Category: Photo

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 14, 20209:27 pm

Streamline Barber Shop

Strange the things you see every day and ignore until the unexpected occurrence draws your attention. Last week, for reasons I won’t bother guessing, YouTube’s algorithm recommended video “I Bought An Airstream! Tiny Home Project” by vlogger Monica Church. Bored, I watched—and, admittedly, intrigued.

Yesterday, while walking along the alley behind Coronavirus-closed LeStat’s, I walked by the Airstream perennially parked there and took fresh notice. With the “shelter-in-place” orders still shuttering most businesses, but restrictions marginally lifting in California, the area was deserted—and I had been looking for something, anything, reasonable to photograph. Out came the Leica Q2.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 13, 20208:40 pm

Yes, But Did She Foresee the Pandemic?

Times are tough for small businesses that thrive on person-to-person contact, courtesy of stay-at-home orders closing commercial operations and schools. California Governor Gavin Newsom has outlined a four-stage reopening ramp-up to semi-normalcy. Nail salons are relegated to the third phase. Psychics, too, perhaps?

How unfortunate, because reliable fortune-telling should be in big-time demand during the pandemic. If I were this soothsayer, who should be able to see the way without my saying, Zoom would be the remote-conferencing choice rather than FaceTime. Gather together a family and offer a group discount, or employees from a (supposedly) temporarily closed business. They have questions, and you have answers!

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 13, 202012:03 am

Flickr a Week 20: ‘February Super Snow Moon’

The week goes to Steve McClanahan for self-titled “February Super ‘Snow’ Moon“, which is “playing hard to get behind the San Francisco Bay Bridge”, he explains. Ambience, character, composition, and contrasting elements—natural and man-made—make the […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 10, 202012:04 am

Flickr a Week 19a: ‘Afterbath’

Happy Mother’s Day, readers. We celebrate with self-titled “Afterbath“, which Gerry Dincher shot on April 4, 2020, using Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. Vitals: f/4, ISO 80, 1/250 sec, 5mm. Released more than 11 years ago, […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 6, 202012:03 am

Flickr a Week 19: ‘A Spring Snow Fall in Prescott, Wisconsin’

The pandemic almost returned to the series with “Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy in Quarantine” by Lorie Shaull. But after reviewing her Photostream, I couldn’t pass by self-titled “A Spring Snow Fall in Prescott, Wisconsin“, which […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 5, 20201:54 pm

Joy in the Midst of Pandemic

Yesterday, while walking up Monroe Ave. on the west side of San Diego’s University Heights neighborhood, I came upon an unexpected sign of hope—and maybe a little despair—strangely appropriate as Mother’s Day approaches and the […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 3, 202012:04 am

Flickr a Week 18a: ‘Lathering’

Monochrome is an art form popular among street shooters, but the purest excellence takes typical things and makes them monuments to hues of grey and black, of light and shadows. Bernhard Hanakam captured self-titled “Lathering” […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 2, 20201:53 pm

My Home Office Buddies

For this fine first Caturday in May, I present a portrait of our kitties rather than one from my “Cats of University Heights” series. Neko sits atop the Casabelle Mail Center purchased from Pier 1 […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 29, 202012:08 am

Flickr a Week 18: ‘Smile’

We end a month mostly dominated by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)—also known as COVID-19—viral pandemic posts and begin fresh focus on lively, or inspiring, storytelling. “Smile“, by Nana B. Agyei, is anecdote to […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 26, 202012:01 am

Flickr a Week 17b: ‘COVID-19’

With much of the United States largely still shut down to combat the viral pandemic, cities look more like post-apocalyptic movie sets and little resemble bustling bastions of human habitation. Self-titled “COVID-19“—also known as SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)—captures the loneliness with foreboding colors, punchy contrast, and captivating composition. At any other time, the street shot would beg questions: “Why is he wearing a mask?” “Is that cosplay for the comic book convention?” Here and now, we know—and the dude’s protective gear impresses compared to the bandanas and home-made face coverings many of us wear.

Chris Yarzab captured the moment on March 26, 2020, using Nikon D80 and 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 lens. Vitals: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/200 sec, 110mm. There are different street-shooting styles. While many photographers get close to their subjects, such as zone-focus adherents, others reach from afar to produce their art; like Chris. Besides, the long-shot also adheres to strict “social distancing” guidelines. The portrait was taken in Panorama City, which is a Los Angeles neighborhood.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 25, 20207:02 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Bella, Too

Who would have guessed? Another Bella lives on Alabama—and about a block separates the kitties. The new gal is the fiftieth feline seen on the street, between boundaries Adams and Lincoln; her namesake was profiled in November 2017. Bella, Too lives in the same apartment complex as Penny and where once resided Pedro; he has gone to live with his owner’s parents, whose place provides more run-around space.

The pretty Tuxedo is 15 years old, curious, and energetic. Problem: She recently started having sporadic seizures, that increased from one every few weeks to about every day. Preliminary diagnosis: Brain tumor. I could see during my conversation with her dad how much the affliction bothers him. Which leads into a strange side benefit to the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)—aka COVID-19—lockdown: Working from home means he can monitor her condition, and (my words, not his) maybe ensure she lives longer.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 24, 20203:22 pm

I Wonder How Much is the Pet Rent for THAT

About a month ago, I spotted a porker outside of a cottage apartment that my wife and I briefly considered renting sometime last year. While charming, with excellent windows, and lower monthly obligation than our current place, the one-bedroom flat came up short on living space; we wanted a little more square footage, not lots less. How then is it big enough for the current residents, which I guess includes the pig?

Then there is the question of pet rent, which already is an abomination applied to cats and dogs—and it’s too common a fee here in San Diego. Consider BLVD North Park, which actually is located in University Heights: Prospective tenants pay a $400 deposit for their animals and $50 additional monthly rent for each one. The fifty, even one-hundred, is typical for places demanding the fee—and so is $500 for deposit, which may not be refundable. Landlords could as reasonably pump a pint of blood from each resident, every 14 days, for the plasma. The vampires.