ABOUT ME
I was born in 1969 in Beiruit and am of Armenian descent. My parents moved
us to the USA when I was 2 years old and settled in the Boston area. I am an
avid Boston Bruins Hockey and New England Patriots Football fan. Yup...between
the Patriots (3 time Super Bowl Champs) and the Red Sox (World Series Champs),
things have been prrrretty good here in Beantown! As mentioned before, photography
and computers are my two most favorite hobbies.
I stay connected to my Armenian heritage by being involved in the Armenian community,
which is quite large in the Boston area. I am the volunteer webmaster and photographer
for the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston,
a non-profit Armenian dance company. You can see all the pictures I've taken
by going to their site.
MY PHOTO HISTORY
I didn't grow an interest in photography until about 1998. In fact, I used
to poke fun at my dad and his clunky cameras. I wanted a "point-n-shoot". I
didn't want to bother with that "f-stop stuff". Well, I got my wish: I bought
an Olympus Stylus point-n-shoot camera and took it on my honeymoon to Aruba
with me. Somewhere in Aruba, I got bit by an exotic bug known as the "Photography
Bug". I really enjoyed taking pictures! It was FUN! Then, true to my obsessive
self, I became interested in improving my pictures. The obsession followed its
natural course to all my current equipment.
I do all sorts of photography; people pictures, sunsets/sunrises, animals,
macro, flowers and nature scenics, action and sports, especially hockey, but
what I enjoy the most are candid/portrait type photography, nature/scenics and
macro photography of all sorts. I have a fascination with old stone churches
and castles, although there are no castles here, and I love to photograph them.
Maybe it's because many churches are built with tall steeples and look majestic.
Lately I've been doing a lot of portrait type photography. People I know are
asking me to do photo shoots with them. I'm really enjoying that. If I had more
volunteers, I would do more photo-shoots. If you want to do a shoot, let me
know.
MY GEAR
I've switched brands! I bought a Nikon D200 with 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S
DX lens and SB-800 flash. More lenses will be on the way. It was a difficult decision for me to
leave Minolta, but it was time to move. My Maxxum 7D camera malfunctioned and could not be fixed
after four attempts. Sony refunded my money. I did not want to buy the Sony A-100, so I decided
to switch to Nikon. I haven't totally left, though. I still have my Maxxum 7 Film camera with
Minolta 50mm f/1.7 and Sigma 17-35 lenses and my 3500xi flash. In fact, I don't think of myself as
leaving Minolta - I'm leaving Sony!