Spreckels Organ Pavilion, before a graduation ceremony. Balboa Park, San Diego, 2025. Canon A-1, FD 50mm f/1.8, Ilford FP4+

I find the U.S.A. a strange, uncanny place. I don’t enjoy being there.

Travelling around Europe you find that, despite different languages and culture, things tend to work the same. In the U.S.A., everyone is speaking English but nothing they say makes any sense.

Shadows cast in a corner of El Prado. El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, 2025. Canon A-1, FD 50mm f/1.8, Kentmere Pan 400

For a place so large, there is a strange cultural homogeneity. Things are bland and functional, and nothing is old. Everyone will call you sir but apparently including taxes in prices is too much to bear.

Road bridge over Mission Bay. Mission Bay, San Diego, 2025. Canon A-1, FD 50mm f/1.8, Kentmere Pan 400

Moving my any means other than a car is discouraged and the cars of an obscene size. Footpaths would sometimes end suddenly. There were many areas which couldn’t be reached except by road.

Walking any significant distance makes you stand out. You worry if you’ll be seen as suspicious by militarised police or proactive citizens with even less oversight despite being similarly armed.

An overbearing sign. Vacation Isle, San Diego, 2025. Canon A-1, FD 50mm f/1.8, Kentmere Pan 400

In the taxi from the airport the driver said “Welcome to paradise”, which seemed an odd thing to say in the middle of a six-lane road flanked by imported trees.

Bridge over a stream. Japanese Friendship Garden, Balboa Park, San Diego, 2025. Canon A-1, FD 50mm f/1.8, Ilford FP4+

The climate was nice and I’m sure the natural landscape would be, if any of it were left. Even the green space feels artificial, with sprinklers and signs to keep everyone in order.

Dome of the California Building. El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, 2025. Canon A-1, FD 50mm f/1.8, Kentmere Pan 400

There is a lot of money. Big infrastructure projects and public buildings are impressive. However, you wish more of it was spent on public transport and less on roads.

As I walked to my conference each morning, through car parks at the marina and again at the hotel, there were a number people living in their cars. Everything here comes back to cars.