Tag: murals

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 23, 20269:32 pm

A Courageous Man

This is supposed to be Dr. King—Martin Luther, Jr.—yes? I came upon the face mural on May 11, 2026, when walking through San Diego neighborhood South Park. GPS and Google Maps puts the location as along 30th Street between Redwood and Thorn streets.

I really like South Park, which chirps community charm. Small businesses tuck in everywhere, and many are located in what otherwise would be single-family homes. Few structures are taller than two-stories. The atmosphere is other-worldly small town, punctuated by an eclectic mix of bungalows, cottages, Craftsmans, and other vintage single-family homes. Estimated population is a few hundred short of 6,000.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 13, 20269:57 pm

Welcome to (burp, belch)…

On my walk home to University Heights from South Park on May 11, 2026, I came across a decorative utility box that demanded my photographic attention. But as I reached for Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, a woman walked out of a business dragging a can of empty beer bottles, blocking full view of the mural. As she returned to the establishment, a gent came out with another container half-full. She started dragging a third one.

That was my cue to abandon the shot, and then I rethought the opportunity: The can of bottles makes more interesting composition and creates speculative storytelling opportunity. Welcome to, ah, tippled South Park. Correct me for saying, but isn’t that quite a lot of empties for one night’s business? How many people were getting drunk?

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 6, 202610:17 pm

What’s Normal About This?

The same day I photographed Queen, March 26, 2026, my attention turned to a mural promoting Normal Heights (where our car was in the shop for a small repair). I don’t recall ever seeing the street art on any earlier visit. One or two parked cars impeding the view would be enough to keep me walking instead of stopping.

But this day was different, and I took advantage of the unobstructive view to shoot the Featured Image using Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Vitals: f/1.4, ISO 64, 1/2500 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 8:18 a.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxFeb 13, 202610:45 pm

I See a Lucky Day

Some people are superstitious about Friday the 13th; they see an unlucky day. I juxtapose them, by regarding it the luckiest day of the year. Two-thousand-twenty-six is the harbinger of good fortune: Three, count them, three Friday the 13ths—one in March and another in November.

That’s one of the ways I see the world. For years my personal motto was “Why not?” It’s the question to ask whenever someone stops because of perceived barrier. For example, “I can’t go to school today”. Well, why not?

Photo by Joe WilcoxJan 29, 20269:04 pm

Getting Good Graffiti

Last Summer, I started seeing sophisticated graffiti splash upon utility boxes across University Heights. My mistake. The San Diego village commissioned local artists to dress up the boxes, and so they did to about 51 of them.

The Featured Image and first companion catch artists at work on a box located near the intersection of Florida Street and El Cajon Blvd. Both photos come from Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, on Aug. 17, 2025. Vitals, first: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/500 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 3:02 p.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 8, 20259:22 pm

The Fix is In

Where have I been? Posting has been light for an extended period of time and non-existent since May 21, 2025. Couple months back, I developed an inguinal hernia; right side. Interestingly, or not, I had one repaired on the left side around age eight.

Surgery took place 10 days ago, and healing advances nicely. The surgeon operated at an outpatient surgical center, which I initially regarded skeptically, presuming a hospital must be better. But thinking differently, later supported by experience: What better place than where surgeons and support staff cut all day long? Practice makes perfect as they say, and a surgical center must be prepped and ready to handle the unexpected.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 10, 202510:02 pm

Mighty Mural

There is something strange about the things you pass by often, maybe every day, to which you are blind. You don’t see them. The Featured Image and companion capture portion of a mural that I walked by dozens and dozens of times—simply ignored, until today.

The artwork spans a cement block wall along the alley-side of a home here in my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. The motif features kids at play mixed with Eastern religious symbology; pardon my ignorance but perhaps Hindu.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 25, 20249:33 pm

She Gives Good Advice

San Diego alleys can be treacherous for pedestrians and vehicles, particularly where they meet main streets. If the driver turns too quickly and sharply into or out of the alley, an accident could occur.

The young woman in the Featured Image gives good advice. Meade Ave. is busier than ever, with traffic circles placed every few blocks and the street being designated as the major bike thruway from North Park to Mid-City—about 5.6 km (3.5 miles)—and part of a larger 21-km (13-mile) route.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 27, 20246:49 pm

Politics Stress Relief

As I write, the first Presidential debate, between presumptive candidates Joseph Biden and Donald Trump, is underway. For now, my intention is not to watch. Later, I will start with clips and possibly peek at a recorded version through which I can fast-forward and pause. The live event promises to be pure poison.

Or stated differently: Various manifestations of elder abuse. Seriously? You ask. Yes, Biden for his sheer presence and demand to stand and be mentally present for 90 minutes or so. Trump, for the abrasive handling by the hostile CNN moderators.

Photo by Joe WilcoxFeb 15, 202410:02 pm

Brushing University Heights

Some San Diego stoplights take so long to turn that they present unexpected opportunities—like taking the Featured Image. At Madison and Texas, I observed an artist painting the village’s name on a utility box. My wife and I were in the car headed to Costco.

We sat so long at the Red that I could claw Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra out of my snug jeans pocket; unlock the device; launch the camera app; roll down the window; tap 5x zoom; and (finally) compose three shots. Whew. And still there was time to spare!

Photo by Joe WilcoxOct 18, 202310:51 pm

The Most Unaffordable City

San Diego is too prestigious a place. In July 2023, rents exceeded San Francisco. Yikes! Last month, the median-selling price for residences (houses and more) topped $1 million. The city earns yet another distinction: U.S. News & World Report has crowned San Diego as “#1 in most expensive places to live”. Uh, yeah.

Los Angeles is second; broadly, California cities capture seven spots in the top ten. Oh joy. I marvel at how suddenly—catastrophically—was the transition from, quoting the motto, “America’s finest city” to America’s most unaffordable place to live. Four years ago, food, sundries, and housing cost so much less.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 11, 20239:58 pm

Lucky Shot

If like me you own Galaxy S23 Ultra, rush to the Samsung Members app and opt-in for the One UI 6 beta. The camera app receives some refinements that are worth trying out. Why wait, if you mustn’t—and testers help improve the software. The changes are topic for another day, after I spend some serious time exploring them.

But I can attest to improved low-light shooting from the walk taken this evening. Colors are richer and more accurate; previously, washed out highlights was a problem. As the shooter in my pocket improves over time, and subsequently I carry around Leica Q2 less often, the question emerges: Is a full-frame camera even necessary?