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People Working Ahead ...

For this week's Sunday Challenge, for which the topic was manly pursuits.

A bit of a tricky one in some ways because I don't think that nowadays there are many activities which you could say are for men only. Even hobbies that might once have been seen as for being solely or at least predominantly for men, such as DIY, are now quite popular with women too.

The times are no longer as Bob Dylan once sang a-changing ... instead they have changed and changed significantly.

Take this temporary road sign I found discarded on the ground behind Northallerton's leisure centre. When I was growing up it was understood that this meant Men at Work. Yet nowadays although the sign looks exactly the same as it always has, and certainly still looks to me like it depicts a man digging, it is now described as indicating road works ahead.

I guess it won't be long before the only true manly pursuit left for us guys will be growing a beard!

Also for Sight and Sound. I nearly went for the Dylan track referenced, but in the end I couldn't resist the double pun connection offered by Men at Work with "No Sign of Yesterday":

youtu.be/TqWJDsCJyiE

youtu.be/TQJ_SjMdMq4
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48 comments

Gudrun said:

To me this also means men at work:-) And predominantly it's still men doing roadworks.The angle on this is really cool with the slight distortions.
7 years ago

autofantasia replied to Gudrun:

Glad you like it Gudrun and thanks for the fave. This was quite unusual as most are printed on either metal or hard plastic, but this one was on flexible plastic hence the unusual shapes when it was laid on the ground! :)
7 years ago

christel.k said:

bei der Straßenarbeit hat sich nichts geändert: ich sehe nur Männer bei der schweren Arbeit ...;
daher ein ganz besonderes Beispiel, Paul, Klasse!
7 years ago ( translate )

autofantasia replied to christel.k:

Much appreciated Christel as is the star. You're right too that it still seems to be only men in these roles, but I'm sure there must be some women ... perhaps this could be a future challenge - lol! ;)
7 years ago

Dida From Augsburg said:

Cool idea and image section - do you know the new sign? ;-D
7 years ago

autofantasia replied to Dida From Augsburg:

Glad you like the idea and the framing of the shot Dida. As for me, I love that sign you've posted the link to ... I need to get one of those! ;)
7 years ago

Amazingstoker said:

Yes, this does seem to be still just men's work, don't recall ever having seen a female navvy
7 years ago

autofantasia replied to Amazingstoker:

No, it does seem to be only men. As I said to Christel, perhaps hunting down a female road worker could be a future challenge - lol! :)
7 years ago

Sami Serola (inactiv… said:

Great composition =)
7 years ago ( translate )

autofantasia replied to Sami Serola (inactiv…:

Glad you like the way I took the shot Sami! :)
7 years ago

Andy Rodker said:

Windy day. Man struggling with umbrella!
7 years ago

autofantasia replied to Andy Rodker:

So glad I wasn't eating or drinking when I read you're comment Andy! ;)
7 years ago

Keith Burton said:

Most of the times when I see this sign there's no one in sight - male or female..!!

I like the image though Paul................it's an unusual take on a familiar object..!!
7 years ago

autofantasia replied to Keith Burton:

Thanks for that Keith. I was lucky to spot it lying there ... some week's the challenge gods smile on you ... other week's they ... well, I'll let you use your imagination! ;)
7 years ago

Jan said:

I agree with you. Nice capture
7 years ago