I just got back from a trip for work out to San Diego that I had simultaneously been dreading and been excited about. The trip was for a conference and networking, with which I’ve historically had a poor track record. Since I was there mostly for work I didn’t bring a camera and figured I would just take snapshots of random stuff with my phone.
It turned out I had more free time than anticipated and I was able to do a lot of exploring around the city. San Diego is amazingly walkable and being there a over seven days I walked a little more than 43 miles according to my phone, however accurate that is. The first two days it rained all day which gave the city an almost dreamlike effect while walking around at night. I almost instantly felt more comfortable and at home there than I did in DFW.
The feeling of being more connected likely has to do with more kinetic activity and the much greater amount of stimulation (visual, aural, olfactory), as well as the fact that the newness drives one to the present moment. I think about this a lot and about what it is about certain environments that makes them feel more conducive to inspiration and a kind of self-propelling energy.
Anyway, I ended up taking a lot of photos, mostly shots from the hip of various people around of San Diego. What ended up being the primary focus for me was the ever-present homelessness.
Numerous times me smiling and making eye contact set off street people into wild speeches and violent yelling. Their behavior and the (for the most part) non-interaction of the more well-off locals and tourists made it feel like I was watching two parallel realities at once. In many cases, I think I was, though I could only see one side. Regardless, I was intrigued and felt like I was somewhere in between in a way.
I felt the disparity acutely the second night—after having a $300 meal with few people in a fancy hotel, overlooking the ocean and a serene sunset—afterward I walked the streets to explore and have some alone time. I ran into numerous people peering over trash receptacles head-first, searching for food. Instantly I felt a wave of emotions, mostly sadness and anger, and I decided I would try to document what I would come across.
The quality of the photos is a little rough due to them being from the phone but I believe they express the overall feel. I have some more photos I might add later, as well as some stories, and better descriptions.