at a tall vintage neon sign mounted to the corner of a brick building. The sign reads “SPORTSMEN’S LOUNGE” in stacked vertical lettering, with the word “LOUNGE” across the bottom. Dark brick walls and arched window openings frame the sign, while a bright, overcast sky fills the background, emphasizing the sign’s height and classic mid-century design.

A black-and-white photograph looks upward at a tall vintage neon sign mounted to the side of a downtown building. The sign reads “AMES” across the top and “PANTORIUM” vertically down the center in large illuminated letters. Thin neon tubing and support hardware outline the sign’s Art Deco-inspired shape. The right side of the image shows the brick facade and windows of the building, while a curved streetlamp appears near the bottom left. An overcast sky fills the background, emphasizing the bold silhouette of the historic sign.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· Jun 3

Iron and Brick: A century of brick and steel turns into a maze of lines when you stop looking at the building and start looking up. #WallsOnWednesday #shootPentax #ClassicMono #architecture #FireEscape

A black-and-white photograph looking upward at the side of a multi-story brick building. A series of metal fire escapes zigzag across the façade, creating a dense pattern of diagonal stairs, platforms, and railings. Tall windows line the wall beneath the structure, while the bright sky above provides strong contrast, emphasizing the repeating geometric shapes and industrial textures. The steep perspective makes the fire escape appear to climb endlessly toward the top of the frame.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· May 31

Bicycles and Cigars Hidden in plain sight inside a working restaurant, this fragment of a once-massive advertisement hints at a larger story just beyond reach. #shootPentax #Pentax #ClassicMono #ghostsign #ghostsigns #ghostsignproject #signsonsunday #SilentSunday

A black-and-white photograph shows a section of a large ghost sign painted on an old brick wall inside an active restaurant. The camera angle follows the wall closely, revealing only part of the original advertisement. Oversized faded letters dominate the scene, while smaller weathered text runs above them. Areas of patched brick and worn paint highlight decades of age and change. Modern restaurant lighting and ceiling fixtures appear at the top of the frame, contrasting with the historic sign that survives beneath them.

Steve Sick@starrytraveler· May 25

Uniforms Beneath the Buddha: Visit to the Kamakura Daibutsu in 2024 Nov. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekUforUniform 📷 Nikon Zf B&W mode 🔘 Nikon 24-70mm f/2.4 24mm f4.5 1/2000s ISO160 #Kamakura #GreatBuddha #photography #ClassicMono #b&w #Nikon #NikonZf #スナップ写真 #白黒 #モノクロ