Category: Critters

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A Pooch Portrait

Few days ago, Fujifilm unveiled the long-rumored GFX-100S—a 102-megapixel medium-format sensor shooter. I almost regret going back to Leica (Q2 and Q2 Monochrom), after letting go the GFX-50R in late-November 2019. Soon after, I purchased and returned the Sigma fp before buying the Q2. I love Fuji cameras, and the 50R surely satisfied. Problem: The impressive physical size intimidated animals and people, which was my primary reason for selling the thang.

The 100S reminds of what I gave up, with respect to image quality and dynamic range—both stellar benefits of the medium-format behemoth(s). So-o-o, this afternoon, I started reviewing some of my 50R RAW originals and happened upon a pooch portrait that silly me forgot to share with you.

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The Cats of University Heights: Weepy

We celebrate the last Caturday of the month by featuring a young shorthair spotted along Florida at a property from which other kitties were profiled: Bramble, Brumble, and Shrub. I have seen other beasties there but have been unable to get photos, and none of the ones taken are all that good; they’re make-dos. Cat carrying and other paraphernalia stored by the front door makes me guess that someone is a feline fosterer.

I used iPhone XS to capture the Featured Image and companions on Jan. 13, 2021. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 16, 1/436 sec, 52mm (film equivalent); 10:02 a.m. PST. Second: f/1.8, ISO 25, 1/928 sec, 26mm (film equivalent); 10:02 a.m. Third: f/2.4, ISO 16, 1/118 sec, 52mm (film equivalent): 10:03 a.m. The trio is presented in sequence shot.

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Which is the Better Guido?

Yesterday, as my wife and I walked down Alabama towards the languishing bearded tree, we were surprised to see Guido approach. He more typically is standoffish with us, but times aren’t normal in his household and maybe he longed for extra affection. The dark-striped tabby lives with Bruce and Little—and on another street. The first two cats, Little less frequently, often walked with their owner and her dog. The troupe was always a delightful sight, and I stopped to talk with the woman whenever possible (as a matter of privacy, neighbors’ names are purposely withheld).

I use past tense, because she let her beloved canine go to doggie heaven around Christmas, following a decline from old-age-related infirmities. The loss caused the tiger tabbies great distress—absence of their larger companion and dramatic change to their walking routine. I know that for a time she tried to continue the practice with the kitties alone. She may have stopped, but I will need to ask to confirm—whenever, if ever, the time feels right. The family’s loss is too soon now. BTW, she put out the Squirrel Italiano feeder that I wrote about 10 days ago.

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The Cats of University Heights: Gleam

Along campus—outside a condominium where once lived Blue, Chipper, and Copper (before a dog mauled her) and where resides Valentine—I spied a black on Jan. 10, 2021. The Featured Image comes from Leica Q2. Vitals, aperture manually set: f5.6, ISO 125, 1/125 sec, 28mm; 3:21 p.m. PST.

For the shimmer from the fur and glowing green eyes, the kitty earns nickname Gleam.

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The Cats of University Heights: Grasshopper

What a surprise this kitty is. In the same house where I saw Cricket looking out a window (onto Maryland)—May 27, 2019—here is another but peering out to Monroe. I wonder: Are there two (or more) beasties living in the home and do they territorially sit at windows facing different streets?

This fine feline is the series‘ fifty-eighth seen behind door or window. Because of the nickname given to the (presumed) house mate, let’s call her (or him) Grasshopper. I used Leica Q2 to capture the Featured Image, yesterday. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/1250 sec, 28mm; 10:24 a.m. PST.

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The Cats of University Heights: Cobby

As Stern cautiously approached my wife and I, on Oct. 13, 2020, we mistakenly assumed he wanted some affection. Instead, his attention focused on a dark-striped tabby relaxed, but watchful, on a home’s steps. Neither animal was interested in us.

I used iPhone XS to capture the Featured Image from the sidewalk, which wasn’t close enough or best position for satisfying composition. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 16, 1/63 sec, 52mm (film equivalent); 9:10 a.m. PST. The kitty earns nickname Cobby for appearing to be stocky—or so it seems from the distance and perspective.

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The Cats of University Heights: Stern

We celebrate this fine Caturday with the first of two kitties seen around the same property on Oct. 13, 2020. I used iPhone XS to capture the Featured Image and companion along Panorama Drive. Vitals: f/1.8, ISO 25, 1/1441 sec, 26mm (film equivalent); 9:08 a.m. PDT. The other: f/2.4, ISO 16, 1/209 sec, 52mm (film equivalent); 9:10 a.m.

Also seen on PD: BrickGem; GloryHawk; Herbie, The Love BugPoinsettia; Roadie; and Sparky. The tiger tabby earns nickname Stern, for serious look as it approached the territory where waited the next kitty to appear in the series—and also Finny, who had ambled over from his home on Adams.

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The Cats of University Heights: Demure

The the fifty-seventh beastie seen behind window or door appeared unexpectedly in the alley between Campus and Cleveland off Tyler on Nov. 25, 2020. Yep, we’re still plowing through a backlog of photographed but unpublished kitties. I used Leica Q2 to capture the Featured Image. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 28mm; 9:27 a.m. PST.

This fine feline earns nickname Demure.

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The Cats of University Heights: Peek-a-Boo

Today, as my wife and I walked along Florida somewhere near Howard, Annie spotted a black-and-white shorthair strutting down the sidewalk and then jumping into the bushes—where we found it about 30 seconds later. While a little gruff looking in the Featured Image, this fine feline isn’t a stray. He (or she) wore a collar with bell and name tag (which I couldn’t read).

I understand if you roll your eyes at my calling the cat Peek-a-Boo. Okay, moving along, I manually focused Leica Q2 to make the moment. Vitals, aperture accidentally changed: f/6.3, ISO 200, 1/125 sec, 28mm; 10:15 a.m. PST.

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The Cats of University Heights: Tails

I have amassed a backlog of photographed but unpublished putty-tats—many of them from months ago, like this Tuxedo seen on Oct. 20, 2020 and no other time since. The shorthair earns nickname Tails, for what I hope is obvious reason.

My wife and I encountered Tails along Golden Gate Drive, nearby where we once saw Bushy and Cali on the same day. ChaCho and Tony live in a house nearby.