Picture This

Picture This!
The Alphabet In The Image

Shutterbug Staff  |  Aug 1, 2008

The power of suggestion is very strong in forming our perceptions. Think alligator, for example, even in a big northern city, and soon you might begin to see forms and objects that bring that reptile to mind. Our Picture This! assignment this month was just that--seeing the forms of letters of the alphabet in everyday objects and scenes. Readers responded with images that brought out A to Z, although from many submissions we understand why "X marks the spot" is such a strong catch phrase.

Architectural Alphabet

Peter Mackey could not explain the significance of the large "P" in this house under construction in Paynesville, Victoria (Australia), but we're glad he added it to our alphabet mix. He photographed with a Nikon D300 and a Nikkor 18-200mm lens; exposure was f/8 at 1/400 sec.
© 2008, Peter Mackey, All Rights Reserved

O Rings

Gene Samit made this shot of a construction site in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel and a Tamron 18-200mm lens, framing the scene with an echoing "O."
© 2008, Gene Samit, All Rights Reserved

The Big Question

Judy Ozmar turned this alphabet letter marking a yarrow plant in the World of Wonders at the Norfolk, Virginia, Botanical Gardens into an existential query. She photographed with a Canon EOS 40D and an exposure of f/11 at 1/125 sec.
© 2008, Judy Ozmar, All Rights Reserved

"A" Bell

This steeple with bell formed a perfect "A" caught by William Jacobs at Big Spring Park in Huntsville, Alabama. Exposure was f/5.6 at 1/500 sec with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel and a Tamron 18-250mm lens.
© 2008, William Jacobs, All Rights Reserved

Count The Letters

Depending on how you look at it, Erica Ellis has captured any number of letters in this painting site. What's your count? She exposed at f/14 at 1/80 sec with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi and a Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens.
© 2008, Erica Ellis, All Rights Reserved

A--Z

Robert P. Peterson claims he caught every letter of the alphabet in this shot of license plates made in Bar Harbor, Maine. He photographed with a Fuji FinePix S9000 at f/6.2 at 1/400 sec.
© 2007, Robert P. Peterson, All Rights Reserved

Hopeless Romantic

R.C. Fulwiler found this hubcap message on a barn near Blue Ridge, Georgia. He photographed with a Kodak DC290 camera.
© 2008, R.C. Fulwiler, All Rights Reserved

Triple X

Amanda R. Hewitt found a host of Xs in these cross braces of an old windmill at the Sharlot Hall Museum grounds in Prescott, Arizona. She photographed with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT and a Canon 55mm lens; exposure was f/5.6 at 1/50 sec.
© 2008, Amanda R. Hewitt, All Rights Reserved

Grapevine S

Sam Brewer made this shot near Shandon, California, with a Nikon D70S.
© 2008, Sam Brewer, All Rights Reserved

"Pirate Truck"

Marty Knippel wrote that "there are several letters in the photo, but I find the W made by the anchor the standout." He photographed with a Canon PowerShot S3 IS with an exposure of f/4 at 1/800 sec.
© 2008, Marty Knippel, All Rights Reserved
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