Artist Interview: Sonja Weiss
Get to Know Artist Sonja Weiss!
Sonja Weiss is a Chicago based photographer and adventurer who specializes in architecture and travel photography. Follow her on her Instagram and check out her work on https://sonjaweiss.com.
Tell us a little bit about how you got into photography. How long have you been shooting?
I relocated from Atlanta to Chicago for work 5 years ago. It was the middle of a polar vortex in Chicago and miserable after living in a warm climate. I was hating life and second guessing my choice to move, but once the city began to thaw I fell in love with my surroundings. Chicago has a great mix of new and old architecture which makes it unique. In the evenings after the gym I would spend a lot of time along the lakeshore during sunset and that was what initially inspired me to start taking photos. I swear some of the best sunrises and sunsets that I’ve seen have been along the lakefront in Chicago. That daily inspiration led to a love for photography and a constant need to capture what I see in my environment. Now it’s a part of my life that I can’t live without.
What kind of tools do you use for post processing?
My editing process is pretty simple. I edit almost exclusively in Adobe Lightroom and have a pretty good collection of presets I’ve created over the years to use as starting points for my editing process. As I’ve gotten into creating more short videos, I’ve starting using Photoshop and Premier as well as several apps on my phone.
Locations and weather conditions seem to be a crucial aspect to a successful photo/video. How do you handle these unpredictable factors?
For me personally, weather makes or breaks a photo/video. We get some pretty crazy weather in Chicago, from thunderstorms to fog to heavy snow. Those are the times that I make sure that I’m out capturing footage/photos. It brings a certain mood to a photo that processing alone can’t achieve. My favorite time to shoot is during low fog in Chicago. It’s almost magical to see how the skyscrapers rise out of the clouds, obscuring the ground below. If there is low fog, best believe I’m dropping everything I’m doing to go shoot. I dislike cloudless harsh light days, I already know that when I get home to edit I’m not going to want to waste my time editing the photos. I’ve gotten so spoiled at this point that if the weather isn’t optimal for light I won’t waste my time getting out.
What was your first camera?
My first camera was a secondhand Fuji XE-2 that I borrowed from a friend. I ended up shooting on it for a year before I upgraded to the Fuji XT-2 when it released.
What’s next for you? Are there any new mediums you want to explore?
What’s next for me is most likely more video work. I find myself drawn to the multitude of things you can create with video. I also find it more challenging and exciting than just taking a photo. I’m a lifelong lover of music being able to add a track to my videos adds another layer of creative interest for me. Beyond video I’m trying to travel as much as possible, seeing new sites is always so inspiring. Sometimes I get stuck in creative rut, being able to see something new always seems to help get my creative juices flowing.
How would you describe your photographic/cinematic style?
My photographic style is what I would describe as moody but beautiful. I love how photography has enabled me to find beauty in small details or even bleakest things. A photo can draw your attention to those things, things an average person may walk by and never notice.
What’s something about you that would surprise our readers?
I am in fact a woman, not a dude or a bro LOL. For some reason everyone on instagram seems to assume I am a guy. Maybe it’s because I don’t post selfies? Also I am employed full time as an R&D scientist, so there’s that.
Tell us the story behind your @username!
That’s a funny question. I’ve had a few usernames over the years, none that I was much a fan of, however due to the number of Instagram users and inactive accounts I have been unable to get a handle that I want. Simply using my name would be ideal, however, after messaging the current holder I’ve come to realize the account is inactive. I basically wanted to find a handle that would indicate that I’m a FEMALE and be easy to remember. I have terrible luck and always have so I knew I wanted to use ‘Badluck’ in my handle, however I couldn’t think of a “B”name that wasn’t already taken. So one night while celebrating a friends birthday at a local bar, I asked my friends to help me. One of them took my phone, changed my handle to @badluckbae, and handed me back my phone. The whole thing was pretty funny, I ended up just keeping it. People still think I’m a guy by the way, so much for that!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done (or would like to do someday) to get the shot?
I’ve done a lot of things people may find crazy, i.e. sitting on ledges, sneaking in abandoned buildings, hanging out in dangerous neighborhoods etc. It’s a tough choice to make but I think the thing that sketched me out the most was climbing an abandoned rollercoaster that had been flooded by Hurricane Katrina and basically rises out of a swamp. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t been raining all week, but the rollercoaster is made of wood and was extremely slippery from the constant moisture so one wrong move and we were toast. To make matters worse there was a security guard making regular rounds on the property, so we had to be quick going up and getting down. At the same time no one wanted to fall into the water below and risk being eaten by a gator. It was a memorable experience to say the least.
What do you like to do when you’re not out shooting or in front of a computer editing?
When I have free time, you can almost always find me at the gym. Working out and staying fit has always been a key part of my lifestyle and allows me to be physically capable of any adventures I undertake.
Do you find yourself always looking at the World wondering how it would look as a photograph/video?
How can I not? I don’t think that’s something that I will ever be able to shut off now that I’ve been doing photography for so long. That’s a big part of the reason I find myself gravitated to other photographers. They understand the constant need to capture my surroundings to create something that I am happy with and that hopefully inspires others to do the same. I cringe when I see something amazing and I can’t capture it which is why I try not to leave home without my camera. Vacations aren’t even vacations at this point. I’m always working to explore and create as much as possible when traveling. I will go on very little food and sleep just to make sure I make the most of my surroundings with the time that I have.
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