max cameron's photo book explores his fixation with the ‘traffic cones of japan’

‘Though there are many cones of different shapes and sizes, some created exclusively for different prefectures, this wasn’t an Ash Ketchum style journey of trying to catch ‘em all. I created a photo book of the cones that didn’t just make me stop, but made me feel,‘ the photographer explains.

the beginning of a chapter on how cones socialize

all images courtesy of Max Cameron

appreciating simplicity and assertiveness

The cone’s simple shape and versatility paired with an its assertive authority intrigued Max Cameron to show appreciation and compassion to the pointy plastic objects. Although the name ‘traffic cones’ implies that these objects are concerned with traffic safety, the photographer’s book explores cones with different ‘jobs’, how they ‘experience’ their leisure time, and how some don’t fit into a safety cone’s typical qualities, which in a way shows their diverse personalities. ‘Forget robots, manga or sushi, the humble traffic cone outdoes them all in its ubiquity across Japan,’ states Cameron. The book was designed by Gareth Rowntree and features text written in Japanese by Takuro Kobayashi.

a spread of cones flowering

torii gates and torii cones

under the surveillance camera

keep out

careful, cherry blossom

kone-oremebi, the light that falls upon the cones

skating toys

similar to a chess piece

a ‘hippy’ cone within nature

a ‘punk cone’ wrapped in striped tape

project info:

name: Traffic Cones of Japan
designer: Max Cameron

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: zaha mango | designboom