Photographyreview: The People

[Sushigaijin]

I'll just follow up the SPAM with a little on-topic post

And as I was typing that, I got PM SPAM. Awesome.

Name:
Erik Williams

Meaning of handle:
I've been making sushi professionally for a half dozen years - Sushigaijin was the name of a private chef company I started.

Dorky PR club I belong to:
Nobody loves me :cryin:


Location:
Chicago, IL.

Born:
Chicago, IL

Other places I've lived:
San Francisco, Pearson Wi.

Like to Retire:
Of course! But that's putting the cart before the horse! I'm torn between owning (but not working in) a bar on the beach in the Caribbean, or a stucco house in NM, or maybe a farm in southern IL.

Ethnicity:
Lithuanian and Irish. That's about as Chicago as it comes.

Marriage/Family:
Married with a slight chance of children. Only after I can provide for them what wasn't provided for me. My mom really tried very hard - but I want my children to have all the things I couldn't, and all the things I could also.

Languages I speak:
English and pretty passable spanish. Mostly the stuff that you don't use around your grandmother. Working in kitchens for half of your life will do that.

Education:
Proud college (political science) drop out. Best choice I never made.

Occupation:
Chef, Morgan Harbor Grill in Chicago.

Religious affiliation :
Atheist.

Political affiliation:
Political conservative, social liberal. Or, left of left with right wing tendencies.

Other hobbies: Herping. Bonsai trees, carnivorous plants, collecting straight razors, collecting beetles, kitchen knives, tattoos...you name it, I probably collect it.

How long I have been a photographer:
I've had a camera for at least 15 years. I've actually known how to use it (to some extent!) for about four.

First "real" camera:
Minolta SRT101 and a Yashica MAT 124G. My father was an army photographer so I had some pretty cool stuff growing up.

How I found Photographyreview.com:
to hell if I remember.

Date I joined PR (sometimes people's listed join date is innacurate):
a few years ago. or a thousand posts ago...

Favorite forum:
Nature and wildlife, naturally.

Photogatherings I have attended:
None yet...

Favorite subjects:
Nature and my family.

Current Gear:
Olympus E3
Olympus E510

Fujica ST605n
Olympus OM10
Yashica MAT 124G



Lenses and Accessories:
Zuiko Digital.
12-60 SWD
50-200 SWD
50mm F/2 Macro
FL50r flash, Fl36 Flash
EX25 Tube


OM 50/1.8
Fuji 28/3.5
Vivitar 135/2.8
Vivitar 50/1.8
m42 to 4/3 adapter

Misc
Monopod. Bogen something. Got it on recommendation in viewfinder. Nice piece of equipment.
4 Poverty wizards
a reflector
various diffusers, mostly homemade.
a few filters.

Camera I use the most:
Olympus E3

Why I prefer film or digital:
I've learned more in one day of shooting digital than in two years of shooting film. EXIF is a wonderful thing. Emmanual Kant would be proud.

What I like about Photographyreview.com:
BEST NATURE AND WILDLIFE FORUM, EVER. That's a true story. Even though it's a core of a dozen people, they are a dozen AWESOME people and great photographers too.

What I am trying to accomplish with my photography:
I just like to get outdoors. Photography is just an excuse, but in the past it's been fishing, hiking, camping, herping...photography has become more appealing over the years because it is a way to document the fun I've had, and the things I've seen. When you're only where you really want to be a handful of days a year it is important to remember why you bust your hump so badly.

A few of my favorite recent images...

Me on the left. Awesome rattlesnake.

Fussen, Germany

Eastern Massassauga - even awesomer rattlesnake, if that's possible.

Mantis at twice life size.