SoCalBob's photostream  

WELCOME TO MY PROFILE -- THANKS FOR VISITING.

Please Note: All images are copyrighted © by Robert Willard, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of photos in any manner without the expressed, written permission of the photographer is prohibited by law.

All of my images on Flickr are available for purchase or licensing. If you would like to use one of my photos, please send me an email at robert_willard@sbcglobal.net.


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I got hooked on photography in the ninth grade (1956) when Santa delivered this Kodak Pony 135 Model C and my love affair with Kodachrome began.



Photography was a major part of my life through high school and college, working in a neighborhood camera store, taking photos for the school yearbooks and local newspapers, and operating a thriving little commercial photography business. Then photography got sidelined for awhile, eclipsed by more pressing things in life, but I never stopped taking pictures.

Fast forward to the digital revolution that rekindled my enthusiasm about 15 years ago. After owning three P&S cameras I bought a Nikon D50, and I was hooked again.

In 2005 I discovered Flickr and found a whole new interactive dimension to my interest in photography. I started. and currently administer, three very successful and active Flickr groups:

Nikon DSLR Users -- The Bistro -- www.flickr.com/groups/nikondslr_bistro/

Nikon 18-200 VR -- www.flickr.com/groups/nikon_18-200_vr/

The Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 DC MACRO OS -- www.flickr.com/groups/sigma17-70os/
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My current active DSLR equipment:

Nikon D7000 -- Features and functions that were previously only available in pro bodies, the most amazing camera I've ever owned.
Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM -- Versatile and razor-sharp wide to mid-range walkaround zoom with near-macro capability, and a most impressive Best Buy.
Nikon 70-300 VR -- Light, and compact, extremely sharp for a telephoto zoom. A favorite lens of mine that I use a lot that has become a Nikon consumer classic.
Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 -- A "Best Buy" that I use infrequently, but it performs beautifully when I need real wide angle.
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 -- Seldom used, but always in my bag when I need speed and maximum sharpness from one of Nikon's best classic prime lens designs.
Tamron 18-270 f/3.5-6.3 VC PZD -- My "Swiss Army knife" lens, compact and lightweight, a top tier super zoom.

My favorite P&S:

Canon Powershot S90 -- A great little P&S pocket camera that now goes everywhere with me when I don't want to carry a DSLR, notable for superior high-ISO performance.

Backup Equipment:

Nikon D90 -- The natural progression from a D50 and D80 that served me very well (now my backup body).
Nikon 18-200 VR -- My main walkaround lens for 4 years, now replaced in my bag by the Sigma 17-70 and Tamron 18-270, but still in my inventory for use on an as-needed basis.