“You can actually learn a lot about how a city was built or grew if you collate these things,” Howard says.

Dahlin, China (2006

 
“The Maltese actually pioneered oval manhole covers, which is really the dumbest thing on the planet.  The reason most covers are round is so they can’t be dropped through the opening while someone is working below.  These things are heavy.”
 

Leningrad (2012)

“The trick is to keep your feet out of the photo, haha, and not to cast a shadow.   Taking a picture between 1000 and 1400 hrs in full sun is the best idea, unless you have artsy ambitions.”

San Francisco (2017

Many thanks to Howard  for getting us started with this new category on our website, a category for Manhole Covers — for photos of these intriguing features of everyday life.