Sonya Noskowiak
1900 – 1975
Sonya Noskowiak (1900-1975) was born in Leipzig Germany. In 1915 her family settled in Los Angeles. In 1919 she moved to San Francisco and soon became a receptionist in Johan Hagemeyer’s photographic studio. Her interest in photography grew and in 1929 she met Edward Weston and became his model, muse, pupil and assistant. She was taught to spot his photographs and he soon gave Sonya her first camera. For several months without film in the camera she “photographed” while he taught her the mechanics of photography. Her progress was quick and she soon developed her own style in the landscape and honed her craftsmanship in the darkroom. In 1932 she became one of the organizing members of Group f64 along with Willard Van Dyke, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston and his older son Brett, and exhibited in their inaugural exhibit at the M. H. de Young Museum in San Francisco.
