We return to my most recent visit to San Diego’s Balboa Park—April 20, 2023. Busking can be friendly among musicians but competition for prime location leads to jockeying for position, too. Then there is the decibel factor, when one performer is so loud he or she drowns out and therefore drives away other buskers.
That’s the story behind the Featured Image. After shooting the companion photo—both with Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra—I came upon a flutist packing up and moving along. For good reason: The sax player bellowed with great gusto, such that no one could appreciate the higher register of the flute.
The older gent moved in the same direction as me, towards Bea Evenson Fountain, so I followed behind. He chose a lovely spot where his playing could be heard, and appreciated, even as the saxaphone reverberated off the buildings in echo.
My father-in-law played flute all his life. This gent’s elderly age, height, lean build, and hat made me remember Bob, who passed away at age 95 in January 2017. That’s part of why I photo-stalked the busker.
Let’s talk photo vitals. For the first: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/190 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 3:41 p.m. PDT. The other: f/4.9, ISO 64, 1/60 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 3:31 p.m.