Jerusalem, Israel

Hone in on the tomato. Did you know that tomatoes are Sinaloa's most important crop? (Sure, they are...) So much geographic imagery, so much to be proud of, is wrapped up in these plates. And, for Americans in Israel, they're sure to make you homesick. Remember: Mexicans are Americans, too! [2010]

Rock Sound, Eleuthera, The Bahamas

Where do old license plates go when their partners get a ticket to the auto afterworld? The luckiest ones get a ticket to the roadside art world. What's their stock in trade?
State names that whisper home,
Customized designs that stand alone,
Signature colors (a few overblown),
Scenic icons that say: "Come roam!"
[2014]

Chloride, Arizona, USA

Here hang the ghosts of cars past in the ghost town of Chloride. Driving through on your way to....? Well, just driving through? Be sentient, or you're likely to be hauled into Inferior Court, where they may demand your license plate in lieu of a fine. [2009]

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Catch as catch can,
Catch color and
Twinkle and twirl
Like a multi-hued pearl
Strung from the rafters,
Bringing joy to all passers.
We all love the show,
On the shores of Tahoe.
[2006]

Gulfport, Mississippi, USA

At this 'bikeport' in Gulfport, you will have a choice of color and size. Plus (look closely!), they seem to have a model that flies: which makes this bikeport in Gulfport an airport. [2014]

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Bodhisattvas are 'sentient beings' on their way to enlightenment. They choose to stay behind to help others in their quest for total extinction. Because they are examples to all, bodhisattvas often find themselves woven into the intricacies of Buddhist temple architecture. [2011]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Gender bender? Look who's being subdued, who's doing the subduing, and who's looking on passively. The times, they are a changin'. [2009]

Delhi, India

Good advice: catch a few zzz when and where you can. And, if Ganesh is nearby, you'll sleep soundly for sure. That's because he is the remover of obstacles: as in obstacles to sleep, perhaps. The Lord's magic must work. Just look at the obstacles our napper has had to overcome: they're under his neck and knees. [2011]

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is becoming one of the most eco-friendly cities in the world. Rather than encouraging rain to drain off the surface and be whisked away by storm sewers, Korea's capital is now encouraging precip to stick around for a while and turn the city green by infiltrating rain gardens like this. Nice mural, too. Happy Earth Day! [2012]

Chelmsford, Massachusetts, USA

Surrounding every town commons in New England is an assortment of architecturally perfect churches. Pefect: that's the only way to describe the First Parish Church in Chelmsford. It's not Congregational, though. It's Unitarian Universalist. [2013]

Guilford, Connecticut, USA

Everyone learns about Lexington Green, but almost all villages in New England have a 'green' or 'commons' in the center of town. Most function as their community's prefrontal cortex: the place where where long-term memories are stored. In Guilford's case note the congregational church, the Civil War memorial, and the POW flag. [2008]

Lexington, Massachusetts, USA

Here be the place where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired, the place where the ragtag minutemen stood up to the British regulars, the place where the gilded weathercock swam in the moonlight and later witnessed a small skirmish that changed world history. The place is Lexington Commons, the time is April 16, 1775, and the person is John Parker. [2010]

London, England, UK

It's always time for a show in London's West End. But, if you're going to Old Vic, you better have a taste for musicals, and Billy Elliot, in particular. Billy's been on stage here since 2005, and Ben's been waiting outside since 1981. Ben? That's Big Ben's little brother. [2009]

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

What's the largest cruise port in the Caribbean?  Charlotte Amalie. The city has invested in two huge terminals: one at the West Indian Company Docks and another at Crown Bay. Tally up arrivals for high-season January, and you might find almost a hundred ships coming and going. [2014]

Cancun, Quintano Roo, Mexico

Need a mid-morning lift?  Climb a ladder.  Relax and reminisce: Think about the ladders you used to climb when you were a kid. For a moment, they let you be top dog. Has he really left his childhood behind?  We'll know soon: Will he climb down or slide down? [2013]

Paris, France

European rivers, linked by canals, comprise an international transport network used historically for the purpose of state-building. The River Seine and its tributaries were commandeered by the expanding French state to knit together Île de France as a prelude to even further expansion. Seen here: part of Paris' First Arrondissement. [2005]

Victoria, Gozo, Malta

'Profoundly Roman Catholic' might be the best way to characterize the landscape of Gozo. Every home carries a mark of religious devotion. Enmuraled effigies of the Virgin Mary are common, and the red door at this address adds yet another mark of piety to the streetscape. [2009]

Tampa, Florida, USA

What are the demographics of canoeing? In Florida, it might be older than you expect. Here's evidence of the baby-boomers' adage: Sixty is the new forty. Or something like that. [2014]

Tampa, Florida, USA

"A clean city is worth preserving": That was the clean theme in 2010 and this was the poster art that took first place in the design contest. Appropriate for the Sunshine State, don't you think? [2014]

Tampa, Florida, USA

The Tampa Bay Lightning became NHL champions in 2004. To commemorate the victory, Captain Dave Andreychuck took a victory lap around the arena with the Stanley Cup held high. How do you keep that moment alive? You make that secular saint and that iconic trophy a permanent part of the stadium's plaza. Hold it high, so everyone can see it! [2014]

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

He's drinking alone. Does that mean he has a problem? Hardly. With the French Quarter on one side and the downtown on the other, he has simply created a solitary little zone of his own amidst the chatter and clatter of Canal Street. [2014]

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Safety first: Everyone's wearing a helmet, and the guide's wearing a take-notice T. Then, of course, there's that dude near the back. Could he be texting while segway-ing? Does that count as texting while driving? [2014]

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Capturing Louisiana's spirit of place was the specialty of George Rodrigue, whose most famous line of paintings featured a blue dog. Says Rodrigue: "The dog never changes position. He just stares at you. And you’re looking at him, looking for some answers, ‘Why are we here?,’ and he’s just looking back at you, wondering the same." [2014]

Folly Beach, South Carolina, USA

T-shirts turn heads with colorful designs. These vestures started out shopside in coastal Carolina. Then, subjected to a paint program, they were swirled into a single ersatz fashion statement of their own. [2012]

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

How do you lift a landscape out of the ordinary? First, combine two distinct geometries: an office building that is white, orthogonal, and plainly nondescript, with a tree that is black, dendritic, and plainly out of season. Second, subject the tableau to the fish eye of a paint program. Third, sit back and enjoy a new view of Wickham Terrace. [2006]

Seattle, Washington, USA

Distinctive architecture is always a popular target for photographers, but what's more popular is when buildings partner with plants. This partnership succeeded well by combing glass cladding with ground-level gilding. Then, subjected to a paint program, it was cloaked in a shimmer all its own. [2011]

Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

Yellow cone flowers make good borders for landscaped littorals. These yellows started out lakeside in Virginia's most populous city. Then, subjected to a paint program, two were chosen to occupy center stage. [2013]

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Pine cones always make good media for craft projects. This handicraft started out streetside in urban Victoria. Then, subjected to a paint program, it was distorted into a dharma wheel with a radiance all its own. Actually, it can't be a dharma wheel:  it has only six spokes. [2011]

Fulton, Arkansas, USA

Posies always make good subjects for paintings. These yellows started out roadside in rural Arkansas. Then, subjected to a paint program, they were distorted into a flowering crown with a radiance all its own. [2012]

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Yes, it's April Fool's Day, so stay tuned for a week of foolish photography. Here's the barrel fountain in Montreal's Place des Arts, transformed into a cyclonic swirl of color and curl. Careen over any rainbow and this is what you'll feel like. [2009]