loungelistener's photostream

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The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it. The way the sun goes down when you're tired, comes up when you want to be on the move. That's real magic. The way a leaf grows. The song of the birds. The way the desert looks at night, with the moon embracing it. Oh, my boy, that's... that's circus enough for anyone. Every time you watch a rainbow and feel wonder in your heart. Every time you pick up a handful of dust, and see not the dust, but a mystery, a marvel, there in your hand. Every time you stop and think, "I'm alive, and being alive is fantastic!" Every time such a thing happens, you're part of the Circus of Dr. Lao.
― 7 Faces of Dr. Lao

Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

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I take boring photos of ordinary things. I shun Interstates for old U.S .Routes and two-lane highways. I shoot with a Nikon D7000. Before that, a D90, then a D60 (which was stolen) then a D40. Before that, some P&S models. I also shoot film when I feel like it, mainly with my Minolta X-700 or Canon A1.

Please do NOT steal my photos, scans or anything in my photostream for your little blogs or websites, and please, don't link to them without my permission.

ALL photos here are available for purchase at very reasonable prices. No, you may NOT use them for free, so please don't waste your/my time asking. (That includes the "but we'll give you a photo credit" crowd.) Honestly... it's cost me a large amount of money and travel time to create most of these photos... don't rip me off, ok?

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Photos of loungelistener (3)

loungelistener's favorite photos from other Flickr members (339)

Contacts (289)

erinwilson5 No real name given
Focht Doug Focht
buckeye616 John Hartsock
scottamus Scott
e l e c t r o l... shannon richardson
srhbth Sarah Beth
Barstow Steve No real name given
JasonLiebig Jason
Todd Evans Todd Evans
Dying In Downey Michael Poulin
Dan Knauss No real name given
Christopher... Christopher...

Groups (50 50)

Save Our Shuffleboard 34 photos, 4 members
Flickr Android App 750 photos, 324 members
Vermont People and Places 14,342 photos, 1,014 members
Vermont 13,479 photos, 838 members
Minnesota Travel 14,059 photos, 916 members
Montana’s Official Group 5,801 photos, 1,111 members
North Dakota 13,623 photos, 501 members
South Dakota 15,554 photos, 816 members
NIKON D7000 CAFE 92,065 photos, 5,282 members
US Route 10 214 photos, 13 members
Stardust Motel 107 photos, 85 members
Niagara Falls Photography 10,745 photos, 2,086 members
Up-State New York 11,959 photos, 477 members
NY - New York State 5,280 photos, 232 members
South Carolina 23,240 photos, 1,457 members
US Route 231 166 photos, 18 members
Dixie Before Disney 178 photos, 31 members
US Route 35 140 photos, 26 members
US Route 85 38 photos, 6 members
US Route 22/Old 22 Highway 736 photos, 78 members
US Route 11 267 photos, 30 members
US Route 2 249 photos, 25 members
North Carolina Vintage Signs 666 photos, 39 members
US Route 64 154 photos, 39 members
U.S. Route 70 187 photos, 26 members
Harrison Mayes (Concrete religion) 36 photos, 8 members
U.S. Route 19 aka The Most Dangerous Road in the US 319 photos, 42 members
North Carolina 64,639 photos, 2,749 members
US Route 52 829 photos, 83 members
US Route 71 93 photos, 7 members
US Route 54 63 photos, 7 members
US Routes - Admins 34 photos, 28 members
Decaying Amusement and Theme Parks 1,499 photos, 331 members
US Route 62 135 photos, 15 members
Arkansas 29,272 photos, 1,111 members
My Own Private Idaho 16,316 photos, 736 members
Idaho 8,777 photos, 326 members
Restaurant Postcards & Ephemera 958 photos, 90 members
US Route 95 91 photos, 12 members
Kansas 30,408 photos, 1,078 members
Colorado! 76,724 photos, 4,433 members
New Mexico 49,311 photos, 2,401 members
Missouri 41,071 photos, 1,124 members
Fun-O-Rama 61 photos, 65 members
US Route 60 144 photos, 41 members
Pennsylvania 63,701 photos, 1,913 members
Religious Americana 1,346 photos, 158 members
US Route 34 57 photos, 19 members
US Route 36 142 photos, 26 members
Picturing California 36,543 photos, 760 members

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Testimonials (17)

super.lyss' says:

"I've known Mr.Gary for as long as I can remember. He's always been around and has always made me smile with his humor:) Without him, i probably wouldn't be where I am today, in a photography standpoint. Your stream always has new signs or cool landscapes. The way you capture them is fun and provides insight. Thanks for everything Mr.Gary:)
Love,
Alyssa"

14th July, 2011
Alan C of Marion,IN says:

"Stress getting to you? Then hop in Gary's trucklet for a journey down the backroads of America. When I first joined Flickr I was pretty much a train & ship photographer with a few nighttime neon signs thrown in. After finding Gary's photostream, it hit me that there is a lot to see and do off the interstate. I revisited our 1992 journey down Route 66 and got them on Flickr. Gary has a great talent for finding an old roadside relic and a gift of being able to photograph it perfectly. So click on Gary's photostream and be prepared to lose a few hours of your day. If I need to know something about an area I am going to...I know who to ask!!"

23rd April, 2011
dr.Ōzda says:

"This is way, way, way overdue. It is also the first testimonial I have written. That at least is appropriate since Gary was one of my first contacts here on Flickr. Back then (3 years) I thought it was polite to ask people if I could make them a contact :-) Gary was friendly and gracious and after a few exchanges he introduced me to groups and made a few suggestions.

Recently I made a comment on one of his images stating how he continually amazes me, not only with what he finds, but the way he photographs his finds. There is an incredible talent here, I'm thinking "luck" too, but certainly it goes way beyond that. It often seems that everything just happens to align perfectly - the subject, the light, the angle, the color - when Gary goes tooling down the blue highways and backroads. What a wonderful gift he shares with us, and what a marvelous slice of vanishing and quirky America, presented with grace, sincerity and let's not forget.... humor.

Thanks Gary, I don't need to tell you to "keep up the good work;" obviously you can't help yourself as you follow your passion. You must have amazing peripheral vision."

5th November, 2010
What Makes The Pie Shops Tick? says:

"Gary's flickr page is an absolutely magnificent snapshot of America and Americana. He always seems to capture the image or scene perfectly. I have spent, and will continue to spend hours and hours sorting through everything. He seems to have the greatest road trips I have ever seen. You will never, ever be anything other than happy staring at the images. It's just plain wonderful."

9th August, 2009
nimrodcooper says:

" I think these visions are like genius whimsical poems that make you laugh then sigh because they uncover something clownish that was never intended in our nature. The freezing of time in the closing of the shutter forces prolonged attention on details that are otherwise easily ignored."

3rd July, 2009
jannx says:

"Gary is a national resource for the US they just don't realize it yet. I checked his bio and he was a stage hand at one time for a bunch of hard rockin' bands. When I saw Foghat, I knew he was okay by me!

I'd love to take a "Slow Ride" down the highway in his Edsel or Caddy with the radio going .. maybe someday I'll pass him on the highway and wave. Keep on Gary!"

26th May, 2009
monstercard says:

"I first "stumbled upon" Gary and his photostream a couple of weeks ago. He had some pretty interesting pictures in his photostream so I made him a contact. Now whenever I get on flickr, I look forward to seeing what he has posted lately.

He seems to love to travel the backroads and find those hidden treasures you don't see from the Interstates. He seems to love the old signs and old hotels/motels. After looking at his photos, I now have the urge to go looking off of the beaten path to see what I can discover. Gary also has a pretty good sense of humor that he shares with everyone in his titles and descriptions of his pictures. He is saving a bit of vintage America, from days gone by, to share with the rest of the flickr world. I would like to thank him for that."

4th March, 2009
twm1340 says:

"Whenever I need my mental batteries recharged, it’s nice to know that relief is as close as going to my Contacts page and clicking on “loungelistener”. Results are guaranteed, and so far, there are no known side effects other than occasionally having Coke come out my nose. Gary has a gift for the way he sees the world and I’m trying my best to learn from him. He is an inspiration to all us lesser mortals. Thanks, Gary!"

24th January, 2009
Pete Zarria says:

"I had to write this to express my gratitude to these few photographers who have inspired me so much. These words may seem overblown, I don't know, when one has had the scales removed from their eyes, is there such a thing as too much gratitude?

I call them the "Usual Suspects" since some sort of old movie reference seems in line with the Gestalt of what these few have produced. What they do, what they have done that is important to today and to history. Simple recorders of events and things perhaps, but then so were those who left us the mystery of the petroglyphs. But in these fews efforts something of us and our past are preserved. That's important.

So to Roadsidepictures, who got the ball rolling, Allen, Thanks for making me see with new eyes. To Vintage Roadside, Jeff, you helped me to see and understand why its important. To loungelistner, Gary, thanks, you helped me do it with a new sense of joy. And to SKY✡VU, Jim, you are just an inspiration by simply being. Amazing what this one man has accomplished.

These few, these four led to others who have their own lessons to teach to those who will listen, to those who will "see": Thanks to HappyShooter, Fotoedge, Army.Arch, Julia, Alan of Marion, Dave van Hulsteyn, Dennis Dixon, Joey Harrison. Appreciating this thing called urban or Roadside America is just a big jigsaw puzzle. But I'm having way more fun putting it together."

1st December, 2008
scottamus says:

"A cool Flickr dude who photography interests are pretty much the same as mine. His pictures and passion for hitting the road have been an inspiration to me."

13th November, 2008
J/G says:

"A great guy that has made me expand the way I look at every single thing I see.
Route 66,neon,funny signs,its all here and a collection of like thinking friends that make coming here grand!
Very good visit here!"

3rd November, 2008
Vannah Von Sally (ARCHIVES.) says:

"Gary is the sign Jesus. That is all."

13th August, 2008
lonniec61 says:

"I have been in the sign business for seven years, and Gary is the first guy I have met that has neon gas running thru his veins!!! he also has a drive for vintage signs that causes him to drive the country side looking for all of the great signs of the past. great story teller and good listener as well. I f you ever get the chance to go for a ride and take some pictures you will have a fun day!! oh yea hes a car guy and knows his music too!!!"

1st December, 2007
apricotX says:

"Does Gary go on roadtrips - hell yes! Does Gary ever go on a roadtrip without a camera - HELL NO!!! He's got Kerouacian ants in his pants and a camera in his paws and he ain't stoppin til he runs out of gas or film or both (and flickr is a vastly better place for it) Long may he run..."

18th August, 2007
buckaroo kid says:

"Not only a great documenter of the American road trip and its 'lost' signage, but a hugely entertaining storyteller as well!"

4th August, 2007
The Real Devil Doll says:

"Gary and I must be related, because we are both obsessed with neon signs, music, old cars and collecting vintage stuff. He is definitely one of the nicest people here on Flickr, but he also has a delightfully wicked side (one can't survive in show business without one). He has a great eye, as well as a knack for finding the beautiful, odd and obscure along the roadside. And he used to have really, really big hair."

1st August, 2007
Jacob...K says:

"Gary is both one of funniest guys and best friends I have met here on Flickr. He has a knack for finding strange and bizzare things that most people would drive right past. His photostream is not only a wonderful ride through the midwest, but also through his mind, which is a hilarious place to be. I need to go photo shoting with this guy!"

31st July, 2007