Tag: urban photography

Photo by Joe WilcoxJul 5, 20269:15 pm

Bacari, North Park

The trek through North Park yesterday took me past a most European—and completely out-of-place—building along 30th Street. When I pulled out Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 lens to shoot the Featured Image, I thought the structure might be a single or multi-unit residence.

Instead, the place, Bacari, is a restaurant. Judging from public photos, the interior is even more ornate and old-worldly than the exterior. But the European allure, at least as a stock shot, is lost to the double row of recycle and trash bins below the balcony.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 18, 20269:39 pm

When AI Chooses for You

We lose our mailman next week. My street will no longer be on his route as of Thursday (June 25, 2026). He was informed that as part of restructuring, the U.S. Postal Service would adjust routes.

He warned us then his territory could change—and neither he, nor his direct superiors, nor others in the organization had a say in the decision. The Postal Service outsourced the task, so to speak, to an Artificial Intelligence.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 17, 20269:53 pm

The Great Escape, and Not the First Time

This morning my wife rang, unexpectedly. After a brisk morning of cooking, she had gone out for an unwinding walk. I stayed behind to clean up the kitchen and wash dishes. She called after coming upon a wayward rabbit. By fur color, this was a wild bunny. But another characteristic revealed a domesticated animal. Somebody’s pet.

When living in the Washington, DC area, our family owned two bunnies: Daisy and Mayflower. Both had floppy ears, which is not a trait exhibited in nature. As you can see from the Featured Image and companions, this rabbit has floppy ears, which are a product of domestication and selective breeding.

Living by Joe WilcoxJun 12, 202610:32 pm

Why My Facebook Handle Isn’t My Name

For nearly all of my publicly-facing online identities, my name is the handle. Consider, for example, Flickr and X, which I joined in October 2005 and December 2006 (when Twitter), respectively. I set up Facebook in October 2006, long before the service allowed anyone to choose a handle.

On June 13, 2009, at 12:01 a.m. EST, Facebook opened up the landgrab to claim a personalized username. That worked out to 9:01 p.m. on the 12th for we Westcoasters. Unfortunately, I was nowhere near a computer, waiting with our daughter for her flight from Long Beach, Calif. to one of three major Washington, D.C.-area airports (I don’t recall which).

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 9, 202610:05 pm

Getting Ready for the 250th

The United States of America’s 250th birthday is weeks away. But you wouldn’t have an itsy-bitsy inkling in my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. The measure of patriotism here is support for the next No Kings protests on June 14, 2026 or the number of paraded pride flags, which outnumber another symbol: Upside-down American flags.

So, tonight, I was delighted to pass this classic Craftsman decked out with American bunting decor and string lights. Finally, someone prepares for the Fourth of July—unless their objective is Flag Day on the Fourteenth.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 8, 202610:05 pm

Too Good To Go

I install few apps on my phone or tablet, not trusting how intrusively nosey and tracking they can be. But a few exceptions are notable, one being Too Good to Go. The Wilcox family uses the app almost daily now, for finding good food made available at substantial discount.

The stuff might otherwise be trashed, particularly because of local regulations that restrict fresh, produced goods’ salability after set time period. Freshness is another consideration. Both could apply to baked goods, such as bagels or donuts. Over-production is an additional factor. Maybe the pizzeria has too many slices leftover at the end of day.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 5, 202610:36 pm

Galaxy AI Presents Graffiti Garage

The Featured Image is several stories all intertwined over time. Let’s start with the past. In November 2024, my wife and I passed an excellent bookcase in an alley with some items placed on the shelves. We were ready to haul it off when a woman walked across the way and placed more things. We assumed that she owned the lot of stuff, and we decided to not interfere with how she wanted to put out giveaways.

We were mistaken, by the way. Nothing in that alley belonged to her.

Photo by Joe WilcoxJun 4, 20269:47 pm

How We Missed a Day

I believe that yesterday was the first day missed posting to this site since daily publishing started on Jan. 1, 2024. Last night, I drove my daughter to the local emergency room and stayed with her during the short—as in several hours—examination. False alarm. She worried for nothing. On a different day, with more time, I may explain about what.

I didn’t think to take a photo last night, so we’re pulling art from the archive. The Featured Image comes from Apple iPhone XS on Feb. 21, 2021. Vitals: f/1.8, ISO 25, 1/2208 sec, 4.25mm; 11:37 a.m. PST.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 27, 20269:39 pm

The Ultimate Political Authority

I wholeheartedly agree. Our ultimate political authority in the United States is the Constitution. However, while the sign is meant as repudiation of Donald Trump and his Presidency, I do not support the “No Kings” movement. The rallies stir up resentment and fan the flames of fiery, feisty anger that is violence-bound.

I used Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens to capture the Featured Image on April 4, 2026. Vitals: f/8, ISO 250, 1/500 sec, 400mm; 1:42 p.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMay 24, 20269:45 pm

Patron Saint of Socks

What does this scene represent? The angelic creature appears to be hanging over the laundry. He is supposed to bring calm, joy, and relief, which I guess translates to some kind of blessing for the pesky pull-ons that cushion (protect and keep warm) the feet within the shoes.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, today. I shot through a chain-link fence, navigating obstructions, which dictated the composition. Vitals: f/2.9, ISO 50, 1/1000 sec, 115mm (film equivalent); 1:33 p.m. PDT.

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 18, 20269:41 pm

It’s Not In-N-Out, But, Okay

I apologize but it’s a quick post this evening. Our daughter demanded some tender loving care, which was overdue—and the day stopped being mine late-afternoon. She is time well spent.

We walked to Sonic, uncustomarily, because it’s a Fifties/Sixties-style carhop joint. We brought no car, which made ordering food on my phone almost ridiculous. To check-in, I had to designate a stall; Sonic provided no lobby option. So. we stood in No. 4, and someone roller-skated out with the meal.