Image
1986 X-Off Contest, Letter As Found Art

In red neon
(1 of 8) (7473 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_01.jpg

A clothing store around the corner from Macy's featured two curved neon rods as part of the design. Where the neon rods crossed was the letter X.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_01
Add a comment or report a mistake

Broken metal-screen windows
(2 of 8) (7344 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_02.jpg

Metal-screen glass windows on the front of a warehouse on Natoma alley in the south of Market area of San Francisco. When the intersection of these windows was photographed with a camera held at an angle, the letter X was revealed.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_02
Add a comment or report a mistake

Tomatoes in crates
(3 of 8) (7358 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_03.jpg

One might not expect round tomatoes to produce the letter X, but the intersection of four boxes of tomatoes did.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_03
Add a comment or report a mistake

Windows reflected buildings
(4 of 8) (7334 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_04.jpg

Many windows in the financial district of San Francisco reflect other buildings. This common sight was made uncommon by leaning the camera and shooting the intersection of four such reflecting windows.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_04
Add a comment or report a mistake

Rusty gas can
(5 of 8) (8253 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_05.jpg

Back in 1986, Dr. William Carter drove a Land Rover 110, the long bed style Rover. Although the Land Rover was white, the gas can mounted on the back was red. Dr. Carter was upset to find out that I had photographed his gas tank as part of the contest.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_05
Add a comment or report a mistake

Scotch tape
(6 of 8) (7322 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_06.jpg

Someone had created the look of lattice on a window by criss-crossing it with scotch tape. The intersection of two pieces of tape created the letter X. For this picture the camera did not have to rotate to find the X.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_06
Add a comment or report a mistake

Garage door
(7 of 8) (7429 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_07.jpg

On the Precita side of Bernal Heights, several garage doors were painted bright colors. This one was once a vivid blue. Here the camera had to rotate to capture this garage door in the form of the letter X.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_07
Add a comment or report a mistake

Flower through brick
(8 of 8) (7364 views)

./Letter_X_1986_X-off_08.jpg

Here a brick with two X's in it was part of the edging of a lawn and garden. A yellow flower could be seen through the brick. Here the flower is in focus, and the letter X is intentionally slightly out of focus.


X external link Letter As Found Art   •  The 1986 X-off a private contest   •  San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Monday 11 July 2005)   •  (Photo taken in 1986)   •  © 2005 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #X-off_08
Add a comment or report a mistake


Subscribe to our mailing list for a Sunday summary of the week's stories.
* indicates required
Email Format
home contact topic guide top 25 photos video writing blogs upload terms privacy