Help I Need Help

9.30.10 – Thursday

I don’t know if you’ve noticed… but I have been very uninspired these last few weeks.    I totally feel like hiding (hence the above photo, although it was pouring that day).  Maybe I need to start making inspiration boards?  Take a look at my closet and see if I actually own any fall/winter clothing?  Or maybe I should do some looks inspired by my favorite bloggers?  I’ve seen so many people doing that lately.  Words of wisdom, anyone?  

Ellen Tracy jacket, Anthropologie scarf, Oly Navy shirt, HUE skinny jeanz, Frye shoes.  

Photos in the Morning?

9.27.2010 ~ Wednesday

I don’t often take photos in the morning, although I tried again last week.  I think I’ve figured out why I prefer the afternoon/night… the light is usually cooler in the morning (at least here) and I usually prefer my photos with a bit of a golden cast.  

This is a total repeat of something I wore in the spring, although I’ve always felt it was a really good fall look.  My hair is getting a little shaggy, I might have to take scissors to it myself!  I have fall weddings to attend, so I don’t want to get it cut yet just in case I think of actually doing something with it, although it’s so short in the back!  I have the saddest little ponytail ever (and only with the help of hairspray and bobby pins).  

I think it’s actually going to become fall soon!  Look at all the leaves on the ground!  

Anthropologie shirt and skirt, Charlotte Russe belt, Sofft shoes.  

Beads Dropping Like Flies

(I really wish this skirt had pockets!  Seriously, I totally tried to put my hands in the nonexistent pockets.  Yeah, it didn’t work).  

9.25.10 ~ Saturday

It’s supposed to be fall, I know, but temperatures have been holding in the 85-95 range :P  I keep seeing bloggers in tights and thinking… no, can’t do it.  It’s still far too warm.  Half my summer clothing is on the floor waiting to be stored but it’s just not getting cooler and I keep pulling things back out!  

Lazy day for dressing, I’m almost head to toe LOFT here.  I’ve worn this skirt before, but never with a shirt tucked in.  And I adore this shirt but practically a whole row of beads has fallen off!  

LOFT shirt and skirt, Sofft platforms.  

What is Going On? I Don’t Know

So guess who went to Canada and came back a hipster?

Oh right, that would be me.  Okay, not really, I just got some oxfords.   And started actually using the long shoulder strap on my bag.  But anyway, the shoes: 

Really?  Oxfords?  Me?  They’re… flat (should I have gotten the heels?), and they’re… flat.  Not even a hidden wedge.  I mean, I guess I should try to be kinder to my feet or I’ll be having surgery at 25.  But I won’t say they’re not a touch uncharacteristic.  I don’t even know what to wear them with.  Floaty dresses?  Vintage dresses?  Shorts?  Maybe some black skinny jeans (too hipster on me?).  Full skirts?  Tights, definitely tights!  And what about socks?  

Okay, I need help.  But really, the seafoam socks I tried these on with looked really good although they kind of took me back to my Catholic school days — not exactly the look I was going for!  What would you wear them with?

JC Penney juniors (must stop shopping in juniors, I know, too old, but it was last winter!), LOFT shorts, Marc by Marc Jacbos bag, Cole Haan oxfords.  

It’s Fall. Maybe. (I Think)

9.20.2010 ~ Monday 

I’m getting tired of photos from Toronto, I have actually hundreds.  So here’s a break with some more recent photos!  

So… is it fall or not?  It’s been cool lately but apparently it will be 90+ again by the end of the week.  Yesterday I definitely wanted something warmer than this light sweater but I have a dearth of fall outerwear.  In fact, I have had no fall outerwear for at least the past two fall seasons but haven’t done anything about it because 1) I always feel as if I am running out of money for shopping by fall (maybe I should restart finances in line with fashion seasons?) and 2) all the jackets I want are $450 or so.  I’ve been looking around though and may have found my perfect fall jacket!  If it works out I’m sure it will be showing up after the heat wave!  

Francesca’s Collections cotton jersey cardigan sweater thing, BCBG dress, LOFT double wrap belt, Sofft platforms.  

Adventures With DSLR: Lighting Issues After Hours

…Or Same as Yesterday Only Later.  

Thoughts:

1.  Hold.  Still.  Dark + crazy movement = …yeah. 

2.  Wow, my shoes look really red in these photographs.  

3.  Have those pants hemmed.  

4.  The tacky palm trees look less tacky with this camera.  I think I actually like them.  

5.  Sign up for photography classes.  

Adventures with DSLR: Lighting Issues

… Or How Not to Use a DSLR. 

Exhibit A:  I need direction.  Direct sunlight is hitting my face, making my foundation look like it’s about four shades lighter than my actual skin tone.  Oops.  It would be fantastic if someone would make a camera attachment that shouts tips at you while on the continuous self-timer setting.  Lesson learned: don’t stand with your face in the sun.  There’s only so much the camera can do, you need to improve your general  photography skill level.  

Exhibit B:  So I am really good at blurring out the foreground and sharpening the background.  Unfortunately this means I have to go hide behind a plant or something to bring myself into focus.  

Exhibit C:  Getting better?  Not bad, but depth of field is still kind of meh.  

Adventures With DSLR: First Edition

…Or Photography for Hopeless Cases. 

Exhibit A:  This is sort of how I’m feeling.  Ugh.  At least I take a decent photo when everything is in focus.  This is f/9 in aperture priority mode.  But I’d really like to blur the background while keeping the foreground in focus.

 

Exhibit B:  Not exactly what I had in mind.  I take great photos of everything unfocused though.  I’ve become really good at this technique.  Call me, you know, if you need crazy blurry photos.  

Exhibit C:  So we’re good again! The tree does look kind of cool actually, but I’d really like to blur it out.  Maybe I’ll get a remote and let the camera do all the focusing for me.  And I could definitely improve the white balance and ISO — color and exposure were majorly corrected in iPhoto!  

Well, there’s always tomorrow :)  I’ll get it one of these days, although a Barnes and Noble trip for an omgggineedhelppp!!!! book might be in order.  

A Little Bit in Transition

9.6.10 ~ Monday ~ Holiday

The last photos with the little point and shoot, unless I’m ever separated from the DSLR.  I’m actually thinking about naming it… yeah, it’s that bad.  It’s like it’s my pet or something :)  

I forgot how much I like this sweater!  I haven’t worn it since probably May, and I haven’t photographed it since March.  My only defense is that it’s been hot!  Too hot even for a short sleeved sweater!  I’ve never been able to wear summer sweaters unless it’s truly cold, even if it drops to 60 the humidity gets to me.  I’ve always wanted to have summer cashmere but I would totally just roast myself!  

Some people IRL have seen me in shorts more than is generally normal — it’s because I’m hoping to carry them into fall.  I’ve never been able to continue with shorts past summer so I’ve been trying to think of looks I can easily add stockings to for fall/winter.  Depending on the weather, I might be trying it out in Toronto with black lace stockings at night!

Moth (Anthropologie) sweater, C&C California shirt, LOFT shorts, Sofft platforms, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag.  

Texture: Dots

9.3.10 ~ Friday

So if you haven’t heard yet, Lookbook is open now!  However, I think I’m not hipster enough/don’t have any professional photographer friends/my really emo looking glare is totally not up to par, so I probably won’t be singing up (at least not until I perfect the emo looking glare, seriously no one smiles on Lookbook).  

It was really cool last Friday, a bit of a preview to fall weather before the temperature skyrocketed to the 90s again!  I enjoyed the break from the heat but I’ll be really sad when it’s full dark at 5pm.  I guess it’ll give me practice with nighttime photography, although it won’t be good for my GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) because I’ll totally be wanting an external flash, umbrellas, snow resistant lenses… yeah I don’t even think those last ones exist, but I’ll want them anyway!  

I’m missing Fashion’s Night Out again — have fun, everyone, I’m a little jealous — but I think the tiff will be just as good!  

Some label I forget from Francesca’s Collections tee shirt cardigan, Confetti dress, F21 belt, Bandolino shoes.