Tag: magic

The beauty of coiled, knotted, magical ropes.

Late yesterday I sat for a spell on the poop deck of Star of India, gazing out across San Diego Bay. The cool sea breeze felt so refreshing after a day of summer heat. White sails traversing the sparkling water gave my eyes a welcome rest.

As my attention shifted, I became aware of the tall ship’s ropes that rose in a web all around me. Many were fastened to a row of wooden belaying pins along the ship’s rail.

Those beautiful ropes seemed like magic. Silent and unbreakable, coiled and knotted–twisted, mysterious, purposeful. Threading together a small wind-tossed world.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Cosplay and magic at 2018 Comic-Con!

Cosplay and magic fill the area behind the San Diego Convention Center during 2018 Comic-Con!
Cosplay and magic fill the area behind the San Diego Convention Center during 2018 Comic-Con!

Late this morning I enjoyed Comic-Con by walking behind the San Diego Convention Center, then through The Experience by Petco Park. This first batch of fun photos is from the area behind the convention center.

As usual, I encountered a bunch of super creative cosplay and magic at every turn!

A Star Wars stormtropper holds a humorous sign. Support the Troops.
A Star Wars stormtropper holds a humorous sign. Support the Troops.
Long morning lines wrapped this way and that, but nobody seemed to mind.
Long morning lines wrapped this way and that, but nobody seemed to mind.
Cedric Diggory cosplay. An early glimpse of magic.
Cedric Diggory cosplay. An early glimpse of magic.
Some cosplay pooches are part of the big spectacle.
Some cosplay pooches are part of the big spectacle.
These Wonder Women made cool skirts out of old Justice League swag bags!
These Wonder Women made cool superhero skirts out of old Justice League swag bags!
Good thing Nick Fury called Captain Marvel. Here she comes now to save the day!
Good thing Nick Fury called Captain Marvel. Here she comes now to save the day!
These zombies paused for a photo at the foot of the steps up to the convention center.
These zombies paused for a photo at the foot of the steps up to the convention center.
I was told this cosplay is Bird Person.
I was told this cosplay is Bird Person.
Check out this awesome cosplay! It's Fire Archangel Velajuel, a Summoners War Sky Arena Monster.
Check out this awesome cosplay! It’s Fire Archangel Velajuel, a Summoners War Sky Arena Monster.
I was told this funny cosplay is Pac-Gentleman.
I was told this funny cosplay is Pac-Gentleman.
Lots of visitors to 2018 Comic-Con were checking out the Bandai Dragon Ball activation.
Lots of visitors to 2018 Comic-Con were checking out the Bandai Dragon Ball activation.
Vegeta cosplay.
Vegeta cosplay.
Mario and Luigi prepare for battle.
Mario and Luigi prepare for battle.
I was told this cosplay is Radioactive Man.
I was told this cosplay is Radioactive Man.
That's my kind of superhero. One who brings ice cream! Who needs a utility belt?
That’s my kind of superhero. One who brings ice cream! Who needs a utility belt?
Cyclops was good enough not to remove his visor.
Cyclops was good enough not to remove his visor. The ice cream might melt.
Cosplay of some Mad Max post-apocalyptic characters.
Amazing cosplay of some Mad Max post-apocalyptic characters.
Hopefully Kylo Ren does me in before I have to witness one of his temper tantrums.
Hopefully Kylo Ren does me in before I have to witness another one of his ridiculous temper tantrums.
At the FOX activation for The Passage, a scientist in a white lab jacket shows the first human to be resistant to all known diseases. Unfortunately he has to drink blood.
At the FOX activation for The Passage, a scientist in a white lab jacket shows me the first human to be resistant to all known diseases. Unfortunately he has to drink human blood.
Rorschach cosplay. Somehow he could make the inkblot on his mask change appearance.
Rorschach cosplay. Somehow using his lips he could make the inkblot on his mask change appearance.
Some poor guy is caught between a fight between Peter Griffin and Ernie the Giant Chicken.
Some poor guy is caught between a fight between Peter Griffin and Ernie the Giant Chicken.
A look at the FXhibition area near the Hilton Bayfront, behind the San Diego Convention Center.
A look at the FXhibition area near the Hilton Bayfront, behind the San Diego Convention Center.
Another look. It's late Saturday morning at 2018 Comic-Con.
Another look. It’s late Saturday morning at 2018 Comic-Con.
People place their heads in Archer character cubes for an unusual photo opportunity.
People place their heads in Archer character cubes for an unusual photo opportunity.
Here's Camp Paddy's outhouse.
Here’s Camp Paddy’s outhouse.
Now that's one very bizarre photograph being taken.
Now that’s one very bizarre photograph being taken.
Zatanna cosplay. Magic is her specialty.
Zatanna cosplay. Magic is her specialty.
She must have waved her magic wand, because there's wonderful cosplay all over the place!
She must have waved her magic wand, because there’s wonderful cosplay all over the place!
A cool FX guy poses beside a Mayans MC motorcycle for my camera.
A cool FX guy poses beside a Mayans MC motorcycle for my camera.
Mera blinked. Must be all that dry air outside of the water.
Mera blinked. Must be all that dry air above the water.
Chillin' at the FXhibition.
Chillin’ at the FXhibition.
Magicians perform, delighting young and old alike. There's endless magic at Comic-Con!
Magicians perform, delighting young and old alike. There’s endless magic at Comic-Con!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Harry Potter characters cosplay at Comic-Con!

Professor Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore cosplay at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.
Professor Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore cosplay at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.

I missed the Harry Potter cosplay meetup today at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con, but I did manage to photograph many of the characters when I happened to see them walking about the Gaslamp Quarter!

Of course, wouldn’t you know, the one character I didn’t find was Harry himself.

Hermione Granger cosplay.
Hermione Granger cosplay.
Newt Scamander cosplay.
Newt Scamander cosplay.
Knight Bus conductor and Hogwarts Express conductor cosplay.
Knight Bus conductor and Hogwarts Express conductor cosplay.
Molly Weasley cosplay.
Molly Weasley cosplay.
Bellatrix Lestrange cosplay.
Bellatrix Lestrange cosplay.
Dolores Umbridge cosplay.
Dolores Umbridge cosplay.
Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy cosplay.
Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy cosplay.
Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody cosplay.
Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody cosplay.
Rubeus Hagrid cosplay along with "Mad-Eye" Moody at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.
Rubeus Hagrid cosplay along with “Mad-Eye” Moody at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

That moment you see inexplicable magic.

There are moments when this world seems suddenly, inexplicably transformed.

New light.

New perception.

New understanding.

A short story came to me yesterday while I sat in Balboa Park across from a splashing fountain. My eyes were resting on the broad scene.

So many people, engaged in every sort of activity. So much humanity. And at the center of it all, that everlasting fountain.

Shimmering and shining like magic.

I took out my pen and wrote down a few inspired words.

They might form a short story, or they might form a poem–I’ll let you decide. Read it here.

Golden hour photos in Balboa Park.

Last Friday, before joining a small group at dusk searching for bats by the lily pond, I walked around Balboa Park and captured a series of photos.

The golden hour before sunset is indeed magical.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Do you love Balboa Park? Follow my special blog which I call Beautiful Balboa Park!

Naruwan Taiko’s thundering, unabashed joy!

This afternoon I headed to the Pacific Rim Festival in Chula Vista’s Bayside Park. I’ll blog more about this fun event shortly!

The highlight of my day was an incredible performance by Naruwan Taiko!

Imagine resonant, heart-pounding, pulsing beats, and drummers swinging unstoppable arms in a synchronized dance. Imagine smiles and shouts, muscles and sweat, powered by a pure love of life. For a few moments Bayside Park was stirred by magic. Hearts were lifted by thundering, unabashed joy!

I was ready to leap over the sun!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Streams of sunlight above the bay.

A dark wall of clouds as day ended. The magic before sunset was fleeting. Like a miracle, streams of sunlight touched San Diego Bay.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!