I happened to look at the search terms people used to find my blog today, and saw that someone had come seeking “exclamation point photos.” I found this rather surprising. Perplexing, even. For one thing, I haven’t posted (or hadn’t yet posted), to my knowledge, any actual photographs of exclamation points. (I did once compose and post a rather nice graphic of an exclamation point made of punctuation marks, but it’s not a photo.)
For another thing, I was surprised that someone out there would actually be looking for “exclamation point photos.” That is, someone out there who is not me. As it happens, I have found myself noticing exclamation points in the wild for the past several years. They are elusive and rare creatures, but happily, once spotted, they tend not to run away. Many of them will even consent to having their photos taken.
First, my earliest wild exclamation point sighting. This little guy was seen at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in March of 2009.
It seemed to be made out of green tea, which is common for wild punctuation marks in the area. Sadly, shortly after this photo was taken, the little exclamation point was squished and smeared across the table by the fingers of a curious nearby preschooler.
This rather startled looking specimen was seen on the ceiling tiles in a lab at MIT. I think it was trying to run away. (Spotted March, 2011.)
This cute little guy was on some steps of the Great Wall of China, near Mutianyu. It posed for me in May, 2012.
And most recently, this timid creature was seen at a zoo in Massachusetts in August, 2012. It was trying to hide under a few leaves, possibly out of concern that it would be stomped on. (And it may have had some reason for concern, as I believe that the feet in the photo belong to the same individual who smushed the green tea exclamation point of the first 2 photos back in 2009.)
As you can see, my blog will now be THE go-to place for photos of exclamation points. Perhaps one day I will write a guide book on the subject.
collecting tokens 
Great collection of exclamation mark photos, Alejna! Although I have to say that the first photo of the green tea stuff looked more like a question mark to me… ;)
Incidentally, there was an art exhibition here in Hong Kong in which photographs of a “found” ones (like your “found” exclamation points) prominently featured. If you’re interested, click on the links and I think you’ll see what I mean among his photos:-
http://www.sinsinfineart.com/artists/detail/000003494/page1/
http://www.sinsinfineart.com/artists/detail/000003497/page1/
:)
I was just looking at this and Phoebe said, “That’s funny, that question mark drip.” You are all conspiring against me!
Sorry, but that first (green tea) is DEF. a question mark. ;)
(Harumph. Question mark. See my reply above to YTSL.)
YTSL, Sarah–I can see how you might be mistaken in thinking that the punctuation mark in the first photo was really a question mark. This particular breed will sometimes disguise itself as other punctuation marks. Moments earlier it looked like a semicolon. But I was not fooled.
4 pictures, I’d say you’ve got yourself a themed tumblr there, yessir
You make me laugh so much. Have you ever charted the sound of an exclamation point.
All the reasons I love the way your brain works, right here in one post!
You’re amazing. Love it. Or, perhaps I mean ‘love it!’ The things you see!
You are the best!