Will the Featured Image win awards, or even kudos, for compelling street photography? Never. I don’t have a good supporting story either. The chairs caught my attention for being two, fitting the space placed, and […]
Tag: furniture
Our First Wayfair Purchase Will Be the Last
When our daughter moved in with us on April 11, 2023, my wife and I had decided that an affordable, no-nonsense sleeper-sofa was needed. Our girl, who was recovering from a traumatic brain injury, would be moving into my home office and using the spare bed. Because of my snoring, Annie and I may sleep separately. We only have two beds. Need demanded another, and couch convertible seemed sensible enough choice.
Additionally, our daughter would arrive wheel-chair dependent, and she would be a fall risk. Someone snoozing in the living room could keep somewhat extra vigil, should she be injured moving, or wheeling, about. Some shopping online later, Annie and I chose the Mercury Row Villatoro 66.1″ Armless Sofa Bed Sofa, from Wayfair, for $183.16 including sales tax on April 3. We were more than satisfied with the choice—until today.
Another Alley Treasure
I sometimes wonder why San Diegans put such valuable items in alleys for free. Take this bureau that my wife and I came upon yesterday. The condition is, at the least, very good. Craftmanship is excellent, and the dresser is solid wood—no particle board! Some antique shop might even put a hefty price tag on the discard. If we had need, or space, I would have stood guard while Annie fetched the car.
The find presented opportunity to test one of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s higher megapixel modes. Standard default is 3:4 at 12MP. But 50MP and 200MP are available at the tap of a finger. The Featured Image and companion were shot at the former. Original files measure 8160 x 6120 pixels and weigh in at 14.6MB and 13.1MB, respectively, before being cropped 3:2.
Sale Sofa or a New Car?
Few San Diego neighborhoods can compete with Hillcrest for the financial gulf between those with means and others with little or none. People pay beaucoup bucks to live and party in what I unaffectionately call Hellcrest, where the homeless camp or roam rampant and the housed sidestep those who aren’t like someone might a piece of dog poop.
Sofa sale at one of the finer furniture boutiques had me laughing on Oct. 13, 2022. I can’t say which is funnier: The 50-percent discount or the original price—both of which you can see in the Featured Image, which I captured using Leica Q2 Monochrom through the display window. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 200, 1/100 sec, 28mm; 10:37 a.m. PDT.
‘Keep On Rock’n Me, Baby’
If we lived somewhere else, I would have brought home this rocker, today. But like the giver, we live in an apartment too small (772 square feet) to take on another piece of furniture. How grand and—by my wife’s estimation—”antique” is this fine piece of craftsmanship and upholstery.
Surely giving up something sentimental—”My G’ma’s”—makes the freebee all the more poignantly placed. May the new owner treasure, rather than resell, the chair, in which Annie sat and proclaimed its comfort and sturdiness. Location: Adams Avenue, just East of Park Blvd, in San Diego neighborhood University Heights.
Thunderbird and Chair
The Featured Image is example of a failed photo. I used Leica Q2 to capture the moment on Oct. 15, 2021 and held back sharing because the composition doesn’t work, whether cropped or as shot. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/8, ISO 100, 1/80 sec, 28mm; 4:32 p.m. PDT.
When stopping to look at the crusty chair, abandoned in a University Heights alley, I thought it would nicely juxtapose with the classic car—both being vintage. My mistake.
Bearly Sitting
Somebody give that bear a sobriety test. He looks stuffed—or should I say stiffed—limberly and gleefully slumped in the chair. The evidence of his overnight binge is gone, cleared out by someone collecting bottles and cans for cash recyclable redemption.
I passed by the oversized plushie along Panorama Drive in San Diego’s University Heights district. The walker in front of me grabbed a folding chair, smiling over her find and to me praising its good quality. She should expect no less from where are some of the community’s finest, and presumably wealthiest, homes. Giveaways here aren’t junk.
Have a Seat, Bring Books and Friends
Whether or not intentionally done, these giveaways are arranged like an outdoor living room. Comfy chair is the centerpiece, with stool and fold-up seating for entertaining guests. The bookcase could occupy real reading material—and surely one of the nearby lending libraries could provide a novel for personal perusal or perhaps poetry to share with the group. The other standing shelf would be place to put out food and drinks. The orange cones could cordon space for the gathering.
The setup is exactly how I found it yesterday in the alley separating Alabama and Florida Streets. Seen nearby and previously profiled in my “Cats of University Heights” series: Boxer, Pixie, and Spry.
Ripped Rocker
This chair must be valuable—despite its, ah, drop seat. My University Heights neighbors typically put out giveaways in alleys, but the claimed antique was on a street corner—Georgia and Meade. Hey, that’s the same intersection where my wife found an ugly art print facedown in the street.
I used Leica Q2 to capture the Featured Image, which is composed as shot. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/125 sec, 28mm; 3:59 p.m. PDT, Oct. 7, 2021.
Incomplete
I can say with some confidence that this sofa had three cushions a few days before Aug. 19, 2021, when my Leica Q2 captured the Featured Image. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/800 […]
Garbage In, Garbage Out
Yesterday, a homeless dude slept on this sofa when I walked by. Today, somebody surely seems determined to discourage his return. That is, unless he stacked up the recyclable refuse to protect his siesta spot. I observed the jacket with him when sauntering past and respectively choosing not to take his photo.
Best I can do is the Featured Image, and companion, both captured using Leica Q2. Vitals, aperture manually set for both: f/8, ISO 400, 1/125 sec, 28mm; 9:13 a.m. PDT.
Cookies and Couch
The things you see in San Diego alleys—this one between Cleveland and Maryland in University Heights. As my wife and I approached the exact location where we walked by a discarded 1970s-era gas range 15 […]