What’s this website all about?
What started out as a small personal lifestyle experiment has now taken on a life of its own.
On January 1, 2015 I began taking a photo of the sunrise every morning and posting it online. It started out as a tiny 1-week experiment, and then it turned into 30 days, and now I’m hoping to do it for a full year.
This is not just about photography. The important thing here is the act of consistently getting up early to witness the sunrise and taking a photo to prove it. The quality of the photo or the way in which it was taken is secondary to the experience itself.
Why are you doing this?
There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich.” There’s no reason why that can’t be me.
I’ve never been much of a morning person, so this is really just a personal challenge. I like to experiment with different daily habits and routines, and I thought taking a photo of the sunrise each morning would be worthwhile habit to try because it combines several of my interests and could benefit me in a variety of ways.
Waking up early is often thought to be excruciating, especially when waking up early for the purpose of going to work or some other mundane obligation. But waking up early to catch the sunrise is much more enjoyable and fulfilling. So, in a way, I feel like I’ve found a way to “hack” waking up early to make it something that is not only easier to do, but also something to look forward to.
I also have a tendency to stay up way too late at night. I always thought this could be remedied simply by waking up earlier, but that has proven to be easier said than done. It’s so easy to keep hitting that snooze button when you’ve been up late the night before and that only enables you to rest longer so you can stay up late again that night. It’s a vicious cycle. This project will force me to get into the habit of waking up earlier, so eventually I will need to go to bed earlier as well.
So in a nutshell, I’m doing this for the following reasons:
- Wake up earlier.
- Start my day with a positive experience.
- Make time to reflect and articulate my thoughts.
- Go to bed earlier.
- Get more sleep overall.
- Improve my photography skills and establish credibility as a photographer.
- Do something interesting and out of the ordinary.
- Take advantage of living in a great location for viewing the sunrise.
- See what I can learn from it.
- Get in the habit of generating consistent content.
- Create something positive, uplifting, and inspiring to share with other people.
- Feel a sense of accomplishment.
- See where it will take me.
Why should anyone care? Aren’t there a lot of people who wake up early?
You don’t have to care, and I’m ok with that. That’s your decision. I’m doing this more for myself than for anyone else. Sure, there are a lot of people who wake up early, but I do hope that maybe I’ll have a positive influence on some people out there, and possibly even be an inspiration for those who want to accomplish things or make changes in their lives.
How do I order prints?
I would be honored if you like one of my photos so much that you want to order it as a print, canvas, download, or other keepsake. Orders can be placed on my photography portfolio website www.anthonyjjohnsonphotography.com. You can find more details about ordering on my order page.
Are you a professional photographer?
Photography is one of the many things I do, mainly through photographing local businesses. I provide them with virtual tours and other creative photos to help them promote their business. I’m also a marketing consultant, so I link up the photos with the company’s social media and Google accounts to help them maximize exposure and gain an edge over the competition.
So I guess that makes me a semi-pro photographer, but I still have a lot to learn.
Where can I find more of your work?
You can visit my photography website at www.anthonyjjohnsonphotography.com. There you can see more of my portfolio and learn more about me.
Can I use your photos on my website/blog?
All of my photos are copyrighted, and unauthorized use is prohibited.
If you want to use my photos online (such as on a website or blog), you may do so only if you give me credit for the photo and link back to my website. Something like “Photo by Anthony J. Johnson” with a link to my site would suffice.
If you want to use one of my photos without giving me credit, you must obtain my written permission. I will usually grant you permission if you have a good enough reason, or if you offer me a burrito or something.
If you want to use my photos offline, you must obtain my written permission not matter what.
What equipment do you use?
I get asked this question a lot, so I figured it would be helpful to post it here for those who were wondering:
Cameras:
Lenses:
I have other lenses, but these are the ones I’ve used for this project so far.
Tripod:
with Filters:
I know, these days people take pride in the whole “#nofilter” thing. The word “filter” has taken on new meaning in the days of iPhones and Instagram, in which a digital filter is used to create special effects. But in pro photography, filters are useful, and often necessary, photographic tools which can be used to make a photograph look more realistic.
- Lee Graduated Neutral Density Soft Edge Filter Set
- Lee Graduated Neutral Density Hard Edge Filter Set
- Lee Big Stopper
- Lee Little Stopper
- Tiffen 77mm Color Graduated Neutral Density 0.6
- Formatt-Hitech 77mm Soft Edge Graduated Neutral Density 1.2
- Hoya 77mm Neutral Density ND-400 HMC
I have other filters, but these are the ones I’ve used most often for this particular project.
Strap:
with 
Cases:
Please note, many of the links I provided are referral links where I may earn a referral fee for purchases made. This does not affect the prices you pay, and in some cases the links I provide will be the lowest prices you will find anywhere. I will probably use any money I make from this site to buy more photography equipment. Or to buy food.
How do I get in touch with you?
If there is anything else you want to ask me about this project, photography, business, or life in general, feel free to drop me a line on my contact page.
