I love neon. I’ve taken two classes in making neon, one in Boston in the mid ’90s, the other here in Chicago in December ’24. It’s hard and it’s fun and it’s rewarding. Both times, I came out with what could politely be called “abstracts.”

When I moved here, I loved how much neon filled the North Side. A lot of it is gone. LED signs are taking over. Austin still has a lot of really beautiful and well-maintained signs, though. I don’t know how much longer that will be true. Here’s a sign on South Congress Avenue in Austin. It’s a good one from the front, but no one ever thinks of looking at neon from the side. From the side, it’s just a big blast of light and color, which are two of my favorite things in the world.

January 12, 2017. Google Nexus 6P cell phone, 4.67mm focal length (35mm equivalent: 26mm), f/2, 1/125, ISO 175.