Don't believe everything you see

With all the regulations on the books for signs, it's no wonder that placement sometimes makes for a slightly comical sight.

This one, found in Whitehall, New York, points out highway construction ahead, but apparently, not beyond the sign a few feet away.

Now, to be honest, this photo was taken with a 70-200mm zoom set at 160mm. In addition to bringing the subject closer, telephoto lenses also compress the field. So, this sign wasn't as close as it appears-- but it was much closer than 1,000 feet.

I had forgotten exactly where this photo was taken. But because of the tiny green sign in the background, I was able to find -- with an assist from sports writer Jim Seip who lived in Glens Falls, NY-- that Whitehall Central School district was just a stone's throw from Vermont on U.S. route 4.

Whitehall's history is an interesting one. Located at the far southern tip of Lake Champlain, the New York legislature declared Whitehall the Birthplace of the United States Navy. Among other cities claiming the title include Machias, Me., Philadelphia, and Marblehead, Ma.

Ships were built there for the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The 60-mile Champlain Canal connects the Hudson River to Lake Champlain (and Canada) and has been in use since 1819. Whitehall is a little bit larger than Spring Grove, and Amtrak stops daily.

Thought this photo was taken in Albany, about 80 miles south.

Photo taken at 1/125, f16 and 200 ISO with 70-200 f2.8 lens, at 160mm.

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