Squares is back, and we are painting the town red. Although I am doing it subtly in this square. Perhaps later this week squares might get redder.

Downtown LA

Now before I remind everyone of the theme and rules; here are some random facts. The first traffic light in the world was installed in London in 1868, although the lights only worked at night. During the day it was a semaphore arm. The lights proved to be a great success for managing traffic but they were a safety hazard as the gas lights had a tendency to explode! The first electric traffic lights were introduced in Cleveland, Ohio in 1918. It was to be another 14 years after those before the world’s first pedestrian crossing lights appeared. Now I could keep going as once I started researching I found myself in a fascinating historical rabbit hole, but we are here for squares and the theme is ‘‘Simply Red‘!

Regular Squarers know that there is only one rule; your main photograph must be square. There is plenty of flexibility with the theme as if colour is not your thing, then you can have fun this month with idioms such as;

  • A red rag to a bull – means provocation but for squares perhaps you could photograph a warning sign, or a moment of danger
  • As red as a beetroot – means embarrassed but for the content of your squares I am also thinking hot or excited
  • Paint the town red– means having a very good time but for squares I am thinking flamboyance!
  • Red herring – something that is deliberately misleading, so for squares I was thinking perhaps an illusion
  • Red letter day– is a memorable day or experience, so I know everyone will have at least one photograph that captures this. Today’s announcement square was definitely a red letter experience.
  • Roll out the red carpet – or why not give your blog the red carpet treatment in July by sharing your favourite images and perhaps a little bit of glamour

Squares is a daily challenge, so your photographs can be from the archives or brand new. If daily is too difficult, then feel free to post every other day, weekly or even just once this month. Don’t forget though to keep your photo square, and to pingback with #SimplyRed!

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  14. In South Africa, we don’t call them traffic lights, they’re know as robots. It’s not uncommon to call out to your driver: “Careful, there’s a red robot ahead!” If you happen to have non-South African passengers in your car they will invariably start looking around excitedly, expecting to see something like a red R2D2.

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