Well, today marks the end of the I ❤ SF contest. And, who wouldda guessed it, I got sick. The only photos I took were shot half-heartedly at best, while I either had a fever, a deep desire to be in bed, or a hacking cough. Huzzah. I’m entering them anyway.
And I did get one I love:
Yeah, it’s a little cliched, but I don’t care. I love night photography, and North Beach is STILL my favorite part of the city, even decades after I sipped my first cappuccino there. I was a little horrified by the crowds on a weekend night, however. It’s been a while since I partied like that, if I ever did. I kinda prefer a dive bar on a Wednesday to a dance bar on a Friday.
By the way, seconds after I snapped this pic I heard a very clear male voice coming to me from the bushes in Washington Square park. “That’s a really bad idea.”
“What?” I stammered, looking up and meeting the eyes of a bearded, 20-something. It was too dark to tell if he was a partier or a bum, and that area has a lot of both. “Am I in a bad spot?”
“Yeah, the bushes are a bad spot.”
I had been a little nervous about being in the square with a (semi)expensive camera and tripod, but it was pretty busy, and I felt confident I could whack any would be thieves a good one. That tripod has some heft. But I was on the sidewalk.
“Um, I’m not in the bushes, I’m on the sidewalk.”
Apparently I was the only one meeting eyes. “This is a bad spot, but I wasn’t talking to you.” It was then I noticed the stream of urine coming from well below his eyes. Ah. Partier, then. I promised him my camera was turned the other way, his friends assured me that wasn’t necessary, I’d need a telephoto lens to catch anything, and I hurried away to offer him a tiny bit of privacy.
It was only as I was hurrying away that I realized I was still missing my picture for the “Bad Idea” category. Darn missed opportunities.
I don’t think there’s any rule about not sharing, so here’s what I’ve got so far. Meh. Coulda done better with a bit more health points, but there’s never a magic potion when you need one.
America, The Strange 
Leave a Reply