Category: Critters

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The Cats of University Heights: Sphynx

Break out the sunscreen! Before someone is burned! On February 28, 2019, while walking up Monroe Avenue—somewhere between Cleveland and Park—I spotted a hairless kitty, which is nicknamed for its breed. The putty-tat is the thirty-eighth to appear in the series behind glass (or screen).

I used Fujifilm GFX 50R and Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens to capture the Featured Image and its companion; sun burst from behind a cloud for the second. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 500, 1/4000 sec, 63mm; 1:47 p.m. PST. The other is same, except ISO 640 and one minute later. While I walked, the shutter speed dial changed from Auto—probably from the camera rubbing against my hip.

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The Cats of University Heights: Luna

Along a stretch of Mission Avenue not far from the temporarily closed Valero gas station, on Feb. 26, 2019, I spotted a black-and-white that waited nobly statuesque along a door step. The kitty stayed still for several portraits, including the Featured Image and its companion—both taken using Fujifilm GFX 50R and Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens. Vitals for the first, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/200 sec, 63mm; 10:43 a.m. PST.

Spring foliage is lush all around San Diego because of ongoing heavy rains. The second photo is cropped to capture a different moment—of untypically brash green growth that elsewhere in the county could in autumn become dry tinder that feeds ravaging wildfires. Vitals are same, except 1/170 sec.

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Lupe’s Last Day

This afternoon, a real estate agent trapped Lupe, who was featured—along with companion Laramie—in my “Cats of University Heights” series (December 2017). Two weeks ago today, the animals’ owner left the pair behind, when he moved out of state. The gent rented the property that the three shared, along with two dogs, for 17 years. To her credit, the agent selling the place stepped up to assure the outdoor kitties would find a new home. (The guy also left behind goldfish, which a fourth grade school teacher adopted for her class.)

My feelings are deeply mixed about trapping and removing Laramie and Lupe. While walking down Alabama Street this morning, I spoke with neighbors worried about the abandons. One asked about adopting them. Another and I discussed the realistic possibility about caring for the pair as community cats—fed and kept in familiar territory. That would be my preference, although it is likely unrealistic. In my conversations with the realtor, who has been in contact with rescue groups, the animals’ future is tenuous if deemed to be unadoptable. They might not be put down, so to speak, but they could be put away in a feral colony. Neither belongs there, and I don’t believe Lupe would fare well.

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The Cats of University Heights: Alley

We end the second month of 2019 with what is questionably the thirty-third feline featured from Alabama. I first spotted this kitty more than four months ago—and several times since—before finally capturing a satisfactory portrait on February 12. The tabby occasionally hangs out between two buildings on Alabama and when approached always goes into the alley behind and across the way—hence the nickname (think alley cat) and use of questionably, since the beastie could live somewhere on Mississippi. That said, I have never seen Alley anywhere else. Interestingly, the cat repeatedly goes to the same spot to sit and stare at a wooden structure with no discernable openings to indicate something—such as another furball—is on the other side. Are there ghosts, perhaps? 😉

The Featured Image, which is close-cropped, comes from Fujifilm GFX 50R with Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens attached. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/8, ISO 100, 1/120 sec, 63mm; 1:51 p.m. PST.

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The Cats of University Heights: Sly

Dare I present another Alabama Street cat? The thirty-second? Recently, I have expanded my feline photo walks into rarely traversed parts of the neighborhood—like the many dead-end roadways—desperately searching for someplace that can match Alabama’s kitty sightings. Nowhere comes close, and I still cannot explain why.

That said, today’s beastie, whom I nickname Sly, was long sought after—and perhaps only a saddening situation could reveal him (or her). Late-summer 2018, I caught a brief look at the animal as it slinked down apartment complex stairs next door to where live Laramie and Lupe. While presenting glimpses a couple more times, the Siamese proved to be too skittish and quick-moving for my camera. Until yesterday. 

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Boatload of Trouble

Since starting the “Cats in University Heights” series in October 2016, no one has objected to my photographing their animals—until today. In fact, some neighbors have asked me to include their pets. The story: As I approached the multi-family dwelling where Blue and Valentine—both nicknames—reside, a skinny and frisky shorthair walked down the sidewalk alongside a nearby open-fenced yard. As I approached, the putty-tat retreated to the grass. From there, another feline moved my way, and I started clicking the shutter of Fujifilm GFX 50R, with attached Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens.

“Why are you taking pictures of my cats?” a woman calmly, but firmly, asked from behind a home’s security door. She didn’t step out onto the porch, and I couldn’t see her even while looking straight on from the sidewalk. I explained about my photographic project that started two-and-a-half years ago. My demeanour was friendly then, and when asking the name of the kitty whose portraits I had just taken. Gaping silence followed. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me”, I interjected, trying to diffuse any tension. 

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The Cats of University Heights: Starlet

What a surprise! Yesterday, while walking along Mission Cliff Drive, I spotted what would be the fifth feline profiled from the street. The others: Aylin, CupcakeFraidy, and Tabby. Being so skinny, the lush longhair looked like a stray. But that impression evaporated with presentation of the bushy—and clearly manicured—tail. This lovely belongs to someone.

The kitty was cautious, not offish, but definitely kept back from any approach. As such, the Featured Image and companion are both close crops. I captured the pair using Fujifilm GFX 50R and Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens. I had manually set aperture before going out and accidentally knocked the shutter speed dial from auto to 1/4000. Yikes! Vitals for both: f/5.6, ISO 1000, 1/4000 sec, 63mm; 11:01 a.m. PST. 

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The Cats of University Heights: Mao

The Alabama cat contingent continues, with the thirty-first sighted along the street between its boundaries of Adams and Lincoln. Yesterday, as we walked to Smart & Final, my wife saw a putty-tat scurry among parked cars across the roadway. I pulled around Fujifilm GFX 50R, with attached Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens, and approached the building, which is the same one where lives the kitty I call Dizzy. The shorthair retreated to a spot before the apartment complex’s security gate, which access to me was blocked by the mailman filling boxes.

He left. Feline and human regarded one another. A few meows later, the shorthair let me move in close to offer pats and to read the name tag (Mao). Snap. Snap. Two satisfying shots later, a quandary came: Should I let Mao inside the courtyard, by way of the unsecure security door? I pulled slightly open, and the friendly furball nosed forward. I closed in doubt, then let Mao through. The kitty crossed to a stair and climbed to the second level, where home awaited. (I hope.) 

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The Cats of University Heights: Tony

The Fujifilm GFX 50R, paired with Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens, delivers outstanding image quality; today’s cropped Featured Image and fuller-size companion demonstrate the camera’s capabilities. Rather than use a telephoto, I prefer to shoot with a prime lens on a camera that can capture lots of detail, allowing me to crop-in, or recompose, during post-production. The 50R is an IQ over-achiever, and its handling and ergonomics suit my shooting style, too.

I encountered the sleepy white beauty along Golden Gate somewhere between Cleveland and Maryland. Snowball—nickname my wife suggested—is the thirty-seventh feline found behind glass (and/or screen) and usually looking out rather than snoozing. The main portrait is cropped from the other, to spotlight the incredible detail the medium-format camera captures. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/210 sec, 63mm; 9:25 a.m. PST, yesterday. 

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The Cats of University Heights: Siamese Twins

On Feb. 1, 2019, as I walked down Monroe where it hugs the canyon behind Maryland, a bonded pair presented on adjoining properties. I captured several portraits, using Leica Q, planning to return for closer-up shots. I would see the chunkier beastie again, doing its business in another yard—and, well, even felines deserve some dignity, if not their owners. No photo.

While preparing to add the Siamese Twins to the series, using the Leica Q portraits, FedEx delivered the Fujifilm GFX 50R camera and Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens. I intended the medium-frame shooter to replace my departed full-frame Leica M10, which a Mexican wedding photographer purchased four months ago. But the Fuji is considerably larger than imagined, and I strongly considered boxing up without even one shot and returning. 

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The Cats of University Heights: Valentine

Some kitties pull your heartstrings—to somber notes—as did this black and white seen yesterday along Campus Avenue, at the same property where lives the grey that I call Blue. The putty-tat earns its nickname for the day being profiled and for me thinking when looking at its face: “Be mine”, like the text on one of those candy hearts.

Valentine also has the distinction of being the first cat appearing in the series shot using the Fujifilm GFX 50R, which I received four days ago, and Fujinon GF63mmF2.8 R WR lens. Vitals for the Featured Image: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/70 sec, 63mm; 9:13 a.m. Same for the other, but 1/100 sec.