The photos in Signs, made at night with long exposures, show signs, from the side, centered in their frames. All of the signs produce light, by throwing it from their LED faces or bouncing it off of their metallic surfaces. No information is being relayed through words designed to sell. I found these scenes while driving around in the early early morning hours. The hour of these encounters made the signs sadly funny to me. What is the role of these advertisements when their target audience goes to sleep?
All of the photos currently in Signs were made in Missouri. Since making these photos I have lived in Michigan and now find myself in Massachusetts. When thinking about picking this project back up I realized how easy I had it, as a white woman, making pictures at night in a less populated place. The first time I went out at night to make pictures in Boston I accidently set a long exposure a few yards away from people having sex in a wooded space. I didn’t realize the act was taking place nearby until I heard the noises of their encounter 10 seconds into a 20 second exposure. I let the exposure run its course and walked home without taking any more pictures.
This project is on a hiatus. I am afraid to go out at night and photograph these extraterrestrial, capitalist monoliths. Currently figuring out ways to venture out into the night without feeling fear every time I bring my eye to the viewfinder. More soon.
Jen, March 11, 2026