Abstract and Weird Signs Part 1

• By Katrín Eyþórsdóttir
• September 16th, 2010
• Signs
• 3 Comments

This gallery presents the collection of photos submitted for the World Of Signage Photo Contest by the readers of Smashing Magazine. We received over 2,500+ photos from our readers across the globe, and present a selection of the most interesting photos in the overview below.

The topic of this gallery is Abstract and Weird signs, i.e. signs that attract attention with their atypical look. Please notice: each photo has a certain license, provided in the description of the photo. Before using the images for private or commercial projects, make sure that the license allows you to do so. Also, you can click on the photos for a larger preview.

Please feel free to take a look at other submissions as well (links to other galleries are listed in the end of this gallery).

Abstract and Weird Photos / Signs

No Limits In Art

No Limits In Art [ large preview ]
"The very phrase was placed on a floor, it was so catchy I made it as an album primary picture in a social network site." Photo taken by Patrick Rivera from Manila,Philippines.

The Air That We Breathe

The Air That We Breathe [ large preview ]
"Close-up portion of a sign indicating the presence of an air outlet." Photo taken by Dylan Williams from UK.

Almost

Almost [ large preview ]
"This word forms part of the etching on the floor of McGonagall’s walk in Dundee, Scotland." Photo taken by Aled Evans from UK.

Archeology of a Sign

Archeology of a Sign [ large preview ]
"Advertising layers pealed back from a billboard." Photo taken by Eldon Underhill from Canada.

Cryptic Symbol

Cryptic Symbol [ large preview ]
"Traffic eroded glyph on a Gastown street that once indicated that bicyclists travelled along the way." Photo taken by Eldon Underhill from Canada.

A shop window

A shop window [ large preview ]
"Many signs about the cost of products at A shop window." Photo taken by Miss Tanida Pupatarapong from Thailand.

A Place for Everybody

A Place for Everybody [ large preview ]
"Everywhere we go, there’s a place for everybody." Photo taken by Franz Vanek Lemus from México.

Fire and Water

Fire and Water [ large preview ]
"There’s always water for turning off the fire, but not always for drinking." Photo taken by Franz Vanek Lemus from México.

Come As You Are

Come As You Are [ large preview ]
"Found this great wall in a backalley in Sydney, Australia. Used Fuji 400 ISO 35mm film." Photo taken by Anders Goberg from Norway.

Lollapalooza Photo Booth

Lollapalooza Photo Booth [ large preview ]
"Digital signage for a self-serve photo booth in the ‘chill-out’ tent at a huge music festival." Photo taken by Angela Karinn from Canada.

When your

When your [ large preview ]
"Sign outside Prayer Tent at Bless Fest in Lansing, Michigan." Photo taken by Christine Brandt from USA.

Fish Bones Are Useful

Fish Bones Are Useful [ large preview ]
"Bone style typography." Photo taken by James Woo from Malaysia.

Vacancy

Vacancy [ large preview ]
"Lake Wales – roadside signs: Permanent Vacancy." Photo taken by Angela Wilson from USA.

Nu Orpheu

Nu Orpheu [ large preview ]
"McDonalds Restaurant and Orpheum Theatre Signs (Old & new & change) on Granville Street, Vancouver." License: License (optional). Photo taken by Eldon Underhill from Canada.

Badger At Work

Badger At Work [ large preview ]
"Roadwork sign, Shackleford, Surrey." Photo taken by Marcus Kalantarian from England.

Sign on ferry

Sign on ferry [ large preview ]
"This sign was found on a ferry in ireland crossing the shannon. No idea what it actually says or warns for." Licensed: creative commons. Photo taken by Ingo Carow from Germany.

Way to Vegas

Way to Vegas [ large preview ]
"A shot taken on a night drive to Las Vegas." Photo taken by Jelena Porovic from Canada.

SPECIFIED WALL – “Fly on the Wall”

SPECIFIED WALL – “Fly on the Wall” [ large preview ]
"On the photo is a sign, which is used as a decoration for wall. The sign is substitute for object which it represent.Nothing more. Sign loses its original meaning." Photo taken by Lucia Flendrovska from Slovakia.

Lost in Tierra del Fuego

Lost in Tierra del Fuego [ large preview ]
"The trail signs in Argentinian Tierra del Fuego National Park are confusing. It seems they have grown with the trees and switched directions at the same time.." License: CC NC BY SA. Photo taken by Adrian from France.

You Are Beautiful

You Are Beautiful [ large preview ]
"A completely chance sticker placed on a light post on Westminster Bridge." Photo taken by Jen Mabe from USA.

Burned Memories

Burned Memories [ large preview ]
"This was taken when I was using my friend (talis.dk)’s macro lens, it’s a burned down piece of newspaper I found in an empty fireplace." Photo taken by Philip Jensen from Denmark.

Sign to freedom

Sign to freedom [ large preview ]
"The hand sign for I love you." License: All rights reserved. Photo taken by Gareth Shapiro from England.

One Sixty Eight

One Sixty Eight [ large preview ]
"Nice sign at a local pipeline company." Photo taken by Torbjorn Sandbakk from Norway.

Honk if you love cupcakes

Honk if you love cupcakes [ large preview ]
"Honk if you love cupcakes on side of caravan." Licensed: Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic. Photo taken by Justin D Goring from United Kingdom.

Waste removal

Waste removal [ large preview ]
"Decaying sign for a dump site in downtown Missoula, MT." Licensed: All rights reserved, Forrest Rowell 2010. Photo taken by Forrest Rowell from USA.

La Siempreviva

La Siempreviva [ large preview ]
"Bogota, Columbia, 2008." Licensed: Copyright 2008 Sean Stearns. Photo taken by Sean Stearns from USA.

Manuha

Manuha [ large preview ]
"Bagan, Burma, 2007." Licensed: Copyright 2007 Sean Stearns. Photo taken by Sean Stearns from USA.

Cherbourg

Cherbourg [ large preview ]
"Taken from a map of the Isle of White showing 70 miles from that point to Cherbourg amounst other places around the globe." Photo taken by Martyn Jeffery from UK.

Get Out

Get Out [ large preview ]
"Life does not welcome you everywhere." Photo taken by Md. Zabir Hasan from Bangladesh.

Signed Alleyway

SIgned Alleyway [ large preview ]
"Discarded street signs in an alleyway in downtown Missoula, MT." Licensed: All rights reserved, Forrest Rowell 2010. Photo taken by Forrest Rowell from USA.

Signed Alleyway BW

SIgned Alleyway BW [ large preview ]
"Discarded street signs in an alleyway in downtown Missoula, MT." Licensed: All rights reserved, Forrest Rowell 2010. Photo taken by Forrest Rowell from USA.

Thank you!

Thanks to all participants for taking their time for preparing and sending submissions for the contest and creating a unique and diversified gallery presented above. We truly appreciate and respect your efforts and your time, folks!

Further Galleries

You may want to take a look at other contest galleries, too:

• Abstract and Weird Signs 1
• Abstract and Weird Signs 2
• Advertising and Promotional Signs 1
• Advertising and Promotional Signs 2
• Corporate Logos and Branding Signs
• “Forbidden” Signs 1
• “Forbidden” Signs 2
• Funny, Clever and Original Signs 1
• Funny, Clever and Original Signs 2
• Funny, Clever and Original Signs 3
• Graffiti and Hand-Written Signs 1
• Graffiti and Hand-Written Signs 2
• Hotel, Restaurant and Diner Signs 1
• Hotel, Restaurant and Diner Signs 2
• Hotel, Restaurant and Diner Signs 3
• Information and Instructional Signs 1
• Information and Instructional Signs 2
• Library Signs
• Monument and Memorial Signs
• Museum Signs 1
• Museum Signs 2
• Public and State Building Signs 1
• Public and State Building Signs 2
• Road and Street Signs 1
• Road and Street Signs 2
• Road and Street Signs 3
• Road and Street Signs 4
• Road and Street Signs 5
• School and Park Signs
• Shop and Store Signs 1
• Shop and Store Signs 2
• Shop and Store Signs 3
• Street Wayfinding Signs 1
• Street Wayfinding Signs 2
• Street Wayfinding Signs 3
• Street Wayfinding Signs 4
• Train and Airport Signs 1
• Train and Airport Signs 2
• Underground and Metro Signs
• Warning and Danger Signs 1
• Warning and Danger Signs 2
• Warning and Danger Signs 3
• Warning and Danger Signs 4
• Warning and Danger Signs 5
• Wayfinding in Buildings Signs 1
• Wayfinding in Buildings Signs 2
• WC and Restroom Signs 1
• WC and Restroom Signs 2
• Welcome Signs
• Other photos 1
• Other photos 2