The Cats of University Heights: Henry

The Fujifilm X100F and I are still getting acquainted, bringing big digital lifestyle change: always-carry. The compact camera is lightweight and unobtrusive attached to ONA Lima strap, such that I sling it and bring it with ease and capture the moment where iPhone 7 Plus would miss. I only lugged larger Fuji X-T1 when planning to use it, thus making the Apple smartphone my primary street camera. That all changed February 28. The new digicam, with its 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor and fixed f/2 lens, is classic—for style and shooting. I previously owned the original and preceding T model.

Rushing out for a twilight walk on March 9, I spotted, not for the first time, a tiger-striped cat in the yard at Campus and Monroe. Our eyes met yet again, around the same time of day; he lurked where he had several weeks before, cast in the shadows. I shot Featured Image at 6:09 p.m. PST—about 20 minutes after sunset. Except for straightening, the JPEG is unaltered from the X100F. Vitals: f/2, ISO 3200, 1/26 sec, 23mm. Despite its f/1.8 aperture, based on past efforts, iPhone 7 Plus would have botched the shot—or using flash to set focus, scared off the feline.

Look closely. His head pops up, only. I shot two other photos, which are usable except for composition. His face is turned towards the bushes. I don’t know if the kitty lives where we met. Years ago, the residents kept a pair of indoor/outdoor siamese cats, one of which was struck and killed by a car. The survivor is my main interest in the property. She would make a fine addition to this series.

Update, Jan. 2, 2022: Today, I met the tabby’s owner. She told me that his name is Henry. When I posted the second photo (directly above) to Flickr on July 28, 2017, I captioned: “Is his name Henry?” I could almost make out the word on his tag. The portrait comes from Leica Q. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/4, ISO 200, 1/60 sec, 28mm; 7:18 p.m. PDT.

The next pair come from iPhone XS on March 2, 2021. Henry stalks, then hunts in his yard. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 16, 1/240 sec, 10:51 a.m. PST. The other is same but 1/243 sec.

Previously featured: ScruffyRoly PolyWooSkullBiscuitThe ColonelWhiteChipper,  Frisky, Stretch, Needy, Farfisa, Mates, Hunter, Pee-PeeBlue, Blue Too, Bonded PairPatience, Fess, Jumper, Frenemy, Looker, Cozy, Scout, Lurks, Skit, Mini, Betty, Black and White, Stalker, Bell, Chill, Sammy, Scratch, Poser, Star, Grey and White, Watcher, Herman, Comet, RomanWillow, Chub, Nimbus, Watson, Lilo, Kit, and Pepe.