Category: Aspiration

Photo by Joe WilcoxJan 18, 20258:13 pm

Classic Cars Meetup

This afternoon, I walked over to unbeloved Hillcrest to mail a package at the United States Post Office. The postal workers were friendly and helpful, but the place was surprisingly not crowded. Plausible explanation: This is a holiday weekend for some people, particularly leading into Monday events.

Jan. 20, 2025 celebrates Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, and the day will also be the inauguration of Donald Trump as 47th president of the United States. If Microsoft Copilot can be trusted for accuracy, Trump will only be the second President to serve non-consecutive terms (Grover Cleveland is the other).

Photo by Joe WilcoxJan 12, 20259:36 pm

Sunday Cyclists

While walking up Adams Avenue in my neighborhood of University Heights, today, I chatted with one of my sisters over the phone. Suddenly I heard, then saw, a massive pack of bicyclists speed past, turning onto Park Blvd. By the amount of time taken to go by, they numbered in the hundreds.

Caught off guard and fumbling, because of the phone call, I lost precious seconds deciding to pull round Nikon Zf and attached NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens. The Featured Image and companion were captured, quickly, suddenly, with little preparation. Both are composed as captured. Had I more time and not otherwise been distracted, I would have slowed down the shutter speed for blurred motion shot.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJan 10, 20259:26 pm

Hey, Birdie

One of my neighbors puts out food for just about every kind of critter that lives in University Heights—the exception being coyotes. As such, she has possums, racoons, and skunks strutting into her yard at night. The day belongs to birds, butterflies, cats, and dogs, among others.

While we visited on Nov. 27, 2024, a white-crowned sparrow dropped by for a bite of breakfast. I easily captured the Featured Image, using Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/125 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 9:51 a.m. PST. Composed as shot.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJan 6, 202510:04 pm

Put Down That Device; Read a Book

I see Little Free Library boxes all over my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. The Mrs. and me passed the one in the Featured Image along Arizona somewhere between Adams and Monroe. That location could be Normal Heights or North Park, depending on who you ask.

The painted motif on the side is what piqued my interest. I used my newly acquired Nikon Zf and NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens to capture the moment. Vitals: f/6.3, ISO 100, 1/160 sec, 40mm; 1:53 p.m. PST.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJan 4, 20258:59 pm

Afternoon Delight

San Diego’s three-summer season means squirrels, and lots of other wildlife, are active year-long. Why hibernate when foodstuffs continually grow, and the days are warm and lovely? The sounds of crows, and the occasional parrots, almost drown out the constant cacophony of residential construction (new builds are everywhere).

I spotted the subject of the Featured Image, clutching an afternoon snack, on Dec. 18, 2024. The portrait comes from Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/60 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 2:37 p.m. PST.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJan 1, 20257:50 pm

Happy New Year!

What is the meaning of the Featured Image? Simply stated: 2025 is a gift, and it’s a gift we should share with other people. Opportunity abounds, if we let it. The first, and very vital, step: Embarking from day one with a positive attitude.

We can make this year one of the most remarkable in human history, and honestly—given some of the chaos around the globe—we don’t have much other choice.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 31, 20249:50 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Kitten

We close 2024 with what you will see too much of during January and February: Cats! The backlog of unpublished kitties is massive, so time is long past to dispatch them all. The first of the bunch jumps to the front of queue.

I used Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to capture the Featured Image on December 2 at 10:03 a.m. PST. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 200, 1/120 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom). Nickname: Kitten. Location: Somewhere along Georgia Street.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 22, 20249:45 pm

We Found a Rat Rod

This morning, my wife and I walked through Lafayette Hotel, here in University Heights, to see if it was as bustling busy as last Sunday when we looked in to see the holiday decorations. The place was livelier seven days ago.

I had wanted to stroll in with the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 to capture video of the zillion Christmas trees (some hanging from the ceiling) and raucous crowd (some of whom were hanging from the ceiling—or might as well been). Perhaps Christmas Eve, or better, New Years Eve will bring the right ambiance.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 21, 202410:00 pm

Nikon Zf First Shots

The new camera proves to be a bit of a bear to handle, simply because the ergonomics surprisingly differ from Leica Q2 and Q2 Monchrom. I expected more obvious manipulation using tactile controls, and I still can’t fathom why the NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens has no obvious aperture ring.

I wouldn’t return the camera for these reasons, though. I will adapt, adopt new habits, and make the best of the Nikon Zf‘s many benefits (and idiosyncrasies). The retro-looker packs plenty of potential.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 15, 20249:50 pm

Hotel Del Christmas Tree

Yesterday, I was invited to a luncheon with a group of people celebrating the 2024 Presidential Election. Venue: the historic, stately, and expensive Hotel Del Coronado. I hadn’t been there in years—and never in December. Wow, was the place packed with revelers local and visiting, loners and families, of every fashion.

One neighbor (and good friend) and I were the spendthrifts of the group. She asked if I would want to go halvsies on a meal. That works for me. She suggested a breakfast burrito. Great choice. When the thing was served, I cut off a piece and, after nibbling a bit, decided not to eat any. The tortilla was flaky and tasty and fancily unlike any burrito I ever ate. I thought my wife would love it (she did) and a waiter boxed up the largely uneaten meal. The thing cost $23 before tax and tip, which we split.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 12, 20247:19 pm

I Love Leica But…

Yesterday, someone bought my Leica Q2, which I acquired on Dec. 31, 2019. But my Leica journey started in May 2017 with the original Q, which I initially regretted selling. I preferred the smaller sensor (24 megapixels vs 47.3 for the successor), the look of the images produced, and the ability to switch from single to continuous shooting by flicking a switch set around the shutter button. Besides, the Q was my first Leica love—a feeling that didn’t carry forward as I had expected.

Day before yesterday, a doctor and sculptor bought Q2 Monochrom, which I acquired in December 2020. Turns out I don’t have an eye for black-and-white photography. I got good value from the camera but nowhere near what was hoped. Surely the new owners will do better.

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 12, 202410:03 pm

I Vote for a Peaceful Transition

This day last week, America voted—and the results surprised many folks. For starters, we had a decisive winner before the cock crowed on the East Coast and before the midnight oil burned here on the West. Secondly, contrary to what many pollsters forecast, the contest was nothing close to neck-and-neck. Thirdly, Donald Trump trounced Kamala Harris—in the final count taking 312 electoral votes (270 to win), capturing majority of the popular vote (50.2 percent; 75.492 million), and taking all seven swing states.

Reaction is something to see. The President-elect’s supporters are giddy as kiddies on Christmas morning. Presents are open, wrapping paper is everywhere, and Santa delivered all the goodies on the list. Elsewhere, trauma is the drama. It’s criminal that left-leaning news organizations and pollsters misled so many Democrats and other Harris supporters for so long. Their mourning wouldn’t be so severe (out of politeness, I won’t link to any reactions but you can find them easily enough on TikTok).