​Tell us a little about yourself:

Ciao a tutti! Sono Kristen da Temecula. Excuse me that was my old hobby, learning Italian. I'm from California and have spent most of my life there with the exception of 10 years when I lived in New York City and pursued acting. The survival job for that pipe dream was Word Processing (yep, that was a job before everyone had a PC) which led to my realistic career in computer software support. Last year about this time I purchased a Sony NEX-3 for an upcoming April trip to Italy and started learning how to use the camera and about photography in general. When I returned I concluded my Italian language studies had come to an end and I needed a new hobby, so I upgraded to a Canon 60D and proclaimed photography my new hobby.​

​

​Are you an amateur or a pro photographer?

I am an amateur. I embrace my mediocrity! My motto is “good enough”. Really, I’m just having fun and delighted that Siew thinks I’m a photographer.

 

What do you like to photograph?

​I am jealous of those who live near wonderful landscapes & wildlife, and feature-rich European cities with history and architecture. I'm stuck in a boring and beige California suburb. I'm working on thinking more creatively to invent indoor photo opportunities.

 

​What is in your photography kit?

Canon 60D, 50mm, 100mm Macro, 70-300mm, and kit lenses 18-55mm, 28-105mm. I chose the Canon because my husband already had some lenses.

 

What's your favorite lens?

50mm f1.4 because of the wide aperture and sharpness.

 

​Any favorite photographer(s)?

Just the wonderful folks on DPS and Flickr.

 

​Which is your own favorite picture?

Probably the night photo below because it represents a rare opportunity to photograph at night.  With a 92-year old mother-in-law living with us I rarely get out to photograph at more interesting times of the day or night.

​​​

What is your dream?

​That retirement (7 years away) will afford me opportunities to travel and photograph interesting destinations.

 

​Any advice or great tips to share?

Don't get old. But if you have to, be happy!