soniawc's photostream  

I came to Flickr via Ravelry, which somewhat defines me as a knitter and I suppose it fits as I've knitted off and on for the better part of 30 years.

I'm better defined as a writer, best known as a Complete Idiot's Guide author (as Sonia Weiss). Which, I guess, makes me a Complete Idiot. Of sorts. I'm also the co-author of The Everything Guide to Photography among lots of other things.

I've been behind a camera for as long as I can remember, starting at around age 6 with my Brownie, and don't I wish I still had it! I realized a passion for outdoors and nature photography when I worked as a photojournalist for a weekly paper in Western Minnesota in the early 1990s, and it's a passion that continues to this day.

I am a spur of the moment photographer--pretty much grab the camera and go with little planning. As such, almost everything is hand-held and shot with natural light. Every so often I'll get motivated and pull out a tripod for an especially tricky shot, but that calls for a lot of motivation so it rarely happens.

Almost all of my early work appears mostly as shot with the exception of some sharpening up due to my preference for manual focus paired with fairly crappy eyesight. And the hand-held, natural light thing; I tend to push lenses farther than I should. Later work shows some post-processing, mostly levels and curves adjustments, but I try to keep them to a minimum and get what I want through the lens.

What you won't see are added textures, actions, or presets. I admire them (well, some of them anyway, I think they're way, way overused these days), I admire those who do them (especially when the application is skillful and artistic and not done simply to rescue a bad image to begin with), but I personally don't have the time or the patience. Or the software.

If I've added you as a contact, it's because I've seen something in your photo stream that inspires me and I want to see more. I definitely don't expect to be added in return. The same thing goes for contacts the other way...I'm honored if you've seen something of mine that inspires you and you want to see more, but no offense meant if I don't add you as I'm trying to keep my contacts at a manageable level.

Due to my current graduate studies, I don't have time to do much more than fave photos these days, but I appreciate the kind comments on my work and I do try to return the kindness when time permits.

All images are copyrighted but available for use by permission. I'm honored when someone asks, and I usually say yes.

My equipment:
Nikon D60 (thank you DH!)
18-55mm kit lens
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D
55mm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor
Nikon 55-200mm zoom
Super-Takumar 50mm 1.4
Takumar SMC 300mm 4.0
Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 200mm 2.8
Carl Zeiss Jena 29mm 2.8
M2 extension ring

My software:
Nikon Capture DX2
Picnik (back in the day but no longer)