On my walk home to University Heights from South Park on May 11, 2026, I came across a decorative utility box that demanded my photographic attention. But as I reached for Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, a woman walked out of a business dragging a can of empty beer bottles, blocking full view of the mural. As she returned to the establishment, a gent came out with another container half-full. She started dragging a third one.
That was my cue to abandon the shot, and then I rethought the opportunity: The can of bottles makes more interesting composition and creates speculative storytelling opportunity. Welcome to, ah, tippled South Park. Correct me for saying, but isn’t that quite a lot of empties for one night’s business? How many people were getting drunk?
According to location data captured by the phone, the recyclable bottles came from nearby Whistle Stop. What generated so many of them? According to the bar’s website: “Showdown at Sundown”, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: “The Sheriff’s Monthly Country Music Happy Hour…every Second Sunday!! Saddle up!!”
I don’t drink alcoholic beverages and so have no legitimate perspective on size of these bottles, for Mexican beer Pacifico Clara. They are redeemable for 5 cents if under 24 ounces. If greater, then10 cents. The bottles obviously were put out for collection. But by whom? Someone affiliated with the bar? For a designated third party? Scavengers (the load is too large for the homeless men who collect cans in plastic bags and carry them on bicycles)?
Regardless, the Featured Image was the single shot taken before the next can obscured view of the utility box. Vitals: f/1.4, ISO 64, 1/4764 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 10:17 a.m. PDT. Composed as captured.