San Diego Pictures

Scripps Pier at sunset, perfect for walking the dogs at low tide. Shot on an iPhone X.

Sony ZV‑1 with mini tripod, fuzzy mic cover, and some sticky baseball bat tape for a nice solid grip. Originally I just got it as a fancy webcam for work, then I started using it for photography practice and to mix it up from using my phone like usual.

A close up shot from the Sony, showing the fine details you get when using a simple point and shoot camera, even one optimized for video instead of portraits like the ZV-1. Just look at the whiskers on Cosmo's face and the little tufts of fur on his ears. So crisp.

Zoom out and notice the lack of weird color halos you get when phones blur some of the subject. Also see how the background is slightly more in focus towards the bottom of the photos, the closer you get to the camera. Pretty good for such a small little thing.

Self-portrait to test out a super shallow focus. The foreground elements are almost an impossible shot for phones. Also look at how the sides of my face are a little blurry too, but in a subtle and pleasing way rather than a blending it into the background. I've learned so much from getting these kinds of shots from a camera without a viewfinder.

My niece loves picking flowers with her grandparents. The macro mode on the Sony holds up pretty well, especially outdoors.

I got my nephew into building model kits, right around the same age that I started. Indoor macro shots are little softer and harder to pull off.

Statue at Harbor Island.

I do like how the phone camera is always with you and can capture candid moments, like this one where an artist is teaching a young girl how to paint while working on a mural. Check out more of his colorful work at mexikota_art on Instagram

Chicano Park has the country's largest collection of murals.

Mural of Frida Kahlo, one of the most famous Mexican artists. Is that Diego Rivera in the corner above her?

Describing the legacy of the art in Chicano Park

The Chicano Park kiosko, a gazebo designed by architect Alfredo Larín in a style reminiscent of Aztec and Mayan architecture and painted by muralists Vargas, Aguirre and Adame.

General Emiliano Zapata, 1879‑1919

Walking through the cabins at Big Bear Lake early in the morning.

Cute little touch in front of our cabin at Big Bear Lake

Julian is a nearby country town from the Gold Rush era and is famous for its apple pie.

Scarecrow near a fruit stand

Julian has good eats

Another cute statue at Big Bear Lake. The place has tons of them.

Pam's Place, a roadside stand with a moving story and amazing jerky that sadly closed recently.

We took in some majestic views when driving back from Big Bear.

Disney California Adventure being open for free during the pandemic is something I'll never forget.

Grizzly Peak Airfield is home to Soarin' Over California, my favorite ride at DCA.

I love the retro National Parks vibe, reminds me of wanting to be Boy Scout as a kid.

Kate Sessions, 1857‑1940. Scientist, horticulturist, nurserywoman, and "Mother of Balboa Park".

Flamingos at the San Diego Zoo

Balbo Park is home to the San Diego Zoo, countless museums, beautiful gardens, and a ton of other things to do. It's a fun park to walk around and soak in the sights.

The aviary at Balboa Park

Shakespeare: "As long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this and this gives life to thee."

The typically colorful kind of thing you see in the hippie enclave of Ocean Beach

A hostel right on the main drag

Your typical surfer town

Golden hour by the San Diego River

Fishing in the heart of the city

The famed Del Mar racetrack at dawn is next to one of my favorite dog beaches.

The marsh trails are the secret back way to the famed OB dog beach, the country's largest.

Me and my little guy at Del Mar.

La Jolla Shores on an early overcast morning, looking towards the pier at Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

Where the San Diego River meets Ocean Beach.

South Mission Beach

The old convention center in Mission Valley has a retro Vegas vibe.

Dudley

Cosmo