new shop additions

Here are some of the most recent additions to my Etsy shop. 

Title: "Fall"

Title: "Fall Color"

These should be some of the last Fall related photos I share until next year.  But I don't want to make any promises I cannot keep.

Do you have an Etsy shop?

Which one is your favorite?

Linking up with Nicole and Ash today!

birthday wishlist

{from top left to bottom right}

Polaroid Camera / Pittsburgh Skyline / Pennsylvania Pillow / Necklace / The British version of the Harry Potter series / Hogwarts TOMs / Gold Foil Sunset Print

-I have been wanting a polaroid camera for a while now but have yet to bite the bullet.  With film so expensive these days, instant photography could potentially become a very expensive hobby for me.  

-I immediately fell in love with the brilliant colors in this Pittsburgh skyline print.  I am thinking of making a collage of Pittsburgh photos in our guest room and this would be perfect. 

-That pillow would be perfect for our couch.  But in burgundy, please:)

-How adorable is that initial necklace?  I just don't know if I would want it in silver or gold. 

-As you may know by now, I am kinda obsessed with Harry Potter.  I feel like the only real HP fans own the British series.    

-And those Hogwarts TOMs?  L-O-V-E.  I am not sure I would ever wear them outside of the house though. 

-That gorgeous sunset gold foil print from one of my favorite Etsy shops, RowHouse14, is a must have.  

What is your favorite item from my wishlist?

What would you add to your own?

photography tips | composition pt. 1

I know I promised more photography tips sooner, but I have been letting time get away from me and therefore not being terribly productive with the time I have.  It's a new month so what better time to begin again.  

Anyway, today I would like to talk about a few composition tricks for improving your photography.  I originally planned on sharing a lot more but decided to break it up into 3 parts to help it be less overwhelming and perhaps give you a chance to practice.  

Perhaps one of the most commonly used and popular tricks is the Rule of Thirds.  Imagine two horizontal lines intersecting with two vertical lines making nine even squares in your photo.  The idea is that you place the subject of your photo along those lines or their intersections.  

{print available for purchase on Society6}

The above was taken during a snowy walk around my neighborhood.  I loved the pop of color against the snowy white.  See how the subject, the playground, is off-center in the left third of my image?  This may be my favorite, go-to way to compose a photograph. 

A second favorite is Framing.  This technique draws attention to your subject by blocking out other parts of the image with something else in the scene.  

{print available for purchase on Society6}

I was visiting my aunt and uncle who live in Bay Village, a suburb outside of Cleveland, on Lake Erie.  We walked down to the lake from their house to get some fresh air.  Without the trees, I am not sure you, or I for that matter, would notice the tiny sailboat in the distance.  However, the trees' leaves frame the image very nicely to bring focus to what I wanted to point out. 

One more is to simply get Close-Up.  Regardless if you are shooting with a point-and-shoot, phone, or your nice DSLR, if you want to get a close-up of a scene the best thing you can do is to simply move closer to what you want to capture.  I know it's easier to sometimes zoom in but that just results in yucky grain that is not easy to eliminate in post processing.  

{Print available for purchase on Etsy or Society6}

This was my first photograph I took of my Mother-in-law's beautiful sunflower garden.  I got as close to the flower as I could and captured this shot.  I also really love the bokeh that was created in the background. 

I hope this all made sense for you and helped.  While Rule of Thirds, Framing, and Close-up are rules that photographers like to follow, rules are made to be broken.  Get creative.  Now, it's your turn to get out and shoot away!  

Was this helpful?

What's your favorite way to compose a photo?

 Linking up with Nicole and Ash today!

alyson cornman photography | shop

Since getting into photography I have always wanted to sell my photos.  For a while I dabbled in portrait photography but quickly realized that wasn't the route I wanted to take.  I thought it would be easy and quick money.  Boy, I could not have been more wrong.  

Adding my photos to Etsy has been something I have been doing on and off for the past few years.  I have not been as successful as I had thought I would be.  I just assumed I would add photos to my shop, people would see them and love them, and buy them.  I mean, that would be the easiest and most comfortable way, right?  

I quickly realized I needed to whore myself out advertise and sell my works myself.  I wasn't ready to yet so I kept putting it off and putting it off - I doubt it had anything do with my shy, Type B nature {insert sarcastic look here}.  It was not until recently that I started to really research and consume any information on how to sell on Etsy.  I know I still have loads and loads and LOADS to learn but I am pretty confident in where I am starting. 

So, today, I would like to share with all of you - my fabulous and wonderfully beautiful readers - what I have added so far.   

"Pittsburgh in the Fog" | 8x10 print available at $15. 

"Sunflower" | 8x10 print available for $20. 

"Beach Sparkle" | available upon request, starting at $15. 

"Sunlit Vineyard" | available upon request, starting $20.  

Like I said, I still have so much to learn.  Pricing? Descriptions? Advertising? Shipping?  So much. I am all ears, y'all!  Do you have any suggestions on books or online resources I can turn to to help? 

Do you have an Etsy shop?

What do you look for when purchasing photography?

Linking up with Nicole and Ash today!

fall craving

I don't know what it's been like in your neck of the woods, but it has been such a strange October.  Just last week it was still in the 70s and sunny.  But in true Pittsburgh fashion, Fall has finally seemed to arrive in the form of chilly 40 degree temps and rain.

But as the temps drop I have been wanting to do nothing but sit on my couch, watch Harry Potter, and crochet while my Fall scented candles burn.  Of course Etsy has not helped with this new obsession. 

1 // Love of Simple - I love how big, bulky, and comfortable this one looks. 

2 // Tiny Little Memories -  I love the bright blue color of this one.  As much as I love the Fall-like colors, adding a bright pop of color just makes me happy. 

3 // Valkin Threads - a scarf plus a hood?!  Yes, please. 

4 // All Reds Antiques - The soft yellow just screams Fall, don't you think? 

1 // Puik - Even though this is knitted, I still love it.  One of my goals is to learn how to knit. 

2 // The Art of Zen Crochet - I love the button on the side! And the grey pretty much goes with anything. 

3 // Swell Amy - What is there not to love about this one?  And the fluffy ball on the top? Dying.  

I don't understand pattern quite yet but have made that one of my goals this year to learn.  I actually completed my first infinity scarf just the other day but I relied on a YouTube video to get me through it.  I originally I wanted to make it for a Christmas gift for my sister but it didn't turn out quite as well as I had hoped - needs to be a little bit bigger.  Oh well, just means I have a new scarf to add to my collection.  

Which ones are your favorite?

Do you crochet?

What do you crave during the Fall months?

And what's a Friday post without a little music?  And I am pretty sure Whitney will be pretty pleased with my choice today. 

Linking up with Whitney and Krystal today! 

until next time

an open love letter

Today's Blogtember prompt: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

(Source via Etsy)

Dearest Professor Snape,

I do realize that according to many Muggles, you do not really exist.  However, I feel like I have gotten to know you pretty well over the past 10 years.  But when I met you for that first time, I am not gonna lie, I wasn't your biggest fan, and was not so sure how well we would get along.  You were one of the harshest and most hostile teachers I have ever seen teach.  Didn't anyone ever tell you that children don't respond well to being bullied?  Apparently not. But I know you're pretty smart and know your stuff and all, so I never really argued with you.  For a while there I wasn't really sure what team you were even on.  It was pretty damn obvious that Dumbledore trusted you, but so did "He Who Must Not Be Named".  Boy you had me confused for a while there.

Even though you were pretty rough, I started to understand a little bit why it back-fired that time when you were trying to teach Harry how to keep "He Who Must Not Be Named" out of his mind.  Remember?  I'm sure you do.  I don't think anyone ever suspected you were bullied as a kid. Even though I realize it may have been hard for you to let others see what you went through, I am glad you did.  That was the moment my heart started to warm to you. You see, I am a rather empathetic person. When others hurt, I hurt.  It's a bit of a curse and a gift really.  No one deserves to be treated with such little respect.  But that wasn't Harry's fault nor any of the other students, and they did not deserve to be treated so harshly.  Two wrongs do not make a right, Professor.  They only wanted to learn from the best. 

 It wasn't, however, until I learned of your love for Lily that I, in turn, fell in love with you.  It breaks my heart that Lily chose your tormentor, James, over you.  After all, you had always been there for her.  While I know it wasn't Lily's fault who she fell in love with, I have a feeling there wasn't a day that went by that you didn't wonder to yourself if maybe she had chosen you, she would have survived.  I know what it's like to have loved and lost.  It sucks.

I know you dabbled in some pretty dodgy magic back in your day. But hey, haven't we all been there?  Done things we regret?  I know I have.  What matters is that you did the noblest thing any man could do; protect the son of the woman you loved so much, even though he was not your own.  That Professor, takes some pretty big balls, and for that, you will have my love and respect.  Always.

With love,
Alyson

Linking up with Bre and Jenni today!

until next time