Tag: Cats of University Heights

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The Cats of University Heights: Jake

For our last Caturday on Standard Time, before clocks jump (grumble, grumble) one hour ahead, we start an impromptu series of three harnessed felines. Two of them will lead us back to Alabama, where, for reasons that defy logic, more furballs have been seen than on any other street. But first we turn North—not the direction, but the avenue—between Madison and Monroe.

On March 7, 2019, while walking by where once lived Charlie and The Colonel, across the street I saw someone walking a handsome beastie. Of course, such sighting demanded investigation. I introduced myself to the friendly gent and met his beloved pet Jake. The kitty usually gets some out-in-the-yard supervised time; the harness and leash are the new thing, and Jake showed some resistance but not overt unwillingness to being outdoors this way.

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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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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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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.

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The Cats of University Heights: Mewl

Wagering a guess, the shorthair that I call Mewl is a pregnant female. She was needy and noisy—hence the nickname—when my wife and I encountered the kitty along Spalding Place on Feb. 6, 2019. We approached from Madison Avenue through the alley between Park and Georgia, when we saw her walking from street to sidewalk. She turned when I pulled out Google Pixel 3 and loudly and nearly continuously meowed as she came up to us.

I spent some time tweaking the Featured Image and its companion, particularly for highlights and shadows. Vitals: f/1.8, ISO 58, 1/1466 sec, 4.44mm; 10:43 a.m. PST. I let Google Photos auto-tune the second pic, for comparison sake. To my eyes, the first is more color accurate, as captured by the smartphone. The other has a more yellowish hue. Vitals: f/1.8, ISO 57, 1/1565 sec; 4.44mm; 10:43 a.m. 

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The Cats of University Heights: Shy

Happy Caturday! Meet our thirty-sixth behind-the-window watcher, whom I have seen several times over the past few weeks. During the portraiture session a couple days before the Featured Image, a young man returning home said that was his kitty, Shy, looking out. None of the shots, taken with Google Pixel 3, precisely auto-focused on the shorthair.

But on Feb. 3, 2019, with Leica Q, I could manually focus just right. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/320 sec, 28mm; 11:14 a.m. PST. Shy lives in the same apartment complex as Honey Bunny, who was the 11th cat to appear in the series. Shy is number 244. BTW, Veruca lives on the same block, along Meade.