The Sunday spot goes to self-titled “Exit Point” by Tormod Ulsberg—for color, composition, contrast, and just being interesting. He says of the shot: “About to enter the Mont Blanc Massif from Aiguille du Midi”, which […]
The Cats of University Heights: Tangerine
For Caturday, we present another fine feline who gets a second chance at making the series—and does so, barely. I encountered the Orange on Dec. 15, 2017, and it’s a meeting easily recalled because of […]
The Urban Pumpkin
Now here’s something you don’t see every day: A pumpkin growing among the decorative greenery-space separating sidewalk and street. My wife and I first came upon the thing sometime last week, while walking home from the grocery store (Smart and Final). Making the same journey today, we were surprised to see the odd round of orange undisturbed. Amazing.
What may not be apparent from the Featured Image (warning: 24MB file), which I captured using Leica Q2: The pumpkin grows precariously close to the street and entrance to a parking lot—on Alabama Street across from the BLVD North Park, which is really located in the less-trendy San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. But, hey, anyone living nearby Smart and Finally can claim to rightly be in North Park. Blvd is real-estate marketing fiction.
Flickr a Week 28: ‘Fishermen’
We welcome Wednesday with an artist featured in my 2015 series with street shot “I’m Board“. Nicolas Alejandro, who joined Flickr in June 2012, disappointingly, is no longer active. But he leaves behind a delightful […]
The Cats of University Heights: Hope
SInce shooting the Featured Image and its companion on Oct. 3, 2017, I have long considered adding the tabby to the series but refrained. The mesh on the patio that turned it into a catio obscured too much, particularly given distance away. But like Candor, the kitty earns a place, on reconsideration; he (or she) is the third presented catio cat (King and Jester are the others).
The furball earns nickname Hope, for longing look and my hoping that the beastie still lives in the apartment (unlikely), which is along Carmelina Drive and behind Old Trolley Barn Park. I used Leica Q and iPhone 7 Plus to capture both portraits, respectively. Vitals for the first: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/250 sec, 28mm; 10:08 a.m. PDT. The other: f/2.8, ISO 20, 1/297 sec, 6.6mm; 10:04 a.m.
Flickr a Week 27c: ‘Lost’
If you don’t know where you’re going, neither does she. Linus Ho presents self-titled “Lost“, which he captured on July 25, 2012 using Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens. Vitals: f/22, ISO 250, 1/60 sec, 17mmm.
Many of his photos are composites, and I cannot say whether or not this one is an authentic moment. But the elements (such as lantern and seagull), composition, and storytelling make the posed portrait a keeper.
Flickr a Week 27b: ‘Ketchikan Creek Street’
We celebrate US Independence Day with an Alaskan serene scene—self-titled “Ketchikan Creek Street“, which Bernard Spragg captured on Sept. 6, 2012 using Sony DSLR-A580 and 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 lens. Vitals: f/11, ISO 400, 1/125 sec, 35mm. […]
The Cats of University Heights: Candor
To the present, we bring the past—and a portrait taken about three-and-a-half months after the series began, in October 2016. I am reviewing and reconsidering discarded kitty pics. The Featured Image, captured on Jan. 31, 2017 using iPhone 7 Plus, is among them. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 20, 1/1808 sec, 6.6mm; 1:31 p.m. PST.
I saw the feline, nicknamed Candor for no particular reason, once and never again—along Madison between Campus and North. He (or she) is the fifty-second profiled furball seen behind either window or door.
Flickr a Week 27a: ‘Happy Canada Day!’
I am so embarrassed. My ancestors on both sides of the family emigrated from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, respectively—and, being a border baby, my attitudes are much more Canadian than American. So how then […]
Flickr a Week 27: ‘Moving House–The Philippine Way’
What a welcoming way to start the second half of 2020, following a tumultuous first six months: some spirit of cooperation—and it will be desperately needed as a pandemic-fractured humanity presses onward. Oh, and let’s […]
Monument to History
As vandals and rioters deface and topple statues around the country, I am reminded of their importance—something steadfastly absorbed during my long residence in the D.C.-metro area. History matters, whether or not racially- and politically-motivated […]
Flickr a Week 26a: ‘Purple Fields–Hitchin Lavender, Cadwell Farm, Hertfordshire’
First-half of turbulent 2020 ends with soothing self-titled “Purple Fields—Hitchin Lavender, Cadwell Farm, Hertfordshire“, which Barbara Asboth captured on Aug. 22, 2015 using Canon EOS 5D Mark III and 28-75mm lens.
“This lady was dressed as the perfect subject in orange against the sea of purple”, Barbara says of the moment. “Processed to have a magical feel to it, just like I felt in person. They were already harvesting the lavender that day, though, so if you want to go see this, you will have to wait until next year for the most beautiful views. It’s worth it, though”. Lovely composition and stunning ethereal feeling take the Sunday spot—and oh, so well-deserved.