Has anyone else seen on of these gigantic billboards, some 48-feet in width, advertising the new coffees from MacDonald's? It is a really tough photograph to pull off: steam rising from huge fake cups of coffee against a Tampa skyline while travelling at 60-70 mph on a congested and crazy highway. But, I did not shoot while driving but found a vantage point at ground-level that I hoped would help me capture the steam. While at the base of the billboard, which rises up to be seen by traffic on Interstates 4 and 275, in Tampa's downtown interchange area, I got to see the water contraption they use to create the steam effect. Pretty ingenuous. It does use reclaimed water, as is clearly labeled on the plastic tanks. The first time I saw the billboard and steam clearly rising off the tops of the cups, it's all I could can do to keep eyes on the road. (This is a major, heavily-trafficked interstate highway.) But, the steam off the McCafe cups does work - as a very creative visual device and a near traffic-stopper. Have you seen one? (P.S. Remember, I am a Starbucks addict. Sorry, MacDonald's. Love the billboard, but not so much the coffee.)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hot, STEAMING Billboard: McCafe is steaming up the highways
Has anyone else seen on of these gigantic billboards, some 48-feet in width, advertising the new coffees from MacDonald's? It is a really tough photograph to pull off: steam rising from huge fake cups of coffee against a Tampa skyline while travelling at 60-70 mph on a congested and crazy highway. But, I did not shoot while driving but found a vantage point at ground-level that I hoped would help me capture the steam. While at the base of the billboard, which rises up to be seen by traffic on Interstates 4 and 275, in Tampa's downtown interchange area, I got to see the water contraption they use to create the steam effect. Pretty ingenuous. It does use reclaimed water, as is clearly labeled on the plastic tanks. The first time I saw the billboard and steam clearly rising off the tops of the cups, it's all I could can do to keep eyes on the road. (This is a major, heavily-trafficked interstate highway.) But, the steam off the McCafe cups does work - as a very creative visual device and a near traffic-stopper. Have you seen one? (P.S. Remember, I am a Starbucks addict. Sorry, MacDonald's. Love the billboard, but not so much the coffee.)
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Wonderful shot, Frank. Glad you got off the road to snap it. I've not seen this before, but often pay little attention to signs. An effective advertising device, I'd say. And perhaps dangerous! Maybe almost as dangerous as the meat they serve!
ReplyDelete@ Jacob - You really said a mouthful...I can just imagine what their coffee tastes like, for hours afterward!!
ReplyDeleteNothing that fancy around here! It reminds me of an old "Leave it to Beaver" episode about a billboard advertising steaming soup. The Beav climbed up there to see if there really was soup in there and fell in. I know, I watch too many old reruns.
ReplyDelete@ Lois - Didn't Lucy do something like that, too? Not the grape stomping but a big cup? Or maybe I've been watching tooo many old reruns (or drinking too many Starbucks)
ReplyDeleteNice idea for advertising! I seldom have coffee at McD's but love the french fries and the Veg. Burger they serve....
ReplyDeleteI have an invitation for you to join the World Photo Bloggers
That is so cool! Er, hot, that is! Haven't seen it here yet and I doubt if McDonald's will bother — the contraption might just get stolen.
ReplyDeleteGreat billboard, but cannot stand coffee from a cardboard cup and I'm afraid I have a problem with most coffee makers. The only way to drink coffee is as they do in Italy, those little espresso cups that give you a great hit.
ReplyDeleteNot so appealing to me, I myself like Starbucks more too. But that is indeed a HUGE advertising idea.^^
ReplyDeleteBuddy, can you spare five bucks for a cup of coffee? How the times have changed.
ReplyDelete