{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 6} Obsession

ISO 100  |  SS 1/160  |  f/3.2

{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 5} After Dark

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{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 4} Something Green

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{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 3} Clouds

I have a confession to make. Today's 30 Day Photography Challenge was to capture the clouds. Well.... today the clouds were not very exciting. It was cloudy. That is it. Dark, yucky clouds. No sun, so color, just gray clouds. Therefore, this picture was actually not taken today, but a week ago. That's ok, right?

ISO 100  |  SS 1/200  |  f/6.3

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!

{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 2} What I Wore

Yesterday was a self portrait of myself and today was a "What I wore" prompt for my 30 Day Photography Challenge. Yesterday I told you how much I dislike photographing myself and that has not changed today. Therefore, rather than take another picture of myself, I thought I would just show you what I wore today instead. 

Sometimes I wish I were more stylish and could give you the link for each clothing item and where it was bought. But I will let you in on a little secret. I know, I know, this is what "What Not to Wear" would tell you not to wear but it is my favorite. 

Thrift stores. There, I said it. I buy most of my clothing at a consignment shop. I love them! You never what you will find or what kind of deals you will come out with. You can still look cute and not spend a lot of money. That is my theory anyways. Most of my wardrobe is found there which is what makes this post a little surprising. Only one of these items was bought used!

My shirt is a gray and white striped a.n.a. brand from J.C.Penney's. It cost around $10.

ISO 100  |  SS 1/125  |  f/5.6

My boots are my favorite. My Mom bought them for me for my birthday back in March. I was still in China at that point, but was in need of a new brown pair of boots since my others had the zipper break on them last fall. They are Franco Sarto brand and are originally $180 leather boots. I think my Mom said she bought them form $50 in the spring. What a deal! Thankfully they fit and are so comfortable!

ISO 100  |  SS 1/125  |  f/4.5

This scarf I have had for years. I probably bought it 4 or 5 years ago at J.C.Penny's. I had been wanting an orange scarf for fall and I found it for probably around $10 and it has paid for itself! I wear it all the time in the fall and winter months and just love it!

My white vest is from Old Navy. Also really old! I would love to replace it since it's getting a little grungy after all these years, so maybe once I have a job that will be one of my first purchases. I bough it in the fall of 2008 when I was nannying. So yes....6 years old....

ISO 100  |  SS 1/125  |  f/7.1

And last but definitively not least are my jeans. Yes, they are Calvin Klein, but no, they are not Calvin Klein prices. They were bought at my favorite consignment shop for I think $8. Can't beat that and they are so comfortable! I buy all of my favorite jeans at this consignment shop. I think jeans are much more comfortable if bought used because then they are worn a much softer than brand new ones!

ISO 100  |  SS 1/125  |  f/5

So there you have it. My "What I wore" post. Can I just say how much I am loving fall clothing?

{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 1} Self Portrait

Well here you go.... Day 1 of my 30 Day Photography Challenge. Now let me just say this. I do NOT like taking self portraits. Not at all. I was disappointed that this was the first assignment on my list for my challenge.  So disappointed in fact that I searched for several others lists that did not have a self portrait for their first assignment. But I kept coming back to this one and decided to just do it.

I have had my DSLR for ten months but I am usually the one behind the camera, therefore I have not captured the self-timer yet. It is especially difficult to get the correct focus. My focus is still a little bit off in these pictures but it was the closest I could get. Any photographers out there have advice for obtaining the correct focus when using the self-timer? I tried both auto focus as well as manual.

ISO 400  |  SS  1/125  |  f/4.5 

ISO 400  |  SS  1/125  |  f/4.5

Comment below with suggestions or email me at annelifjohnson@gmail.com

30 Day Photography Challenge

30 Day Photography Challenge

Photography is something that I have become more interested in these last few years. I think it began when I would read adoption blogs where the Mom's were amazing photographers! A good picture can capture a memory so well and I just love it as well as the creativity involved. I began reading more on photography and researching cameras because it was something that I thought would be fun and a good hobby. Also since I was in China and part of my job included photographing the children for our website and blog, I knew that a good camera was essential. 

In the summer of 2013, I taught private swim lessons to several children in China and was able to save up enough money, with the help of my Grandma and parents chip in for my Christmas present, to buy my first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel T5i. I bought it in December 2013 and haven't put it down since! 

It has been almost a year of having my DSLR and although I have definitely improved in the last 10 months, I would like to take my photography to the next level. I have decided to take on a 30 day photography challenge. This means that I am going to take a picture ever single day for the next 30 days. In order to help me, I found a good list of ideas or prompts for each day to give me an idea of what to photograph. So here we go. My 30 day photography challenge. Starting.... tomorrow!

DAY 1: Self portrait

DAY 2: What you wore

DAY 3: Clouds

DAY 4: Something green

DAY 5: After dark

DAY 6: Obsession

DAY 7: Changes to come

DAY 8: Routine

DAY 9: Someone you love

DAY 10: Childhood memory

DAY 11: Something blue

DAY 12: Sunset

DAY 13: Cannot live without

DAY 14: Eyes

DAY 15: Silhouette

DAY 16: A good habit

DAY 17: Technology

DAY 18: Your shoes

DAY 19: Something you want

DAY 20: In my bag

DAY 21: Faceless self portrat

DAY 22: Inspirational

DAY 23: Patterns

DAY 24: Animal

DAY 25: Strangers

DAY 26: Close-up

DAY 27: Celebration

DAY 28: Flowers

DAY 29: Black & White

DAY 30: Self portrait

Anyone care to join me?!?!