Winter Is Here

All my NY friends posting pictures of snow today and talking about the treacherous conditions inspired me to post photos from our little "dusting" on Saturday.

One of the reasons I left NY was the snow, I'm just not a fan. The cold, the starting your car 20 minutes before you go anywhere, cleaning off your car, bundling up, etc. it's just not my favorite.

But this. THIS kind of snow I don't mind. We had an inch or two, big flakes, and the roads were clear! Of course I still didn't go anywhere because even though the roads were clear, Oklahoma drivers tend to drive like crazy people. It's like everyone forgets how to drive when we have a few snowflakes.

Since it was Saturday and I had nowhere to go (other than to the store to get some milk and where I had a mini crisis leaving, but that's another story for another day), I enjoyed sipping coffee and watching the snow fall outside my cozy apartment.

By afternoon the snow had stopped and the sun was shining. That's Oklahoma weather for you.

And now? The snow is gone. Lasted a few days and then it warmed up enough to melt it all away.

Until next time, snow. Next time though, could you come during the week so I can have a "work from home in my sweatpants" kind of day?  Thank you in advance!

{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 6} Obsession

ISO 100  |  SS 1/160  |  f/3.2

{30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 5} After Dark

ISO 400  |  SS 1/125  |  f/2.8

{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?!?!

{Wordless Wednesday} Candy Corn

I know this is my Wordless Wednesday post, but I thought I should explain the title of this post. As I have mentioned before, my sweet sister is a beautiful model as I try to get better at photography but she is never not always a willing subject. 

Unless.... I bribe her.

That's right, I admit it. 

I bribe my sister to give me 10 minutes in the backyard and let me snap pictures. 

What did the trick this time?

Candy corn.

Doesn't take much to make this girl agree!

Fall Sunset

{Photography} All About the Lighting

It's so exciting finally having my camera again! However, since I was so long without it, I feel like I am backtracking and have been spending time learning how to use it all over again. Which I never fully mastered before I lost it for 7 weeks! 

I really want to become a better photographer. While I was in China, I had such willing subjects. Here, I have to bribe beg my sister to allow me to photograph her. A few nights ago, the lighting was gorgeous. And one thing I have learned, is that it's all about the lighting. It is hard to capture a good picture if your lighting isn't just right. From the reading I've done, I've learned that sunrise and sunset are great times to photograph. After taking these pictures the other evening, I must say I agree.

Photography is a lot more difficult than I thought. I figured once I got a nice camera, that it would do all the work. 

Not the case AT ALL.

I bought it last December and am finally starting to really get the hang of it.

I am nowhere near being great, but I have learned so much from this amazing website! For real, Courtney gives such wonderful tutorials and explains it in "my easy to understand language." So for those of you just starting out with a DSLR or just want to become a better photographer, check out Click it up a Notch!

You can do as much reading as you want, but the only thing that is really going to make you better is to practice. I know, I know, not what anyone wants to hear, but it's true! Even though I haven't necessarily noticed the difference, when I look at pictures I took at Christmas compared to pictures now, I see that I HAVE improved. It just takes time and practice is all.

Maybe I'll be able to talk Kiah into another photoshoot soon?